Lemonade Pet Insurance Review

We compared Lemonade’s quotes and coverage to 20 other pet insurance companies to determine its value.
Best affordable coverage
Lemonade Pet Insurance
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.75
  • pro
    Covers cured congenital diseases
  • pro
    Relatively short waiting periods
  • pro
    Numerous add-ons

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Cathy Habas
May 11, 2023
Icon Time To Read3 min read

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review

If you stick to its base plans, Lemonade Pet Insurance offers the most affordable coverage for dogs and cats—sometimes up to a third cheaper than other pet insurance companies. With wellness packages and five optional coverage riders, Lemonade’s a comprehensive choice, but it’s still not as robust as alternatives like Trupanion.

pro
Pros
pro Reimburses up to $100,000 annually
pro 5% multi-pet discount
pro 2-day waiting period for accidents
pro Optional end-of-life coverage
pro Optional exam fee coverage
pro Optional dental illness coverage
pro Optional behavior coverage
pro Optional physical therapy coverage
con
Cons
con Enrollment restricted by age
con No coverage for prescription diets
con Available in 37 states only
con Some breed- and age-related restrictions

Lemonade pet insurance cost

To get the most affordable Lemonade pet insurance quote, stick to 70% coverage, a $500 deductible, and a low annual benefit ($5,000 is the cheapest option). Play around with those numbers to see if you can increase coverage and benefits without significantly increasing the monthly premium.

We don’t recommend choosing the $100,000/year benefit unless it doesn’t increase your premium. Vet procedures for dogs and cats never get that high in a single year, not even for the chronically ill and injured. The $50,000 benefit should be plenty.

Deductible range$100–$500
Deductible termsAnnual
Coverage range70%–90%
Maximum payout$100,000/yr.
Policy increases as pets age
Icon Yes  LightYes
Multi-pet discount5%
Enrollment or admin feesNone

Compare Lemonade quotes

To help you estimate how much Lemonade pet insurance costs, we got sample quotes for three popular dog breeds and a young Domestic Shorthair cat.

Insurance prices vary by location because the company factors in the average cost of vet care in your area. We used zip code 84020 (Utah) to get these quotes, but you might see different results with a different zip.

These quotes don’t include any add-ons.

Pet description
Lowest monthly premium Icon Tooltip  Dark
Highest monthly premium Icon Tooltip  Dark
Learn more
Quote 18-week-old male French Bulldog$54.02/mo.$137.71/mo.
Quote 22-year-old female Domestic Shorthair$11.00/mo.$36.54/mo.
Quote 35-year-old female Labrador Retriever$28.65/mo.$119.84/mo.
Quote 48-year-old male German Shepherd$50.18/mo.$212.39/mo.

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

How Lemonade Pet Insurance compares

Lemonade’s basic coverage is one of the reasons it’s more affordable than other pet insurance plans. But another pet insurance company might offer a better balance of coverage and cost and make pet insurance more worthwhile.

For example, coverage for dental injuries and physical therapy costs extra with Lemonade but is included in all Pets Best plans.

With that said, our research found Lemonade to be the most affordable pet insurance from a pure numbers standpoint, with rare exceptions. See quote comparisons in our pet insurance cost guide.

Even though Lemonade’s insurance coverage starts out basic, you can extend it with up to five optional add-ons, including a wellness plan. We like seeing these options for a truly custom quote. It also helps put Lemonade’s affordability into perspective compared to other providers like Healthy Paws, which offers basic insurance coverage with no add-ons.

