Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance Review
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When it comes to our pets, we want the best. So why not look for the best pet insurance available? The good news is that there is something out there for every need and every budget these days. Fetch has plenty to offer, so let’s dive in.
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What is Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance?
Fetch by The Dodo pet insurance provides pet insurance coverage for dogs and cats of all ages. The company is also dedicated to giving back to the animal community and has partnered with animal shelters since 2018. In that time, Fetch has contributed more than $2M to its shelter partners.
The most comprehensive pet insurance
- Use any veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada
- Rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot
- Covers up to 90% of unexpected vet bills
How does Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance product work?
After a pet has been enrolled in a Fetch pet insurance plan, their owners can receive reimbursement for their covered medical expenses. Pet parents can submit the invoices from their pet’s vet visits to Fetch through the website portal or the Fetch mobile app. Medical records are also required when filing a claim. Claims are processed, and if approved, Fetch will submit reimbursement to the pet parent through a direct deposit to the connected bank account.
To get your free pet insurance quote from Fetch, visit their website and look for the “Get your price” button.
Fetch offers insurance plans for both cats and dogs, so this is where you will select the type of pet that you have. You can also enter their name and breed — mixed breed is an option if you don’t know your pet’s breed(s).
You’ll also need to provide your pet’s age, as well as your zip code and email address. Fetch will email your pet’s quote to you using the email address that you provide.
Once you’ve entered all of the information, you can click on the “Get my quote” button, which will bring you to the next page with your customized quote.
At this stage, you’ll be able to review your coverage options. Fetch will provide you with the pricing for its recommended plan options.
You can also scroll down the page and choose different options to generate a new quote.
Fetch also offers an optional routine & preventative coverage that you can add to the base plan for an additional cost.
If you have multiple pets, you can add another pet to your quote at this stage as well.
When you’re satisfied with your coverage options, you can move on to purchase the pet insurance plan by clicking on the “Next” button.
At this point, you’ll enter your name, address, and billing information. You can also select the billing cycle you want — monthly, quarterly, or annually.
If you’re not ready to decide yet, you can save your quote and return to it later.
Related: Best Cheap Pet Insurance for 2024
How much does Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance cost?
The cost of pet insurance plans varies based on where you live, the pet you are insuring, and the coverage options you select. When you get a quote, you’ll see exactly how much your pet’s policy will cost. To ensure that you have a full understanding of the costs associated with pet insurance policies, keep these terms in mind:
Deductible: The deductible of your pet insurance policy is the amount that you must pay out-of-pocket for covered claims before Fetch will reimburse you. Fetch offers a few deductible options that seem to change — when I requested a quote for a dog, the options differed from what was offered for a cat. For the dog, I was given the options of $700, $500, and $300. For the cat, the options were $400, $300, $250.
Maximum annual payout: The maximum annual payout is the maximum amount that Fetch will reimburse you for your pet’s veterinary bills in a plan year. This amount resets every year when your pet insurance policy is renewed. Fetch offers maximum annual payouts of $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000.
Monthly premiums: The monthly premium is the amount you must pay to keep your pet’s policy active. It will change based on the deductible, reimbursement amount, and maximum annual payout you choose. Fetch allows pet parents to pay the monthly premium, or you can be billed quarterly or annually and receive a discount.
Reimbursement: After your pet visits the veterinarian, you can submit the invoice to Fetch for reimbursement. If the condition for which your pet received treatment is covered, Fetch will reimburse the cost based on the reimbursement option you chose. The deductible must be met before Fetch will reimburse you for any vet bills, so it’s important to submit your invoices even if you aren’t eligible for reimbursement yet. Fetch offers 70%, 80%, and 90% reimbursement options.
Here are a few quotes to give you an idea of what a pet insurance policy might cost for your pet(s):
Pet Info | Deductible Option | Reimbursement Rate | Maximum annual payout | Monthly Premium |
2-year-old medium-sized mixed breed dog | $300 | 90% | $15,000 | $44.83 |
2-year-old medium-sized mixed breed dog | $700 | 70% | $5,000 | $20.91 |
5-year-old mixed breed cat | $300 | 90% | $15,000 | $41.97 |
5-year-old mixed breed cat | $400 | 70% | $5,000 | $20.93 |
The most comprehensive pet insurance
- Use any veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada
- Rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot
- Covers up to 90% of unexpected vet bills
Fetch Pet by The Dodo Insurance features
Comprehensive coverage
Fetch’s illness and injury plan provides comprehensive coverage for all pets. It covers allergy treatments, surgeries, physical therapy, x-rays, CT scans, and name-brand prescription medication and supplements. Fetch plans also cover alternative and holistic care, including acupuncture and behavioral therapy. Fetch covers these hereditary conditions for purebred dogs prone to breed-related conditions such as breathing struggles or hip dysplasia.
