Figo vs. Healthy Paws

Figo vs. Healthy Paws: Coverage

Figo and Healthy Paws include nearly identical lists of covered treatments in their policies. Both offer reimbursement for the diagnosis and treatment of accidents and illnesses that aren’t pre-existing. Specialists and alternative treatments are also covered as long as they’re administered by a licensed veterinarian. Both will pay for medical boarding expenses if your pet needs to be hospitalized for multiple days (for Figo, boarding is an add-on coverage).

The key difference is that Figo lets pet parents elect exam fee coverage by purchasing a policy rider. This option isn’t available with Healthy Paws. Figo also covers cremation or burial if your pet passes away, but Healthy Paws lists final expenses as an exclusion.

Looking at policy terms, you’ll find a bit more contrast between Figo and Healthy Paws. While all of Healthy Paws’ plans include unlimited annual benefits by default, Figo lets pet parents choose from a scale of $5,000 to unlimited. The advantage is that choosing a lower limit reduces monthly premiums, creating more affordable options for those on a budget.  

Figo also offers a wider range of reimbursement levels. Some plans offer 100% reimbursement for covered expenses up to the annual maximum. Healthy Paws caps this at 90%, meaning you’ll have to pay 10% or more in coinsurance depending on which option you choose.

The table below outlines the specific treatments included in each provider’s plans.

*Additional fee

Figo vs. Healthy Paws: Enrollment Process

Both Figo and Healthy Paws make it easy to purchase coverage for your dog or cat online. A quote can be obtained in just a few minutes by filling out your pet’s information and comparing different coverage options. From there, all you need to do is select the plan you’d like and enter your payment information.

However, keep in mind that neither provider begins coverage immediately. Figo imposes a waiting period of one day for injuries and 14 days for illnesses. With Healthy Paws, there’s a 15-day waiting period for both types of claims. Any conditions that appear during these periods will be considered pre-existing.

Both companies have an eight-week minimum enrollment age, which is fairly standard for pet insurance. Figo has no maximum enrollment age, but Healthy Paws makes it difficult to get coverage for an older pet. The provider heavily limits benefits if you sign your pet up after their sixth birthday and stops accepting new enrollments entirely at 14 years of age.

Figo vs. Healthy Paws: Claim Filing

Figo and Healthy Paws are both industry leaders in claim filing technology. Each company has its own smartphone app that pet parents can use to submit claims in minutes.

While Healthy Paws advertises a quick, 48-hour processing time for 99% of claims, Figo tells customers to expect a much longer wait time of seven to 10 business days.

Figo vs. Healthy Paws: Reviews

While third-party ratings aren’t everything, they do offer a quick litmus test for potential problem areas. Looking at several review sources, Healthy Paws tops Figo every time. Healthy Paws receives more positive third-party reviews than Figo. Most of Figo’s third-party negative reviews involve claims that were denied.

Healthy Paws also performs better in the financial stability realm. The company’s underwriter, Chubb, has an AM Best rating of "A++", the best possible score. Figo’s policies are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company, which is rated "A-". While this is still considered an excellent score, it’s not quite as strong as other pet insurers.

Figo vs. Healthy Paws: Costs

Since Figo provides more flexible policy options, the company offers plans at a wider price range than Healthy Paws. Figo’s $5,000-limit plans start under $15 for dogs and at $10 for cats. All Healthy Paws policies include unlimited benefits, which means there aren’t many budget-friendly choices available. For pets over the age of five, Healthy Paws only gives one option, which comes with a 70% reimbursement rate and a $500 deductible.

Pet parents looking at Figo should also consider the cost of an optional exam fees rider, which adds a few dollars to each month’s premium if elected. Pricing depends on the annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement rate chosen.

To get a fair pricing comparison between Figo and Healthy Paws, we compared premiums for a mixed breed, 20 lb. two-year-old dog with unlimited annual benefits, 90% reimbursement, and a $100 deductible. While Figo quoted us $30.99 per month, Healthy Paws came in more than ten dollars higher at $41.15. Over the course of a year, you’d save $120 by purchasing the same policy with Figo instead of Healthy Paws.

We’ve listed a range of estimated monthly costs for both providers below. Keep in mind that your quoted price will depend on the coverage you choose.

*Prices do not include exam fees rider, which ranges from around $2.00 to around $20.00 depending on age and other factors

FAQs

What Are Figo and Healthy Paws?

Figo and Healthy Paws are two competing pet insurance providers that offer policies for dogs and cats. Pet insurance plans are designed to help offset the cost of unexpected veterinary expenses resulting from injury or illness.

How Do Figo and Healthy Paws Work?

When you sign up for coverage with Figo or Healthy Paws, you’ll pay a monthly premium in exchange for a certain amount of benefits every year. If your pet has a covered veterinary expense, you can submit the bill to the insurance company for reimbursement.

Make sure you understand which conditions are and aren’t covered before purchasing pet insurance. Certain ailments, including pre-existing conditions, are typically excluded.

Who Should Use Figo or Healthy Paws?

If you’re looking for flexible or affordable coverage, Figo is the better pet insurance option. The company’s policies are highly customizable based on your needs and budget, with coverage as low as $15 per month for dogs and $10 per month for cats.

On the other hand, if customer service is your main priority, Healthy Paws may be worth a few extra dollars every month. The provider gets exceedingly positive reviews and pays most claims in under 48 hours. However, if your pet is over six years old when you first sign up, Healthy Paws isn’t the best choice.

How We Evaluated Figo vs. Healthy Paws

We reviewed Figo and Healthy Paws using our pet insurance scoring system, which evaluates the key areas pet parents should consider when shopping for coverage. Our method awards points based on pricing, coverage options, exclusions, quality of service, and more, calculating a total score out of five points for each company.

Learn more: Read our full Pet Insurance Review Methodology here.