Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance
Fetch by The Dodo was founded as PetPlan in 2003 by husband and wife entrepreneurs who incurred a $5,000 veterinary bill to treat their cat. They now help pet owners throughout the United States and Canada plan for the unexpected. In 2020, PetPlan was rebranded as Fetch by The Dodo. The company is headquartered in New York City, and their insurance policies are administered by Fetch Insurance Services, LLC, and underwritten by XL Specialty Insurance Company, and AXIS Insurance Company.
- Any veterinarian in the United States or Canada is included
- Unlimited annual visits are included
- Customers can set their reimbursement level
- Online veterinary visits are covered
- Curable pre-existing conditions are covered after a pet is asymptomatic for one year
- Breed-linked hereditary conditions are included
- Dental disease and injury are included
- Boarding fees for hospitalized clients are covered
- Numerous discounts are offered
- Reimbursement is fast
- Preventive and routine care are not covered
- No discount is available for multiple pets
- Only one plan choice is available
- Annual coverage is limited
Features
Mobile Applications
Yes
Cancellation Period
Yes, within 30 days of policy purchase
24/7 Veterinary Support
No
Routine Care Add-ons
No
Pros Explained
Fetch allows customers to take their pet to any veterinarian, including veterinary specialists and emergency clinics, in the United States and Canada, and also includes online veterinary visits.
Many pet insurance companies don’t cover breed-linked hereditary conditions, but Fetch includes diseases such as hip dysplasia, dilated cardiomyopathy, and gastric dilatation volvulus. Fetch also covers injury and disease in adult pet teeth. Chronic conditions are covered, so long as they were not affecting the pet before insurance was purchased. Fetch also covers other treatments,including veterinary exam fees, emergency veterinary visits, injuries, illnesses, diagnostic tests, imaging, holistic and chiropractic care, behavioral therapy, cancer treatment, and surgery and rehabilitation.
Fetch will also cover boarding fees up to $1,000 if a pet is hospitalized for four days or more, and this benefit resets every year.
Fetch offers discounts to several individuals, including shelter and rescue adopters, AARP members, veterans and active military, support, comfort, and therapy pet owners, and veterinarians and veterinary employees.
Claims can easily be made through Fetch’s online member portal or their Smartphone app. Clients need only to upload a digital copy of their paid veterinary bill and their pet’s medical record to submit their claim. Claims can be tracked using the member portal or the Fetch app. Once a claim is approved, clients are reimbursed via direct deposit in as little as two days.
Cons Explained
Fetch helps cover a pet’s veterinary bill only when they are sick or injured, and does not cover preventive care such as wellness visits, vaccines, parasite prevention, spay and neuter procedures, microchipping, and dental cleanings. Elective procedures, such as tail docking, ear cropping, and nail clipping, are also not covered, unless deemed medically necessary by your veterinarian.
Fetch offers only one plan, so their options are not as flexible as some insurance companies, and cannot be customized to meet your specific needs. Also, depending on the client’s premium, Fetch caps each pet’s health insurance reimbursement yearly and, unlike most insurance companies, does not offer a multiple-pet discount.
Final Thoughts
Fetch is a great plan for pet owners interested in protecting their pet during injury, illness, and emergency situations, but not the best option for owners looking for a more comprehensive wellness plan.
Fetch customers can decide on the amount they want to pay for their annual deductible, their annual limit, and their reimbursement percentage on claims, with all the options impacting the overall monthly cost.
Fetch is an especially good option for owners who have pets who are at high risk for particular hereditary diseases, since these conditions aren’t excluded.