Exam fee coverage
Some pet insurance companies don’t cover the exam fees, even if the insurance company covered the condition that was treated at the visit. Fetch pays for exam fees for qualifying sick visits. This includes virtual visits, office visits, and in-home visits. It also covers emergency vet visits and hospital stays.
Non-veterinary related coverage
One of the unique things that Fetch offers is coverage for boarding fees if the pet owner is hospitalized. In these cases, it will pay up to $1,000 per year in boarding fees at a licensed facility. Additionally, if your pet is missing, Fetch can help with the costs of advertising your missing pet. This coverage extends up to $1,000 per year and can also be put toward a reward for the finder of the pet.
Optional wellness coverage
Pet parents with a Fetch policy can add on wellness coverage for their pets. It covers preventive and routine care costs, including the cost of an annual wellness exam and vaccinations. It can also cover blood testing, dental cleaning, heartworm preventatives, and flea and tick preventatives. There are a few tiers of wellness coverage to choose from, starting at around $11/mo.
Billing options
Fetch allows you to choose whether to be billed monthly, quarterly, or annually. A discount is applied if you opt for quarterly or annual payments instead of monthly payments.
Related: Best Pet Insurance Companies of 2024
Who is Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance best for?
Pet parents who want exam fee coverage included in their policy
Many pet insurance companies do not offer coverage for the veterinarian’s exam fees, even for sick visits. Exam fees typically start at around $50 and can go well over $100 per visit, which can add up. Fetch is a good option for pet parents to consider if having coverage for exam fees is a priority.
Pet parents who want the option to pay quarterly or annually
If you’re comfortable paying more upfront, paying for the pet insurance policy quarterly or annually can be beneficial to save some money.
Owners of purebred dogs
Some breeds are prone to certain health conditions simply because of their genetics. Fetch can be a good option for owners of these dogs because of their breed-specific coverage.
Who shouldn’t use Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance?
Pet parents who want unlimited annual coverage
One of the downsides of Fetch is that it does not have an option for an unlimited annual maximum. If you’re worried about your pet being diagnosed with a serious condition that needs several expensive treatments — such as cancer treatments — you might want to opt for unlimited annual coverage.
People who would prefer a company that pays the vet directly
It’s not as common, but some pet insurance companies pay the vet directly instead of asking the pet parent to pay the veterinarian upfront. If you’d prefer a company that offers this payment option, you should explore other pet insurance options.
Pet parents who need immediate coverage
Like other pet insurance companies, there is a waiting period after purchasing a pet insurance policy from Fetch. If your pet needs immediate veterinary care or is already showing signs of an illness, unfortunately, you won’t be able to get coverage for that condition.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Additional coverages benefit the pet parent beyond covering the cost of veterinary bills.
- There is no upper age limit — a Fetch policy can cover pets if they are over six weeks old.
- Fetch offers discounts on the monthly premium if you pay quarterly or annually.
Cons
- There is no option for unlimited annual coverage — the highest annual coverage limit is $15,000.
- Fetch does not cover the cost of prescription food for pets.
- You have to pay the veterinarian upfront for any covered claims and then wait for Fetch to reimburse you.
The most comprehensive pet insurance
- Use any veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada
- Rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot
- Covers up to 90% of unexpected vet bills
Fetch Pet by The Dodo Insurance vs. competitors
Additional coverages | Annual deductible options | Reimbursement options | Maximum limits | |
Fetch by The Dodo | Wellness plans | $300, $500, or $700 | 70%, 80%, or 90% | $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 |
None | $250 and $500 | 70% and 80% | Unlimited | |
Recovery and complementary care and pet owner assistance | $0 - $1,000 | 90% | Unlimited | |
Wellness plans, exam fees, prescription drugs | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, and Unlimited |
Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws is a popular pet insurance company that offers dog and cat coverage. The biggest benefit of Healthy Paws is that it comes with an unlimited annual coverage limit. This means that pet parents who choose Healthy Paws can rest assured, knowing that the company will pay out for covered claims no matter how expensive they get.
That being said, there are some things that Healthy Paws does not cover. One of the main differences between Healthy Paws and Fetch is that Healthy Paws does not cover the exam fees for sick visits. Healthy Paws also does not offer an add-on for wellness coverage.
