We’ve collected some of your most frequently asked questions about Lemonade’s pet health insurance, all in one place. From pre-existing conditions to coverages and costs, we’ll hit the burning questions you might have about keeping your pet covered, healthy, and happy!
Here’s what we’ll go over:
- How do I apply for a Lemonade Pet policy?
- What are waiting periods?
- What’s the deal with cruciate ligament events?
- What is co-insurance?
- Can I change my coverage after I purchase a policy?
- What is a pre-existing condition?
- Do you need my pet’s medical records?
- Can Lemonade cover curable pre-existing conditions?
- Does pet insurance cover allergy medication?
- Why did my premium increase at renewal?
- How do I cancel my pet insurance policy?
- How do I file a pet insurance claim?
- How long do I have to file a claim?
- Can I speak to someone from Lemonade on the phone?
- How can I lower my pet insurance premiums?
- Do I have to pay vet bills up front myself?
- Can my pet go to any vet (and be covered)?
- Do you only cover cats and dogs?
- Why is it harder to sign an older pet up for pet insurance?
- Does pet insurance cover cancer treatments?
- Does it cover accidents, like if my dog gets injured by a car?
- Does pet insurance cover flea, tick, and heartworm medication?
- If I buy my pet’s flea, tick, or heartworm prevention from Chewy or Costco, can I get the costs reimbursed?
- What about dental treatments, cleanings, and other tooth stuff?
- What’s covered as part of a routine spay or neuter procedure through the Puppy/Kitten preventative package?
- What’s the difference between coverage for vet visit fees and wellness exams?
- Does pet insurance cover me if my dog or cat is lost or stolen?
- How much does pet insurance cost?
- Can I get a quote for my new pet before I’ve officially adopted them?
- Why is getting pet insurance better than just putting some money aside every month into a ‘pet savings account’?
- Me and my pet are moving. Should I let Lemonade know?
- What if I get my pet covered in a state where Lemonade offers pet insurance, but then we move to a different state where you don’t offer policies?
- If I’m traveling and my pet gets sick or hurt in a state where Lemonade Pet isn’t offered, am I still covered?
- Where is Lemonade Pet currently available?
How do I apply for a Lemonade Pet policy?
You can set your pet up with coverage in just a few minutes, all from the comfort of your couch.
Click the link below, and our chatbot Maya will ask you a few questions about your pet, where you live, and the coverages you want for your fur baby.
If you’d rather apply through our mobile app, go ahead and download it to get started.
Once you’ve applied, you’ll want to get your pet’s medical records submitted (these are also called SOAP notes).
You don’t need these records on hand to start getting your pet set up with insurance. But it’s best to get them submitted as quickly as possible so it doesn’t slow down the process if and when you file a claim. Pet medical records are reviewed by our team in order to determine your pet’s pre-existing conditions—more on those in a bit.
What are waiting periods?
A waiting period is something found in most pet insurance policies. It refers to the amount of time your pet insurer requires you to wait until your pet is eligible for reimbursement on specific conditions. Once you activate your Lemonade pet insurance policy, there are different waiting periods to keep in mind before you can file a claim, which vary by state.
Waiting periods are designed to protect our Lemonade community from someone who just buys a policy just to cover one procedure—and then drops out.
What’s the deal with cruciate ligament events?
Cruciate ligament events is a scary-sounding term of a common knee injury in dogs, similar to a human tearing their ACL. These injuries are mostly commonly addressed through surgery.
Waiting periods for cruciate ligament events is a pet insurance policy and industry standard, and applies no matter the cause of the issue (even accidents). If your pet develops signs or symptoms of a cruciate ligament issue before or during your policy’s waiting period, which varies by state, it will be considered a pre-existing condition.
What is co-insurance?
Co-insurance is the percentage of an eligible claim Lemonade will reimburse you for. At Lemonade, there are 70%, 80%, and 90% co-insurance options available.
Insurance companies calculate your percentage of co-insurance every time they figure out how much to pay you for your approved claim. The equation for your claim payment usually looks like this:
(cost of procedure X co-insurance) – deductible = claim payment
So let’s say your dog needs surgery that costs $6,000. Your policy has 80% co-insurance and a $250 deductible. If your claim is approved, you’d receive: ($6,000 x 80%) – $250 = $4,550.
The higher your co-insurance, the higher your monthly premiums. If you opt for a lower co-insurance amount, your premiums will also be lower, but you’ll be required to pay more towards eligible claims.
Can I change my coverage after I purchase a policy?
Well, it depends on when exactly you purchased your policy.
If you want to make certain changes—like increasing or decreasing your annual deductible, altering your coverage limit or co-insurance amounts, or adding or removing add-ons or preventative care packages—you can still do so within 14 days of purchasing your policy.
