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Lemonade Pet Insurance Review
By cassidy MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Lemonade pet insurance is best known for its lightning-fast claim processing. While most pet insurance companies take a few days or weeks to reimburse you for veterinary expenses, Lemonade processes most claims in minutes. Here’s a closer look at how it works.
Table of contents
- Lemonade’s services
- Lemonade’s credentials
- Lemonade’s accessibility
- Lemonade’s customer satisfaction
- Lemonade vs. the competition
Lemonade pet insurance overview
Lemonade is a new type of insurance company takes an innovative approach to customer service and claims. Lemonade is designed to be fast, fair, and efficient. The company was founded in April 2015 in New York City. In addition to pet insurance, it offers renters, homeowners, car, and life insurance.
With just a few clicks, customers can get a quote and purchase a pet insurance policy. And if they ever need to file a claim, Lemonade makes it easy and seamless. Claims are processed quickly and without hassle.
Lemonade’s services
Lemonade offers a variety of pet insurance coverage options to meet the needs of your beloved furry companions. Whether you’re looking for a basic plan that covers accidents and illnesses only or a more comprehensive plan that includes routine care, Lemonade might fit your budget.
What it offers
Lemonade’s basic plan can be customized in these ways:
- Deductibles: $100, $250, $500
- Co-insurance: 70%, 80%, 90%
- Annual maximum: $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, $100,000
No matter which deductible, co-insurance, or annual limit you choose, your basic pet health insurance plan covers the following:
- Diagnostics and treatments for covered accidents and illnesses (e.g., blood tests, urinalysis, x-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, lab work)
- Procedures (e.g., outpatient, emergency care, hospitalization, surgery)
- Medications (e.g., injections and prescription medications)
Lemonade pet insurance add-ons
In addition to its basic pet health plan, you can buy optional coverage for these items:
- Vet visit fees. If you don’t buy this add-on, you’ll still have to pay for your actual vet visit if your pet is injured or develops an illness—Lemonade will only pay for any tests, diagnoses, or procedures that happen during the visit.
- Physical therapy. If your four-legged companion ends up needing acupuncture, chiropractic care, or any other type of physical therapy, this add-on will help cover it, up to your annual policy limit.
- Dental illness. This add-on can help cover the cost of gum disease, extractions, gingivitis, and stomatitis, up to $1,000 per year.
- Behavioral conditions. If you think your pet is displaying behavioral issues such as anxiety or aggression, this add-on can help cover the cost of any treatments or therapy sessions recommended by your vet But it doesn’t include the cost of obedience training or other preventative measures.
- End-of-life care. This add-on covers 100% of the cost of euthanasia and cremation, up to $500.
- Preventative care packages. Lemonade has two preventative packages that help pay for things like wellness visits, internal parasite tests, and vaccinations. Both plans are identical and includes a wellness exam, fecal test, three vaccines, heartworm test or FeLV/FIV test, and a blood test. The only difference is that the top tier (Preventative+) also includes routine dental cleaning and flea and heartworm medication.
- Puppy/kitten preventative care package. If you have a dog or cat under the age of two, you can enroll in a special preventative care package that includes everything in Lemonade’s standard wellness plan, plus spaying/neutering, microchipping, and up to six vaccines per year.
Lemonade pet insurance coverage
Lemonade’s basic policy includes coverage for accidents and illnesses that aren’t related to pre-existing conditions. If you want additional coverage for physical therapy, vet visits, behavioral conditions, or dental illnesses, you’ll need to “extend” your policy with the appropriate add-ons. And if you want annual wellness exam fees covered, you’ll need to tack on a preventative care package.
| If you want coverage for… | …you’ll need this type of Lemonade coverage… |
| Hospitalizations | Basic |
| Procedures | Basic |
| Prescription medications | Basic |
| Physical therapy | Add-on |
| Vet fees | Add-on |
| Dental illnesses | Add-on |
| Behavioral conditions | Add-on |
| End-of-life care | Add-on |
| Wellness exams | Preventative care |
| Vaccinations | Preventative care |
| Annual fecal test/blood test | Preventative care |
What it doesn’t offer
Lemonade pet insurance excludes coverage for several things, including:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Elective surgeries not related to an accident or illness
- Injuries or illnesses that result from negligent pet owners
- Dental care (unless you have a Preventative+ package)
- Spaying/neutering (unless your pet is under two and you have a preventative care package)
These exclusions are pretty standard across the board and are similar to exclusions you’ll find at other major pet insurance companies, including Spot, Healthy Paws, Nationwide, and ASPCA.