Plan
Best for
Price Icon Tooltip  Dark
Deductible
(term) Icon Tooltip  Dark
Payment method
Unlimited payout available Icon Tooltip  Dark
Learn more
Best overall $100–$750
(annual)
Owner reimbursement
Icon Yes  LightOn top tier
Best for dogs $0–$1,000
(per condition,
lifetime)
Owner reimbursement, direct to vet
Icon Yes  LightYes
Best for budgets $100–$500
(annual)
Owner reimbursement
Icon Yes  LightUp to $100,000/yr.
Best for same-day accident coverage $50–$500
(annual)
Owner reimbursement
Icon No  LightNo—up to $10,000/yr. only
Best for preventative care$100–$1,000
(annual)
Owner reimbursement
Icon Yes  LightOn top tier
Best for exotic pets $250
(per condition,
annual)
Owner reimbursement
Icon Yes  LightOn top tier
Best for cats$100–$1,000
(annual)
Owner reimbursement, direct to vet
Icon Yes  LightYes

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Lemonade coverage

Lemonade offers accident and injury coverage in every plan. Preventative care, end-of-life expenses, and alternative therapies are just a few examples of Lemonade’s extended coverage options.

What’s covered

A base pet insurance plan from Lemonade covers 70% to 90% of these costs:

  • Prescription medication (including injections)
  • Hospitalization related to an injury or illness
  • Diagnostic testing (x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds, bloodwork, urinalysis, and other lab work)
  • Non-elective surgeries
  • Cancer treatment
  • Chronic illness care (including heart disease, diabetes, skin conditions, hip dysplasia, and more)

What costs extra

Lemonade charges extra for the following:

  • Exam fees
  • Dental illness and injury (dental cleaning not included)
  • Behavior treatment
  • Physical therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care
  • Euthanasia, cremation, and remembrance
  • Preventive care (cash-back plan with limits)

The cost of these options depends on your pet’s breed and age, as well as your chosen coinsurance, deductible, and benefit terms.

Dental coverage and the end-of-life package weren’t available when we tried to get a quote for an 8-year-old German Shepherd, so those packages are limited by enrollment age. 

What’s never covered

Lemonade never covers prescription diets, grooming, parasite treatments, or reproductive care. Read a sample policy for additional exceptions, such as any injury or illness caused by neglect or an act of war.

Does Lemonade make exceptions for cured congenital diseases?

Yes. If the congenital condition is treated and doesn’t re-occur for at least 12 months, Lemonade may consider it eligible for coverage. Check with a Lemonade representative to make sure there aren’t any state-based restrictions on this policy.

Lemonade policies & procedures

  • Payment options: Owner reimbursement only
  • Vet restrictions: Licensed vets only
  • Species covered: Dogs and cats
  • Age limits: Must be younger than 14 at time of enrollment
  • Prerequisites for coverage: Vet records from last 12 months
  • Waiting periods: 2 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and 6 months for cruciate ligament injuries
  • Claim processing time: Up to 3 weeks
  • Claim submission options: App

Is Lemonade right for you?

Lemonade Pet Insurance is the best option for people wanting the lowest premiums. If you’d rather balance affordability with coverage, keep shopping around with companies like Pets Best or MetLife.

Lemonade FAQ

You can get a 10% discount by bundling pet insurance with life, car, renters, or homeowners insurance through Lemonade.

Lemonade, Inc. is licensed to provide pet health insurance in 37 states.

Here’s the shorter list of states where you can’t buy Lemonade pet insurance:

  • Alaska
  • Delaware
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Minnesota
  • South Dakota
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia
  • Wyoming

How we reviewed Lemonade Pet Insurance

To review Lemonade Pet Insurance’s industry position, we created a spreadsheet comparing around 20 pet insurance companies across nearly 50 data points. We also obtained quotes from the top contenders for four fictional pets representing popular breeds. Learn more on the Safewise methodology page.

Cathy Habas
Written by
Cathy Habas
With over eight years of experience as a content writer, Cathy has a knack for untangling complex information. Her natural curiosity and ability to empathize help Cathy offer insightful, friendly advice. She believes in empowering readers who may not feel confident about a purchase, project, or topic. Cathy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Indiana University Southeast and began her professional writing career immediately after graduation. She is a certified Safe Sleep Ambassador and has contributed to sites like Safety.com, Reviews.com, Hunker, and Thumbtack. Cathy’s pride and joy is her Appaloosa “Chacos.” She also likes to crochet while watching stand-up comedy specials on Netflix.

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