If it’s been more than 14 days since you purchased your pet insurance policy, you’ll have to wait until renewal (12 months after your initial purchase) to make those changes. Don’t worry, you’ll get an email reminder from us beforehand!
FYI, any coverage changes are subject to approval from our Underwriting team, and could be impacted by claims you’ve filed.
What is a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition refers to any kind of illness, health issue, or associated sign or symptom your pet developed before your waiting period was up with your insurer.
It doesn’t mean pet insurance companies won’t insure your pet, it just means your plan won’t cover costs that directly relate to any ailment they showed signs or symptoms of before the end of their waiting periods.
A pre-existing condition is determined by your pet’s medical record.
Do you need my pet’s medical records?
We want to get to know your pet so we can provide the best experience. We require a medical record that includes info that covers the last 12 and a half months of your pet’s life (this includes the illness waiting period on your policy). If your pet is less than a year old, the medical record should include info from birth through the illness waiting period, which varies by state.
Your pet’s medical records aren’t required to sign-up for a policy (and won’t determine your pet’s eligibility), but we need to have records on file in order to repay claims.
We recommend getting these records as soon after the illness waiting period as possible, so you aren’t scrambling when it comes time to file a claim.
Can Lemonade cover curable pre-existing conditions?
In some cases, yes!
In most states, Lemonade is able to cover temporary pre-existing conditions or injuries that resolve without recurrent symptoms or continued treatment for at least 12 months.
Note that knee or ligament conditions and chronic conditions cannot be cured, and therefore could not be covered as a curable pre-existing condition.
Does pet insurance cover allergy medication?
Yup. As long as the allergy isn’t considered a pre-existing condition, your pet’s allergy meds, like Apoquel allergy pills and Cytopoint allergy injections, are covered.
However, if your pet has been diagnosed with an allergy, or had a test that showed signs of an allergy or sensitivity before they were covered with pet insurance, their allergy would be considered a pre-existing condition, and would therefore not be covered.
This is where we (gently) remind you that it generally pays to get your dog or cat signed up when they’re a puppy or kitten, before they’ve had much of a chance to develop any health complications that would count as pre-existing conditions, so you can enjoy as much coverage as possible throughout their lives.
Why did my premium increase at renewal?
There are probably several factors.
- As costs of vet services, medication, and treatment increase where you live, our premiums will periodically increase to provide adequate coverage for that care. These premium changes are proposed and filed by our team, and approved by state regulators.
- If you’ve moved to a more expensive part of the country, where vet costs are likely higher, your rates may also go up to account for the higher costs of your pet’s veterinary care.
- Plus, as you renew your policy every year for your pet as they age, their premiums may increase to account for the higher veterinary costs of caring for an older pet.
You’ll always be notified of any premium changes before your new price goes into effect at renewal—one year from your start date. We’re committed to clearly communicating information about rate changes in advance of renewal.
If you have any questions regarding your specific rate changes, don’t hesitate to get in touch with customer support through your Lemonade app, by emailing us at: [email protected], or via phone at 1-844-733-8666.
Read more about renewals here.
How do I cancel my pet insurance policy?
We’d hate to see you go! If you have any questions or concerns about your policy before canceling, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing us at: [email protected], or via phone at 1-844-733-8666.
If you do decide to go ahead and cancel, here’s how:
You can cancel your policy through the Lemonade Mobile mobile app.
Canceling your policy is simple:
- From your pet policy screen on the Lemonade app, select the policy you wish to cancel
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner
- Tap “Cancel Policy”, and Maya will take you through the cancellation process from there
How do I file a pet insurance claim?
To get that process going you’ll need the Lemonade app on your smartphone. Log into your account and click on your pet health policy.
Once you’re on the policy screen, you’ll see “File A Claim” in the top right-hand corner. Tap on that and follow the prompts in the app to submit all the relevant materials, like your vet’s info and your invoice. It should only take a few minutes to get everything filed.
Once submitted, you’ll receive an email confirmation with a claim number, and from there, our claims team will be on it!
How long do I have to file a claim?
Typically 180 days.
We know that you might not have the time or the energy to file a claim the moment you leave the vet’s office (although you certainly can!).
You’re welcome to file a claim days or weeks after your pet’s trip to the vet, as long as it’s within 180 days of treatment (if you live in Texas, you have 90 days to file)—after that, you’ll no longer be eligible for reimbursement on that claim.
We recommend filing a claim as soon as it’s convenient for you, so it doesn’t slip your mind—and so you have all the necessarily materials to file your claim on hand.
Can I speak to someone from Lemonade on the phone?
Absolutely!