Lemonade pet insurance cost
Although pet insurance costs vary with your pet’s age, breed, and location, Lemonade appears to have some of the most affordable rates out there.
We ran some numbers for a standard Lemonade policy for a five-year-old male mixed-breed dog weighing 55 to 90 pounds in Atlanta, Georgia. Then, we ran the quote through another popular pet insurance company’s site, Trupanion, to see how the two compare.
| Lemonade monthly cost | Trupanion monthly cost | |
| Price | $65.67 ($45.84 without preventative care) | $145.21 |
| Deductible | $250 | $200 |
| Co-insurance | 90% | 90% |
| Annual limit | $20,000 | None |
| Includes preventative care? | Yes | No |
Lemonade quoted us a much lower price than Trupanion (even with preventative care). This makes Lemonade seem like the obvious choice, but it’s worth noting that Lemonade has annual maximums while Trupanion doesn’t. If your pet gets cancer or develops a chronic illness, you could quickly hit your annual cap, whereas Trupanion would keep paying your bills (as long as they weren’t incurred for the treatment of a pre-existing condition).
In addition, Lemonade has several pet insurance discounts you can use to lower your monthly premiums even more:
- 10% bundle discount
- 5% multi-pet discount
- 5% annual discount
Lemonade pet insurance waiting periods
Lemonade’s waiting periods are on par with the best pet insurance companies.
Illness waiting period
Lemonade has a 14-day waiting period for illnesses. This is the same waiting period as Embrace, Nationwide, Pets Best, Pumpkin, and ASPCA. But it’s a much shorter period of time than Trupanion, which has a 30-day waiting period for illnesses.
Accident waiting period
Lemonade’s accident waiting period is just 48 hours—relatively short compared to some pet insurance companies. For example, Trupanion pet insurance has a five-day waiting period for accidents. Companies like Spot, ASPCA, and Nationwide bundle their waiting periods together, so it’s a flat 14- or 15-days for both accidents and illnesses.
Cruciate ligament waiting period
Lemonade has a six-month waiting period for cruciate ligament injuries, including hip dysplasia. This is in line with the industry standard of most pet insurance providers. However, some providers give you the option to waive or reduce the waiting period with an orthopedic exam from a certified vet. Lemonade doesn’t appear to offer this option.
Lemonade’s credentials
Licenses and registrations
Lemonade is licensed to sell pet insurance in 37 states and D.C. It operates under the names Lemonade Insurance Company and Lemonade Insurance Agency, LLC.
Awards and certifications
Better Homes & Gardens named Lemonade pet insurance the best pet insurance in the industry. The company has also won awards over the years for its home and renters insurance. Inc. Magazine named it one of the “Best Workplaces” and “Best-Led Companies” in the U.S.
Regulatory or legal actions
In 2022, Lemonade was ordered to pay $4 million in a class-action lawsuit for allegedly violating the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. According to the report, Lemonade didn’t inform customers that it was collecting biometric identifiers while submitting video claims.
Lemonade’s accessibility
Now that you know how Lemonade pet insurance works, let’s take a closer look at how easy it is to get a policy, use the app, chat with customer service, and file a claim.
Availability
Lemonade is online only. There aren’t any branch locations, and you can’t call to get a quote or file a claim. You have to do it online.
In addition, Lemonade pet insurance is not available nationwide. While it’s slowly rolling out coverage across the country, it’s currently available in these 37 states, plus D.C.:
- 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.
