Despite being around for less than a decade, Lemonade insurance has become one of the most popular options for pet owners looking to get their hands on optimal pet insurance for their pets.
The organization has taken a digital-first approach to provide pet insurance, making it easy for pet owners to purchase policies for their pets. And for anyone looking to do the same, there is no doubt that Lemonade Insurance will be one of the top options for them to choose from.
In this article, we’ll provide a thorough review of Lemonade’s pet insurance policy, shedding light on the company’s merits and demerits.
Pros and Cons of Lemonade Pet Insurance
Pros
- Multiple preventative care packages: With Lemonade’s pet insurance policy, you get to enjoy access to basic illness and accident policies, as well as three preventative wellness plan options.
- Speed with claims processing: Lemonade’s digital-first approach has also made it quick for the company to handle claim processing.
- Pay-in discounts available: Lemonade also provides discounts to customers—especially if they bundle their pet insurance with the company’s other insurance policies. Annual payments and multiple pet cover also attract discounts.
Cons
- Not available in every state: Currently, about 15 states in the United States don’t have access to Lemonade’s pet insurance coverage.
- Credit history: With Lemonade, your credit history can determine your rates. So, if you don’t have good credit, be prepared to possibly pay more.
Lemonade Pet Insurance Plans
With lemonade, you can get insurance coverage for your cats and dogs. The company primarily offers plans that cover the following:
Base Accident & Illness
The base plan from Lemonade covers health a broad range of health conditions. These include cancer, urinary tract infections, diabetes, and more.
Just as well, Lemonade offers cover for injuries like broken bones and other associated issues. With the company, you can get coverage for care such as MRI tests, blood tests, surgeries, medication, and extended hospital visits.
Extended Accident & Illness
Under extended accident & illness coverage, policyholders can get access to several add-ons that aren’t necessarily included in the base policy.
The extended plan covers instances such as end-of-life treatment, fees for vet examinations, physical therapies, and much more.
Preventative Care
Preventative care is one of the areas where Lemonade pet insurance especially shines. With the company, you get to enjoy discounts on regular vet visits – all without having to get a deductible. The company will offer up to 70% of the payment costs for treatments such as vaccines, flea medication, wellness examinations, and much more.
The preventative care package from Lemonade is broken down into:
- The Preventative Package: Here, you get to enjoy coverage for issues like vaccinations, FeLV/FIV testing, an annual wellness exam, fecal tests, and more. You can also chat with health experts for your pet’s sake.
- The Preventative+ Package: This package features everything in the first package, as well as routine flea medication and dental cleaning.
- The Puppy/Kitten Preventative Package: This one covers up to two wellness visits, microchipping, neutering, vaccinations and boosters, and more.
State Availability
Currently, Lemonade offers pet insurance in 35 states across the country, as well as the District of Columbia. These states are:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington state, and Wisconsin.
What Does Lemonade Pet Insurance Cover?
Base Accident & Illness will cover the following:
- Surgeries
- Extended hospitalization
- Inpatient & outpatient care
- Emergency care procedures
- Diagnostic tests – MRIs, lab work, -rays, ultrasounds, etc.
- Injections for covered conditions
- Prescription pills
Extended Accident & Illness will cover the following:
- Physical therapy treatments – acupuncture, chiropractics, etc.
- Fees for vet visits—to treat eligible illnesses or accidents
- End-of-life and remembrance costs—cremation, euthanasia, etc.
The Preventative Care package will cover the following:
- Heartworm tests
- Microchipping
- Spaying or neutering
- Bloodwork
- Wellness exams
- Heartworm medication
- Faecal tests
- Up to six vaccines and boosters
- Routine dental cleaning
- X-rays and polishing
What Doesn’t Lemonade Pet Insurance Cover?
Of course, it is worth noting that Lemonade’s plans don’t cover everything. Some of the procedures exempted from the insurance include:
- Illnesses or accidents that occurred before the end of your plan’s waiting period
- Costs that are related to any pre-existing conditions
- Experimental treatments
- Bilateral conditions: If your pet has a condition (such as cataracts) before you purchase coverage, Lemonade won’t cover the cost if it develops on the other side after the policy kicks in. However, the company covers these conditions in the first occurrence if you have a policy in place
- Preventable, recurring conditions: For instance, the repeated swallowing of a dangerous object that you failed to keep out of your pet’s reach.
Waiting Periods for Coverage
Coverage for pet insurance usually doesn’t kick in until after a specific period of time – which is known as the waiting period. This period begins on the day you purchase coverage for the first time.
When it comes to Lemonade, the waiting period is as follows:
- Two days for accidents
- 14 days for illnesses
- Six months for cruciate ligament issues
The two-day waiting period for accidents is especially competitive, compared to most other pet insurance services. Some companies impose up to 14 days for a waiting period for accidents—although a 14-day waiting period for illnesses is standard practice for insurance companies.
Sadly, Lemonade might not be the right company for you if your pet is susceptible to cruciate ligament injuries. With their six-month waiting period, you might need to find another insurance company to help with that.