You can contact Lemonade customer support at 1-844-733-8666.
How can I lower my pet insurance premiums?
You might be able to lower your monthly premium by adjusting your co-insurance, deductible, and annual limit on your Lemonade pet insurance policy.
Keep in mind that while making these changes will likely reduce your monthly payment, if you have a claim approved, you will probably need to put more money out-of-pocket towards your claim.
Lemonade Pet also offers a number of discounts:
- Up to 5% annual payment discount
- Up to 5% multi-pet discount (if you have a Lemonade policy for more than one cat or dog)
- Up to 10% bundle discount (if you have other Lemonade policies, like renters, homeowners, or car insurance)
A note about discounts: All available discounts (multi-pet, bundle, and annual payment) apply to your base accident and illness policy, plus the vet visit fee and physical therapy add-ons. Other add-ons and Preventative Care packages will not get any discount towards their pricing.
Do I have to pay vet bills up front myself?
Yes. In this sense a pet health insurance policy is a bit different than the human health insurance policy you may be used to.
Lemonade Pet works on a reimbursement model. You pay treatment costs up front, before you file a claim. After your claim is approved, your deductible is subtracted, and your co-insurance is applied—and then the resulting amount goes back in your bank account.
Can my pet go to any vet (and be covered)?
Yes! Unlike human health insurance, with Lemonade, there are no “networks” to worry about, and therefore no vets “in” or “out” of those networks.
Your pet can receive treatment at any licensed vet in the United States and have it be eligible for coverage. As long as the vet is licensed to perform veterinary medicine in the state where they are practicing, Lemonade can offer coverage.
Do you only cover cats and dogs?
Yes. Lemonade currently offers dog insurance and cat insurance.
We know you love your guinea pig, parakeet, and iguana, but for now we only cover feline and canine fur babies!
Why is it harder to sign an older pet up for pet insurance?
As your dog or cat ages, they will require more veterinary care and treatments. If you only sign up your pet for coverage after they’ve been diagnosed or treated for a number of health issues, those issues would be considered pre-existing conditions, and would therefore not be covered by pet insurance.
Look at it this way: If you try to get your 13-year-old dog signed up for pet insurance for the first time, they might be declined due to age limits. But if you sign up your dog while they’re young and healthy, they’ll never be denied coverage at renewal because of their age, and they’ll be eligible for more coverage down the line.
Does pet insurance cover cancer treatments?
Yes.
If your pet is diagnosed with cancer, then diagnostics, treatments, and medications related to their cancer would be covered by a base accident and illness policy.
But remember, if you notice a lump or bump, other changes, or tests show abnormalities before you sign up for pet insurance (or during their waiting period for illnesses, which varies by state), your pet’s cancer treatments won’t be covered, because it would be considered a pre-existing condition.
This is why it’s so important to get pet insurance before you notice anything wrong—if you wait, it may be too late to get coverage for these conditions.
Does insurance cover accidents, like if my dog gets injured by a car?
Yes.
A base accident and illness policy with Lemonade Pet would cover your pup’s diagnostics, procedures, and treatments for unexpected accidents, like being hit by a car.
Keep in mind, however, that if your cat or dog frequently gets into the same kind of trouble over again, such as ingesting foreign objects, or bolting out of your house into traffic, your claim might not be covered, since these are incidents that could be prevented. In your pet insurance policy, these are called “recurring conditions”.
For the record, we’re sure you’re not neglecting your pet, and we hate thinking about this one, too.
Does pet insurance cover flea, tick, and heartworm medication?
If your pet has a current flea, tick, or heartworm infestation, treatments could be covered as an illness under a base Lemonade Pet policy, provided your vet recommends treatment.
As for preventing infestations in the first place, Lemonade Pet’s Preventative+ Care package and the Puppy/Kitten Care package can help cover the costs of a vet-approved flea, tick, or heartworm prevention—including combination medicines.
If I buy my pet’s flea, tick, or heartworm prevention from Chewy or Costco, can I get the costs reimbursed?
Yup!
If you have the Preventative+ Care package or the Puppy/Kitten Preventative Care package, you could get the costs of flea, tick, or heartworm prevention covered if you purchase from a functioning pharmacy—which Chewy and Costco both are!
You’ll just need to present the receipt from purchase when filing a claim.
What about dental treatments, cleanings, and other tooth stuff?
Your pet’s teeth go through a lot, and we break down how Lemonade pet insurance can help cover expensive dental treatments here. But here’s the TL;DR:
| Treatment | Covered by base accident and illness policy | Covered by Preventative+ Care Package | Covered by Dental Illness add-on | Not covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental accidents |  * | |||
| Dental illnesses (like periodontal disease) | ** | |||
| Routine teeth cleaning | *** | |||
| At-home dental care | | |||
| Orthodontics | |
*Based on your base accident and illness coverage
**Up to $1,000 annual limit
***Up to $150
What’s covered as part of a routine spay or neuter procedure through the Puppy/Kitten preventative package?
