What’s the best pet insurance – Lemonade or Fetch?
Lemonade and Fetch are both great options for any pet parent, but they aren't the same and have different strengths. For example, Lemonade makes a virtue of its claims processing speed, while Fetch is fantastic for discounts and older pets. Lasering in on the factors that are most important to you in a pet insurance provider will help you disregard any irrelevant information. It’s complicated. But we hope that reading all the information below helps. We strongly suggest that you also use our super-speedy pet insurance quote page and review pages, which will help you decide which pet insurance plan is best for you.What do the plans cover?
Fetch and Lemonade both offer accident and illness plans covering things like hereditary, congenital and chronic conditions. Both companies cover dental accidents, while only Fetch covers dental illness. Lemonade asks that you take out an add-on in order to cover alternative therapies and euthanasia, but Fetch covers these without an extra charge. Fetch doesn’t offer a wellness plan – though it does have nice niche features like a lost pet advertisement scheme – but at Lemonade you’ll get one in the ‘preventive’ add-on nice and easily. Both plans cover many common illnesses and conditions that a pet can suffer from, such as:- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Cataracts
- Cruciate injury
- Dental disease
- Dermatitis
- Diabetes
- Diarrhea
- Ear infections
- Hip dysplasia
- Gastroenteritis
- Kidney disease
- Limping
- Liver disease
- Lymphoma
- Pancreatitis
- Seizures
- Vomiting
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual coverage options | $5000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, $100,000 | $5,000, $10,000, $15,000 |
| Deductible options | $100, $250, $500 | $300, $500, $700 |
| Reimbursement options | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% |
| When does coverage start? | 2-14 days | 15 days |
| Maximum age at sign up | 14 years | No maximum |
| Are vet exam fees included at no extra cost? | ||
| Are dental accidents covered? | ||
| Are dental illnesses covered? | ||
| Is there a wellness plan offered? | ||
| Is there a virtual vet/telehealth service? | ||
| End of life coverage | ||
| Is there a multi-pet discount offered? | ||
| Is there a charge for paying monthly? | ||
| Is there an app to make claims? |
*Coverage is based on choosing unlimited coverage, 250 deductible and 90% reimbursement
Are there any exclusions?
Both Fetch and Lemonade exclude pre-existing conditions. Lemonade makes a point of saying that preventable situations and neglect are not covered in its plans. Lemonade will cover hip dysplasia (and other congenital conditions) as long as there are no symptoms until after your policy has begun. Both providers’ waiting period for dysplasia is six months. It’s always best to read the full list of exclusions before signing up for any pet insurance plan.How expensive are Lemonade and Fetch?
Lemonade is likely to be a little cheaper than Fetch, partly because it's a bit more flexible. It has five annual coverage options ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, while Fetch has three, and maxes out at $15,000 – a full $85,000 less than Lemonade. Neither company has an enrolment fee but both providers charge you for paying monthly. It’s worth noting, however, that Lemonade is a public benefit corporation and, as such, a percentage of its profits go to causes like animal welfare groups. To be sure of an exact comparison for your pet, however, use our quote calculator. | | |
|---|---|---|
Medium Mixed 3 months old in Los Angeles
| $29.92per month | $96.18per month |
Golden Retriever 3 years old in San Diego
| $35.42 per month | $102.23 per month |
Chihuahua 6 years old in New York City
| $43.89 per month | $93.83 per month |
Domestic Shorthair 3 months old in San Antonio
| $14.75per month | $20.16 per month |
Domestic Shorthair 3 year old in Jacksonville
| $16.54per month | $18.88per month |
Medium Mixed
3 months old in Los Angeles
$5,000 annual coverage
Golden Retriever
3 years old in San Diego
Unlimited annual coverage
Chihuahua
6 years old in New York City
Unlimited annual coverage
Domestic Shorthair
3 months old in San Antonio
$5,000 annual coverage
Domestic Shorthair
3 year old in Jacksonville
Unlimited annual coverage
Coverage options may vary.
Do Lemonade or Fetch offer discounts?
Lemonade offers you a multi-pet discount of 5% and promises to give you 10% off if you bundle your pet insurance with any of their life, car or homeowners insurance. Fetch offers no multi-pet discount but does boast a host of others: 10% off if you’re a veteran or you’re in the military, if you adopt a rescue pet, if you’re a member of AARP, if you’re a vet or work in the profession, and if your pet is a therapy animal. Fetch also offers 15% off for each consecutive year without a claim.Are the plans customizable?
Absolutely. While it is less flexible than Lemonade, there is a degree of customization at Fetch, with its various deductible ($300, $500 or $700), reimbursement and annual limits. Unfortunately, you can’t add on a wellness plan at Fetch. Lemonade lets you have things like vet visit fees and physical therapy covered by choosing the Extended Accident and Illness add-on package. If you want to focus more on prevention and wellness, you can add on a package that pays for things like vaccines, blood tests, dental cleaning, and annual wellness exams.How do I make claims?
Paying via the app is by far the best option with Lemonade: its AI-led app processes claims easily and more quickly than competitors, with the company claiming that 30% of claims are approved in three minutes. For Fetch, which asks that you submit a claim within 90 days, using the app is possible – as is going through its website.Are they easy to contact?
They certainly are. Lemonade is available on the phone (844 733 8666) and you can reach the team on social media or email (help@lemonade.com). Fetch can also be contacted by mail, phone (866 467 3875), email, social media, and online chatbot.Customer reviews
Lemonade customers are content, talking about the ease of the app and likening it to online shopping. They are also happy with the value for money that it offers. Fetch’s customer service is very popular and, while it changed its underwriter in 2016 and upset some customers as a result, the feedback now is terrific.Our Lemonade rating
Overall score
Speed of claims
Customer service
Claims procedure
Easy to understand
Value for money
Our Fetch rating
Overall score
Speed of claims
Customer service
Claims procedure
Easy to understand
Value for money
Frequently asked questions
People ask us a lot of different questions about the pet insurance providers we work with. It’s the smart thing to do because no two insurers are the same. Here are some common questions (and the answers!).What are the waiting periods?
Lemonade is fast, with only two days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses. With Fetch, it's 15 days for illness and 15 days for accident. Both providers’ waiting period for dysplasia is six months.
Do the plans include behavioral treatments?
At Lemonade they come as one of five potential add-ons. This would be subject to a $1,000 limit annually, and would not include – among other things – pre-existing behavioral conditions, prescription food, obedience training, and alternative medicines. But Fetch doesn’t require you to take out a separate rider, offering up to $1,000 in behavioral therapy and medicine as standard.
Is there a maximum age for enrolment?
At Lemonade it’s 14. Fetch has no maximum!
Do they need my pet’s medical records?
Yes, both will. Lemonade stipulates that it wants a medical record including information from a visit that happened within a year of your policy start date. Fetch says that it wants detailed medical records from the most recent check-up your pet had.
Will the insurer pay the vet directly?
No, neither will, unfortunately.
Is my pet covered in other countries?
Lemonade is only available to residents of 38 states but your pet is covered across the US. Fetch is available in all of the US and most of Canada and covers your pet in both countries.
Do they have a vet telehealth service?
Fetch does; Lemonade does not.