Lemonade Insurance Costs
Now, let’s look into the financials. How much does insurance cost with Lemonade?
Coverage Levels
Usually, pet insurance companies put a coverage cap on the amount they pay for qualifying expenses annually. With Lemonade, you get to enjoy different coverage limits to choose from:
- $5,000
- $10,000
- $20,000
- $50,000
- $100,000
Deductible Options
Before the reimbursements start for your medical expenses, you’d also need to pay a deductible for vet bills. On this front, Lemonade offers three options:
- $100
- $250
- $500
Reimbursement Options
Different insurance policies also come with different reimbursement levels. This means you only get expense coverage up to a specific percentage of the total bill.
With Lemonade, you get to choose between three different reimbursement levels:
- 70%
- 80%
- 90%
How Much Does Coverage Cost?
The following table shows the prices for Dallas (postal code 75242) with a reimbursement rate of 80%, an annual limit of $20.000, and a $250 annual deductible.
| Accident + Illness | Accident + Illness + Wellness plan | |
| Labrador Retriever | ||
| 8-week-old puppy | $85.27 | $116.11 |
| 5-year-old | $102.12 | $111.24 |
| Senior | $151.70 | $160.83 |
| French Bulldog | ||
| 8-week-old puppy | $110.77 | $141.61 |
| 5-year-old | $136.55 | $145.67 |
| Senior | $181.47 | $190.59 |
| Golden Retriever | ||
| 8-week-old puppy | $83.93 | $114.76 |
| 5-year-old | $100.30 | $109.43 |
| Senior | $148.50 | $157.62 |
| German Shepard | ||
| 8-week-old puppy | $83.79 | $114.62 |
| 5-year-old | $100.12 | $109.24 |
| Senior | $128.58 | $137.70 |
| Poodle | ||
| 8-week-old puppy | $75.09 | $105.93 |
| 5-year-old | $84.96 | $94.09 |
| Senior | $118.36 | $127.49 |
| Exotic Shorthair Cats | ||
| 8-week-old kitten | $49.11 | $75.53 |
| 5-year-old | $54.26 | $60.85 |
According to Lemonade’s website, the average cost of cat insurance is $25 a month. The company considers several factors when working out the cost of insurance—including, but not limited to location, the type of coverage, and the pet’s health.
Again, customers can check this page to find out more information about lemonade’s cost and pricing policy.
Possible Discounts
- Lemonade provides a 10% discount for pet insurance if you bundle the pet insurance pan with a home or renters’ insurance policy
- You can also get a 5% discount from Lemonade on your pet insurance plan if you insure two or more pets
- And, you can get a 5% discount if you choose to pay your insurance premium annually
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Lemonade offer a wellness plan?
Yes, Lemonade offers a wellness plan. The company provides options for you to choose from, allowing you to enjoy your pick of the litter.
Does Lemonade cover pre-existing conditions?
No, they don’t. Like other pet insurance companies, Lemonade’s coverage doesn’t include any pre-existing conditions.
Does Lemonade cover dental cleaning?
Yes, Lemonade covers dental cleaning as part of its plans. The dental cleaning service can usually be found in the Preventative+ package.
Does Lemonade have any coverage limits?
Lemonade allows its customers to choose between different coverage limits, usually ranging from $5,000 to $100,000.
How do I file a claim with Lemonade?
Lemonade provides a digital-first approach to claim filing. You can download the company’s app and click on the “File a claim” button. Give a detailed explanation of what happened, and the company’s system will run your claim through different anti-fraud checks. Once the claim has been approved, your payment will be processed.
How long does it take Lemonade to pay out?
According to Lemonade’s website, the company processes payments almost instantly. However, this is subject to approval by the company’s artificial intelligence system, which checks your claims for authenticity.
How do I cancel a policy from Lemonade?
For you to cancel a policy from Lemonade, you can follow these steps:
- Call Lemonade’s customer service line and ask to speak to an agent
- Verify your information based on Lemonade’s requests
- Request to cancel your insurance policy directly
- Get clarity on any charges that could be incurred by this action
Does Lemonade cover spaying or neutering?
Yes, Lemonade covers spaying or neutering procedures. This service is covered under the company’s Preventative Care package.
Does Lemonade cover euthanasia?
Yea, euthanasia is covered under Lemonade’s pet insurance program. It is an end-of-life service, and these services are usually covered under the company’s Extended Accident & Illness package
Does Lemonade cover hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is another condition that is covered by Lemonade’s pet insurance policy. However, it is important to note that this won’t be covered if the condition is pre-existing.
Is Lemonade accepted by every vet?
Lemonade works on a reimbursement basis, meaning that you will be able to visit any pet in the United States and file a claim – as long as the pet is licensed to provide veterinary care in the state they operate in.
Also, you should keep in mind that Lemonade isn’t available in every state around the country.
Does Lemonade pay the vet directly?
No, Lemonade doesn’t pay the vet directly. The company’s pet insurance works on a reimbursement basis, so you will need to pay your vet bills upfront and then submit a claim through Lemonade’s mobile app. If your policy covers the vet bills, Lemonade will reimburse you.