If you hook your puppy or kitten up with the Puppy/Kitten preventative package, we’ll help you cover their routine spay or neuter procedure up to $135 of the spay/neuter fee, plus related fees for things like IV fluids and anesthesia up to your policy limits for the package.
You can see your preventative care limits in the Lemonade app.
What’s the difference between coverage for vet visit fees and wellness exams?
Vet visit fees refer to what vets might charge for their time and labor when you bring you pet in after an eligible accident or illness.
If your Tabby breaks their leg while enthusiastically hunting a fly, he’ll need to be examined by the vet before getting an x-ray, a cast, and pain medicine. Your base policy would help cover the treatments your vet recommends except for the vet examination, but with a vet visit fee add-on to your Lemonade policy, you’d be covered for the examination as well.
Wellness exams refer to basic routine check-ups, or more extensive “physicals”, and help your vet get a bigger picture of your pet’s overall health, as well as flag any potential issues as early as possible. If you opt for one of Lemonade Pet’s Preventative Care packages, you could get your pet’s wellness exams (plus routine vaccines, tests, and more) covered.
Does pet insurance cover me if my dog or cat is lost or stolen?
We hope you never have to go through this, since it’s simply awful. That said, we do not offer specific coverage if your pet is lost or stolen.
However, our Puppy/Kitten Preventative Care package helps cover the cost of microchipping, which can help bring your fur baby home if they ever wander off.
Here are some tips on what to do if your pet goes missing.
How much does pet insurance cost?
We go into much greater depth on how policies are priced here, but there are lots of factors that impact your pet insurance premium, including:
- Whether you have a cat or a dog
- Your pet’s age and breed
- Where you live
- The co-insurance, annual limit, and deductible amounts you select
- If you choose any Preventative Care options or add-ons
The quickest and easiest way to see how much your policy could cost is to take a few minutes and apply for Lemonade Pet, and customize coverage to your exact needs.
Can I get a quote for my new pet before I’ve officially adopted them?
Sure!
If you know you’re bringing home a new pet in the coming days or weeks, you’re more than welcome to create a Lemonade Pet quote to get a sense of how we can cover your incoming fur baby.
However, we cannot cover pets that aren’t in your care yet, so while getting a quote is fine, be sure to wait to purchase the policy until they’re home with you!
Why is getting pet insurance better than just putting some money aside every month into a ‘pet savings account’?
While we would never discourage someone from keeping an emergency fund for their pet, a pet insurance policy can keep more money in your wallet (and your savings) in the long run.
Let’s say you pay $30 a month ($360 a year) for pet insurance for your cat and select a $250 annual deductible and 80% co-insurance.
Now, let’s say your cat is diagnosed with cancer. Between the diagnostics, procedures, and medications she requires to make a full recovery, your vet bill comes to $10,000—all of which could be eligible to be covered by pet insurance.
Even if you had that much money saved up in your cat’s emergency fund, you’d have to pay down the $10,000 bill, dollar for dollar, with your hard-earned money. But since you have pet insurance, your payment would look more like this:
Lemonade pays: ($10,000 x 80%) – $250 = $7,750
You pay: $2,250
By having a pet insurance policy, you can have the peace of mind knowing that if something unexpected were to happen, it wouldn’t completely drain your savings to pay for your pet’s care, so you can save up for things that really matter (like more treats).
Me and my pet are moving. Should I let Lemonade know?
Congrats on the move! You can actually go ahead and change your address directly through the Lemonade app. Keep in mind, the premium and availability might change depending on where you’re moving.
What if I get my pet covered in a state where Lemonade offers pet insurance, but then we move to a different state where you don’t offer policies?
Lemonade Pet is currently available in 37 states and the District of Columbia.
If you and your pet move to a state where we don’t offer coverage, you will need to cancel your policy, and we’ll issue you any applicable refund.
If I’m traveling and my pet gets sick or hurt in a state where Lemonade Pet isn’t offered, am I still covered?
Yes!
If you have an active policy in a state where Lemonade is offered, we are still able to provide coverage for treatments at any licensed vet in the United States—even if your pet needs care while you’re traveling. So if you’re on a road trip and experience an accident, your dog or cat would still be covered, even if Lemonade doesn’t operate in that particular state.
However, treatments for your pet outside of the U.S. would not be covered.
Where is Lemonade Pet currently available?
Lemonade Pet is currently available in:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, 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, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin.
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states.
