Fetch pet insurance review: what it covers, what it costs, and who it fits

Fetch used to be called Petplan. It started in 2003 and took the Fetch name in 2022. AXIS Insurance Company backs the policy, and Fetch runs it.

Fetch sells one plan. You choose three things: your deductible, how much you get back (70%, 80%, or 90%), and your yearly limit. Everything else is set by the policy.

We do not give star ratings. Here is our plain take instead.

Fetch is a strong fit if you want a full plan with few gaps. It pays the exam fee at sick visits. Some plans do not. It covers dental disease in every adult tooth. It also pays up to $1,000 a year for behavior care and up to $1,000 for online vet visits, with no deductible on either.

Look elsewhere if you need the insurer to pay the vet. Fetch only pays you back. Also look around if you want a "no limit" plan online, or a cheap plan for accidents only. Fetch does not sell an accident-only plan.

Be careful if your pet already has health problems. Like all pet insurance, Fetch does not cover them. The Fetch base policy also has a long wait for hip and knee problems.

Fetch pays for a covered accident or illness at any licensed vet in the US or Canada. That includes the exam, tests, surgery, and medicine. It also covers conditions tied to your pet's breed, as long as they start after you enroll.

The list below comes from the policy itself, not an ad. The policy you get for your state is the one that counts.

Exam fees. Yes, Fetch covers the exam fee when your pet is sick or hurt. Fetch says these fees often run $50 to $250 a visit. Routine checkups are a different story. Those are only covered if you add Fetch Wellness.

Dental. Fetch covers gum disease and broken or diseased teeth, in every adult tooth. It does not cover a routine cleaning when there is no disease. It also does not cover tooth problems your pet showed signs of before you enrolled.

Behavior. Fetch pays up to $1,000 a year to diagnose and treat problems like anxiety, fear, and aggression. Your deductible does not apply. A vet must lead the care, or refer you to a certified trainer or behavior expert. Obedience classes are not covered.

Online vet visits. Video or chat visits with a vet are covered up to $1,000 a year, with no deductible. They do not count as the first full exam the policy asks for.

Wellness add-on. Fetch Wellness pays set amounts for things like yearly exams, shots, flea and tick meds, and dental cleanings. No deductible applies. The yearly total depends on the option you pick.

The Fetch policy has a few benefits that are not about vet bills. Each one has its own yearly cap of $1,000. Your deductible does not apply to them.

Fetch says its average price is $34 a month for dogs and $21 a month for cats. That is for its most common setup: a $10,000 yearly limit, a $300 deductible, and 80% back. It is based on US policies from July 2024 to June 2025. Your price will be different.

What changes your price: your pet's age, breed, and where you live. Then your three choices. A higher deductible, a lower limit, or less money back each lower the price. Fetch also offers a 10% discount for veterans and active military.

How Fetch figures your payout. Many people expect the deductible to come off first. In the Fetch policy, your share comes off first, and then the deductible. The example below shows how that works.

For most years, yes. Most vet bills are much smaller. But a single big problem can go past it. On its own site, Fetch shows a back surgery (IVDD) claim of $13,367, and a gum disease bill of $6,126.

Think about your pet. Big dogs, breeds prone to back or joint problems, and pets that may need cancer care can run up large bills. For them, a higher limit may be worth the cost. Once you file a claim, Fetch will not let you raise your limit, so choose at the start.

A waiting period is the time after you buy before some coverage starts. With Fetch, accidents are covered right away. Illness has a 15-day wait.

Hips and knees take longer. In the base policy, joint problems that start in the first 180 days are never covered. For knees, a vet exam in those 180 days that finds no knee problems can open up coverage. Some states have adopted a model pet insurance law. There, Fetch's policy cuts the joint wait to 30 days.

Pre-existing conditions are problems your pet had signs of before coverage started, or during the waiting period. Fetch does not cover them. There is one way back. A curable problem, like an ear infection, can be covered again after 12 months with no signs and no treatment.

These rules are in the Fetch policy. They are easy to miss, and each one can lead to a denied claim.

You pay the vet in full. Then you send a photo of the paid bill and your pet's vet records in the Fetch app. Fetch pays you by direct deposit or check. Direct deposit is faster.

If Fetch says no, you can appeal in writing within 90 days. Your appeal should say why you or your vet disagree.

Is Fetch legit? Fetch is a real, licensed insurer. It has sold pet insurance since 2003, first as Petplan. You can check any insurer with your state insurance department, or with the NAIC company search. We do not use forum posts or star ratings to judge an insurer, because they are hard to check.

There is no single best pet insurance. The right plan is the one that covers what your pet is likely to need, at a price you can keep paying. Here is how Fetch lines up with two other insurers on a few points.

To compare any plans, see our pet insurance guide and its checklist.

The NAIC wrote a model pet insurance law in 2022. States that adopt it set the same basic rules for every insurer. The wait for illness and joint problems can be no more than 30 days. There can be no wait for accidents. And you get at least 15 days to look over a new policy and return it for a refund.

Fetch gives 30 days to cancel for a full refund, as long as you have not filed a claim. Not every state has the model law, so check with your state insurance department.

Pet insurance is still rare in the US. Few owners have it, so most pay every vet bill on their own.