- Wisconsin
Contact information
The easiest way to reach Lemonade is through its mobile app, but you can also call customer service at (844) 733-8666 or email help@lemonade.com. Customer service is available on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.
User experience
Lemonade Pet Insurance is a user-friendly platform that makes it easy to get started and find the pet insurance plan that fits your needs. Opening an account is a breeze, making it simple to sign up in minutes. Once you’ve created your account, navigating the platform is intuitive and user-friendly, allowing you to find the information you need quickly.
Lemonade also offers learning resources and support for customers who need help getting started, as well as advice and resources to help manage your pet insurance policy.
Limitations
Lemonade’s pet insurance policies do have some limitations, such as not covering pre-existing conditions or offering 24/7 customer service (despite it being an online insurance company). In addition, Lemonade only offers coverage for cats and dogs, so if you have another pet such as a rabbit or a bird, you’ll need to find an alternate provider.
Lemonade’s customer satisfaction
Lemonade is committed to providing exceptional customer service, and its customers are often very satisfied with their experience.
Customer complaints
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has received over 280 customer complaints about Lemonade in the past few years—but only a handful of those are for its pet insurance policies.
Of the pet insurance complaints we found, most are related to billing issues, including denied claims, unresolved claims, and premium increases. However, the company has responded to all of these complaints and has taken steps to address the issues.
Trustpilot reviews are generally positive, with many customers praising Lemonade’s customer service and ease of use. The most common complaint is that the coverage is limited, with some customers not being able to find the right plan for their pets.
Overall, customers are satisfied with Lemonade’s pet insurance policies and customer service, though there are still some areas for improvement.
Third-Party ratings
For the past three years, Lemonade has ranked highest (or second highest) in JD Power’s customer satisfaction surveys for home and renters insurance. However, the company has yet to earn any major third-party ratings specifically for its pet insurance.
Lemonade vs. the competition
Lemonade’s annual deductible amounts and reimbursement ranges are similar to other popular pet insurance companies, including Trupanion, Healthy Paws, and Spot pet insurance.
But one area it falls short in is its annual coverage limits. While these three companies let pet parents enroll in unlimited coverage, Lemonade does not. You must select an annual cap between $5,000 and $100,000. And if your pet reaches this limit, Lemonade won’t pay a penny more of your vet bills for the rest of the year.
For these reasons, Lemonade may not be a good option if you have a pet with chronic conditions or an ongoing illness that requires steady care.
| Lemonade | Healthy Paws | Spot | Trupanion | |
| Annual coverage limits | $5,000 to $100,000—you choose. | Unlimited | $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible amount | $100, $250, $500 | $100, $250, $500 | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | $0 to $1,000—you choose. |
| Reimbursement | 70%, 80%, or 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 90% |
Lemonade FAQs
How we evaluated Lemonade pet insurance
To evaluate Lemonade pet insurance, we looked at the following criteria:
- Coverage Limits: How much coverage Lemonade offers and how it stacks up against leading pet insurance companies.
- Deductible and Coinsurance: Lemonade offers a range of deductible amounts and co-insurance rates.
- Claims Process: We examined how easy it is to file a claim and get reimbursed with Lemonade.
- Exclusions: We reviewed the exclusions listed in Lemonade’s policies and compared them to other providers.
- Customer Reviews: We read through customer reviews of Lemonade to get a sense of how satisfied people are with the company.
Summary of Miami Herald’s Lemonade review
Overall, Lemonade pet insurance is a good option for pet parents looking for an affordable policy. It features several preventative care options, a range of deductible amounts, and high reimbursement rates (up to 90%). Claims processing is the easiest of any pet insurance company we’ve seen, with simple claims getting reimbursed almost instantly. And because it gives lots of discounts, it’s also a great option if you’re looking for pet insurance for multiple pets.
The downsides are that Lemonade isn’t available in 13 states, and there’s an annual cap on how much it’ll pay (up to $100,000 per year, max). If you’d like to learn more about Lemonade pet insurance and compare it to other providers, check out these best pet insurance companies.
