Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance Review

Pros Explained

• Covers exam fees: Not all pet insurance companies cover office exams, but Fetch will reimburse you for office sick-visit exams, emergency vet visits, and specialist fees. 
• Reimbursements in as few as five days: Like other companies, Fetch works via reimbursement. If you enroll in direct deposit, you could receive your reimbursement in as few as five days. Considering that other companies can take 30 days or more, that’s a significant advantage. 
• Multiple discounts available: By taking advantage of Fetch’s discounts for shelter and rescue adopters, AARP members, veterans, and active military and veterinary staff, you can save up to 10% on your premiums. 
• Pets as young as six weeks are eligible for coverage: Most companies exclude pets younger than eight weeks or older than 12 years. By contrast, Fetch insures pets as young as six weeks, and it doesn’t have an upper age limit.

Cons Explained

• Does not have unlimited annual benefits: Unlike other companies, Fetch doesn’t have an unlimited annual benefit option; the maximum benefit it provides is $15,000. 
• Six-month waiting period for hip dysplasia: Although Fetch’s waiting period for accidents is just 15 days, it will not cover the treatment of hip dysplasia during the first six months of the policy’s effective date. That’s quite different from other companies that include hip dysplasia within their normal waiting periods. 
• Does not cover preventative care: Pet insurance companies often sell wellness or preventative care plans to cover vaccinations and other routine care. Unfortunately, Fetch doesn’t have a wellness plan, so you’ll have to pay for all preventative care yourself. 
• Shorter-than-typical deadline for claims: While some companies give you up to 270 days to submit a claim, Fetch is more strict. You only have 90 days after your pet's treatment to submit a claim; otherwise, the claim will be denied.

Introduction

Previously known as PetPlan, Fetch by the Dodo is a relatively new insurer that offers accident and illness policies for dogs and cats. Its plans include added benefits that other insurers may not offer, and it doesn’t have the age limitations of other companies.

Company Overview

PetPlan partnered with The Dodo, a well-known animal and pet brand, to form Fetch by the Dodo pet insurance in 2021. 

Since its launch, the company has insured over 350,000 pets. Its accident and illness policies are sold directly to consumers through its website, and they’re available in all 50 states and D.C., and most of Canada. Fetch’s headquarters is located in New York City, and it has about 220 employees in the U.S. and Canada. 

Available Plans

Fetch only has one plan option for dogs and cats: accident and illness coverage. Its plans reimburse policyholders for the treatment of unexpected injuries and illnesses, including cancer treatments, surgeries, and wounds. 

While Fetch doesn’t have optional riders, its plans do include extra benefits many other insurers don’t provide: 

• Lost pet advertisements and rewards: If your dog or cat is lost or believed to be stolen, Fetch will reimburse you up to $1,000 for advertising and rewards for the pet’s safe return. 
• Boarding fees: If you are injured or ill and are hospitalized for four or more days, Fetch will reimburse you for up to $1,000 in boarding fees for your pet. 
• Vacation cancellation: If your pet becomes seriously injured or ill and you need to cancel or interrupt your vacation plans to take care of them, vacation cancellation coverage will reimburse you up to $1,000.

Waiting Periods

Like other pet insurers, Fetch has waiting periods before its coverage goes into effect. The waiting period for both accidents and illnesses is 15 days. 

However, there is an exception for hip dysplasia. Fetch will not cover any treatments for hip dysplasia for the first six months the policy is in effect. 

Cancellation Policy

When you purchase pet insurance from Fetch, you have a 30-day free look period. You have 30 days from the policy effective date to cancel your policy and get a full refund. 

Once the free look period expires, you can cancel your coverage at any time without penalty. Fetch will refund you a prorated amount based on the termination date. 

You can cancel your coverage by calling (866) 467-3875 or by emailing info@fetchpet.com.

Plan Exclusions

Pet insurance companies don’t cover pre-existing conditions, and Fetch is no exception. Any conditions first evidenced before your policy effective date are excluded from coverage. 

Some other important exclusions:

• Prescription foods
• Routine or preventative care
• Experimental treatments
• Microchipping
• Routine dental
• Heartworm/FELV/blood/fecal exams
• Heartworm/flea/tick prevention
• Spay/neuter
• Vaccination/titer

Pre-Existing Conditions

Pre-existing conditions are any injury or illness that your pet had before the policy’s effective date or that developed during the waiting period. Treatments for pre-existing conditions are not covered. 

However, Fetch does have exceptions for curable conditions. If your pet has a pre-existing condition—but it doesn’t reoccur or need treatment for 365 days—the condition will be covered going forward. 

Plan Pricing

According to Fetch by the Dodo, plans average $35 per month for dogs, and $20 per month for cats.

When choosing a plan, you have the following options to choose from:

In general, we found that Fetch’s policies were in line with the industry average for most pets (using an average of three pet personas: two dogs and a cat). However, its premiums were substantially higher than other companies for pets eight and up.