There are other differences to consider as well. Fetch is unique because it offers up to $1,000 for boarding fees if the pet owner is hospitalized and another $1,000 to help find a missing pet. Healthy Paws does not include any coverage for situations like these.
Healthy Paws gives back to the animal community through its Every Quote Gives Hope™ program. For every free quote that Healthy Paws gives out, the company donates the medical care of homeless pets across America. These donations are then given to pet adoption organizations in the form of grants to be used for essential services such as spaying, neutering, and vaccinations.
Trupanion
Trupanion is another popular option among pet parents. Its plans provide accident and illness coverage for dogs and cats. Trupanion also covers hereditary and congenital conditions, advanced dentistry treatments, and more.
This is another company that offers an unlimited annual maximum. Additionally, it offers a 90% reimbursement rate to go along with that. The thing that makes Trupanion truly unique, though, is that it can pay your veterinarian’s office directly for your pet’s care.
In addition to its accident and illness plan, Trupanion has a couple of optional coverages that pet parents can purchase. One is the recovery and complementary care package, which covers treatments such as acupuncture, behavioral modification, and physical therapy. The other is a pet owner assistance package, which can cover boarding fees if the pet parent is hospitalized and advertising fees for missing pets.
Overall, Trupanion and Fetch offer many of the same coverages. Each company just structures and packages these coverages a bit differently. Trupanion offers some of what Fetch covers in its base plan as add-ons that require an additional monthly fee. However, for some pet parents, the unlimited annual limit and payments directly to the veterinarian might make up for that.
Embrace Pet Insurance
Embrace offers a variety of options for pet parents to help them put together a pet insurance policy that best fits their budget. In some ways, it offers the best of both worlds — you can select an annual reimbursement limit as low as $5,000 or as high as no limit. It also offers several annual deductible options and reimbursement percentages.
One of the interesting things about Embrace is that it offers some coverages that many pet parents might consider essential for an additional monthly cost. This includes exam fees and prescription drugs. Each optional coverage can be added to a policy for around $5 per month.
Embrace also offers a few wellness coverage options. You can choose between $250, $450, and $650 per year in wellness rewards. This can be used for routine and preventative care such as wellness exams, vaccinations, preventatives, and nutritional supplements.
For households with multiple pets, Embrace offers a 10% discount for enrolling more than one pet. This can help pet owners enroll everyone in a pet insurance policy and save some money.
FAQs
What exclusions are there with a Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance policy?
Like other pet insurance companies, Fetch does not cover pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are anything your pet was diagnosed with or showed symptoms of before enrollment in the pet insurance policy. Anything that occurs during the waiting period of the pet insurance policy is also considered a pre-existing condition. Fetch also does not cover elective procedures that are not medically necessary, including tail docking, ear trimming, and declawing. Fetch does not cover prescription food, but supplements that a veterinarian recommends for a covered condition are. If you decide to enroll your pet in a Fetch policy, you should also keep in mind that Fetch will not cover claims filed more than 90 days after the treatment.
Does Fetch by The Dodo offer any discounts?
Yes, Fetch offers a discount if you pay for your pet’s plan quarterly or annually instead of monthly. There are also discounts for certain groups. For example, AARP members receive 10% off every month for the entirety of a pet’s policy.
How do I know that Fetch is a reliable pet insurance company?
Fetch is an established pet insurance company. You can find real-life ratings and reviews online from people who have had a pet enrolled in a policy. Fetch also has an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot. If you enroll your pet in a Fetch policy and decide you’re not happy with the company or coverage, you can cancel the policy anytime.
The most comprehensive pet insurance
- Use any veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada
- Rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot
- Covers up to 90% of unexpected vet bills
The bottom line
Now that you know what Fetch by The Dodo offers, it’s time to decide whether it’s the right pet plan for your family. Plenty of benefits come with having your pet enrolled with Fetch, including coverage for exam fees and behavioral therapy. The non-vet-related coverage can also provide some much-needed assistance in times of crisis.
There are a few things you need to consider at this point. If you’re looking for an accident-only plan or wellness coverage alone, Fetch may not be the right fit. The fact that it does not have an unlimited annual reimbursement option may also be a deterrent for some people. However, if you want comprehensive and affordable coverage for your dog or cat, Fetch should be high on your list.
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Ashley Hart is a lead copywriter and digital marketing expert covering finance, law, real estate, music, entertainment, health and wellness.
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