Available Discounts

Fetch offers a 10% discount for the following groups: 

• Shelter and rescue adopters
• AARP members
• Veterans and active military
• Support, comfort, and therapy pet owners
• Veterinarians and vet staff

You can also save money by paying your premiums annually rather than monthly or quarterly. And if you go a certain period without filing any claims, you can qualify for a 30% discount. 

How Premiums Are Set

Pet insurance premiums can vary by insurer, but there are other factors that affect your rate: 

• Age: Older pets are much more expensive to insure than younger ones. 
• Breed: Some breeds of cats and dogs are more susceptible to certain health conditions than others. If your pet’s breed is prone to hereditary or congenital ailments, you’ll have a higher premium. 
• Location: If you live in an area with a higher cost of living, you can expect your premiums to be higher than they’d be in other parts of the country. 
• Selected coverage: The maximum annual benefit, reimbursement percentage, and deductible you choose affects your premiums. In general, a higher deductible will result in a lower premium. 

Claims

If your pet is ill or injured, you must visit a veterinary clinic within 48 hours of the first symptoms for treatment.

After your pet is treated, you have 90 days to submit a claim. To file a claim, fill out a claim form and attach your veterinarian’s invoice and receipt of payment. You can submit claims through your online account. 

According to Fetch, claims are usually processed within 15 days, but you could get reimbursed in as few as two days.  If your claim is approved, Fetch will send your reimbursement via check or direct deposit; enrolling in direct deposit can get you paid up to 10 days faster. 

Customer Service

Fetch provides customer support via phone, email, or chat. During business hours, its chat feature is staffed by its customer service team, but an automated chatbot is available 24/7.

You can reach customer support by calling (866) 509-0163 or emailing info@fetchpet.com. Customer support agents are available for service Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. EST.

Third-Party Ratings

Like other pet insurance companies, Fetch by the Dodo isn’t actually an insurance company. Instead, its policies are underwritten by property and casualty insurance companies. 

In Fetch’s case, its policies are underwritten by XL Specialty Insurance Company or AXIS Insurance. 

Both companies have strong ratings from AM Best, a credit rating agency that evaluates insurance companies. XL Specialty has an A+ (Superior) rating, while Axis Insurance Company has an A (Excellent) rating. 

No complaints about Fetch have been submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. And on Trustpilot, reviews are mostly positive. Fetch has a rating of 4.3 out of five based on more than 900 reviews, putting it in the “Excellent” category.  

Reviews praise the company’s responsiveness and customer service. As one customer wrote: 

"Fetch has always gone above and beyond in both customer service and policy coverage. We have used them since we first got a dog in 2016, and I am so excited to use them for every pet ever owned. Cannot recommend enough! "— Emily A. 

Alternative Choices

Researching pet insurance options can be stressful; terms and conditions can vary by company, and it can be difficult to make sense of what they cover (and what they don’t.) When comparing companies, consider these factors: 

• Exclusions: Exclusions vary by company. No pet insurance company covers pre-existing conditions, but other common exclusions include bilateral conditions, treatments for knee or hip ailments past certain ages, holistic care, and prescription foods. 
• Waiting periods: Pet insurance companies usually have waiting periods, which are periods of time after the policy effective date during which your pet’s care isn’t covered. Some companies will waive the waiting period if you have a veterinarian exam and the pet is clear of issues. 
• Care requirements: Some insurers have minimum care requirements, such as annual wellness exams, vaccinations, dental exams, and cleanings. Review the requirements and stick to a schedule. Not following the requirements is grounds for the company to deny your claims. 
• Benefit maximums: The benefit maximum is how much the company will pay per year or over your pet’s lifetime. For costly procedures, such as treatments for cancer or hip dysplasia, your pet’s care can easily be in the thousands, so choose carefully. Some insurers have a pre-condition limit, so read the fine print and understand what the company will cover. 
• Reimbursement percentage: After reaching your deductible, the reimbursement percentage is how much of your veterinary bill the insurance company will pay. For example, if the bill is $1,000 and your reimbursement percentage is 70%, you will receive a reimbursement check for $700. 
• Age restrictions: Most insurers only cover pets between 8 weeks and 12 years of age. However, there are some companies that will insure younger or older pets. 

Competition

Final Verdict

Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance is a great choice, especially for owners with young animals, since it offers coverage starting at six weeks old. Its plans also include benefits that usually cost extra with other companies. Plus, if this is your first time owning a pet, Fetch offers simple, easy-to-understand accident and illness policies for cats and dogs.

However, Fetch doesn’t offer unlimited annual benefits or 100% reimbursement. Its premiums are also higher than is typical for senior pets. Therefore, if you own an older pet, it may be worthwhile to compare rates from other leading companies before purchasing coverage.

Methodology

Investopedia is dedicated to providing consumers with unbiased, comprehensive reviews of pet insurance companies. We rated 25 providers and collected over 2,000 data points, including information about plan options, company features, and fees and limits, to ensure that our reviews help users make informed decisions for their pet insurance needs.

Our full pet insurance methodology, including our data collection process and weighted data points, is available for review.