Companion Protect Pet Insurance Review & Prices (2024)
Companion Protect pet insurance offers a straightforward plan with a $50 deductible for in-network vets, 90% reimbursement rate, and unlimited annual coverage. While it boasts unique features like equal costs for mixed and purebred pets and discounts for multi-pet households and military members, it lacks flexibility in deductible options and vet choices.
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We have carefully reviewed the best pet insurance providers in the industry and weighed how Companion Protect stacks up. Here’s what we learned about the insurance company’s cost, coverage options, exclusions, service, and customer reviews.
You may not have heard much about Companion Protect, a pet health insurance provider founded only a few years ago in 2015. However, the company has some attractive features that are hard to find among competitors.
How Did We Rate Companion Protect Pet Insurance?
We dug into Companion Protect’s website, online ratings, and customer reviews to understand how it rates on pricing, customization options, convenience, coverage, and other important factors. We scored Companion Protect 81 out of 100. While the provider does have a few unique beneficial features, we deducted points in the following areas:
- Customer support
- Deductible options
- Vet choice
The company claims to have best-in-show customer service. However, its support availability and options to contact service reps are limited compared to providers with features such as a 24/7 telehealth line.
How Does Companion Protect Compare to the Competition?
Quickly compare Companion Protect to other leading pet insurance providers:
| Company | Star Rating | Monthly Cost for Dogs* | Monthly Cost for Cats* | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $33.69 | $13.32 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $38.44 | $21.53 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $65.15 | $53.43 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $20.76 | $18.47 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $44.83 | $24.68 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $45 | $23 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $49.85 | $26.55 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $44.79 | $16.36 | VISIT SITE |
*Based on sample quotes for a 4-year-old mixed dog in Raleigh, North Carolina.
How Much Does Companion Protect Cost?
Pet insurance coverage is not much different from your own medical insurance policy. Your annual deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your provider starts reimbursing you. The reimbursement rate is the percentage of each vet bill that the provider reimburses. Your coverage limit is the maximum amount the provider will pay per year.
Companion Protect is rare in that it doesn’t give customers a choice of deductible, reimbursement rate, or coverage limit. There’s only one plan, which comes with the following rates:
- Deductible: $50 for in-network vets and $100 for out-of-network offices
- Reimbursement rate: 90%
- Coverage limit: Unlimited annual; $100,000 lifetime
One of Companion Protect’s benefits is that it doesn’t vary cost by breed like many providers do. The cost to insure mixed and purebred pets is the same. The only variables that impact your cost are your location and pet’s age.
Sample Pricing Premiums
We used Companion Protect’s online quote tool to determine sample monthly premiums for dogs and cats. We were quoted $45 for male, 4-year-old dogs. The monthly cost for male, 4-year-old cats was $23. These quotes are based on a Raleigh, North Carolina address.
What Are Companion Protect’s Discounts?
While Companion Protect doesn’t offer very flexible pricing, you may qualify for discounts. The company offers up to a 15% multi-pet discount. It also offers discounts for active and retired military members and pet owners who work or volunteer for animal welfare shelters and vet hospitals.
What Are Companion Protect’s Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage?
Companion Protect pet insurance is only available to those who adopted their pet from a shelter it partners with. Whereas most providers allow you to see any vet, Companion Protect has a specific network of veterinarians. You’ll be responsible for a higher out-of-pocket cost if you visit an out-of-network vet.
Companion Protect offers one plan that covers the following accidents and illnesses:
- Acupuncture
- Chemo and radiation
- Chiropractic care
- Chronic conditions
- CT scans
- Emergency and specialist care
- Endodontic treatment for dental injuries
- Euthanasia, if necessary
- Herbal therapy, homeopathy, naturopathy
- Hereditary and congenital disorders
- Hip dysplasia
- Hospitalization
- Kidney disease
- Lab tests
- Orthodontic treatment
- Pet ambulance transportation
- Surgeries
- Prescription medications
- Ultrasounds
- X-rays
Unlike most pet insurance companies, Companion Protect doesn’t have a waiting period. Full coverage for your pet begins at enrollment. The provider has a high upper age limit. Many leading providers cap their coverage at 15 years old. Companion Protect will insure pets until they reach 25.
Preventative Care Limits
Companion Protect doesn’t have an add-on for wellness care coverage to reimburse preventive treatments such as dental cleanings, vaccinations, and grooming. It includes wellness checkups in its base plan, which is rare among pet insurers. Pets under 7 years old get one covered wellness exam per year. Pets 7 years and older get two. There is a six-month waiting period before coverage begins for the annual checkup.
What Does Companion Protect Not Cover?
Companion Protect has many of the same exclusions as other pet insurance providers, including the following:
- Any issues resulting from breeding, training, or owner neglect
- Dental illnesses and care not related to accidents
- Flea, tick, and heartworm medication
- Preexisting conditions
- Routine preventive care (aside for the annual exams)
- Spondylosis (a degenerative disease of the vertebral bodies of the spine)
- Treatments not deemed medically necessary by a licensed vet
Companion Protect handles preexisting conditions differently than other providers. One of the main complaints among pet insurance policyholders is that their insurer classified a condition as preexisting when the owner didn’t believe it was, resulting in their claims being denied. Companion Protect works to prevent this by having a transparent condition analysis up-front.
When you enroll, the company discusses your pet’s medical records and history with your vet (with your permission) and determines the preexisting conditions that won’t be covered for your pet moving forward. These conditions will be documented and communicated to you at the time of enrollment, in your welcome kit, and within your coverage contract so there won’t be any surprises.
Where is Companion Protect Availabile?
Companion Protect is available in all 50 states. California pet parents are subject to different terms, which can be found on the provider’s website. Coverage is limited to $20,000 per year in Illinois.
Find the Best Pet Insurance in Your State
How Do Customers View Companion Protect?
We read hundreds of customer reviews to learn more about Companion Protect’s quality of service. While the company doesn’t have a Better Business Bureau (BBB) page or rating, there are Google Reviews.
“I am so glad that I picked Companion Protect! My little man got sick and unfortunately passed, but Companion Protect covered everything they said they would as outlined in my policy. Everyone was friendly and I did not feel like I was just another policy #. I even received a hand-written sympathy card upon his passing. I will use Companion Protect for any future pets and have already recommended to family and friends. Very satisfied. Lovely customer service and people!”
—Vaness P.
“You’re not going to save money with this company. Look elsewhere. You’ll find better coverage and customer service elsewhere.”
—Karl K.
“I owe Companion Protect my puppy’s life—without them, the vet bills would have been overwhelming and may have inhibited my ability to give her the care she needed in her first month home from the shelter.”
—Laura W.
“They DOWNGRADED their product and are promoting it as better. “
—Audra M.
Is Companion Protect Pet Insurance Worth It?
Companion Protect offers some attractive features, such as a low deductible, annual wellness exams in its base plan, a 90% reimbursement rate, and pricing that isn’t breed-specific. It loses points in our review for lack of customization, comparatively high premiums, use of vet networks, and exclusivity for shelter-adopted pets.
While Companion Protect includes wellness checkups in its standard plan, companies such as Lemonade, Embrace, and Spot have more comprehensive wellness coverage that includes annual checkups, dental cleanings, vaccinations, grooming, flea and tick treatments, heartworm treatments, and more. Combining an accident-and-illness plan with wellness coverage from Lemonade or Spot is cheaper than Companion Protect’s plan.
No matter which pet insurer you choose, carefully read the coverage details and exclusions before enrolling.
FAQs About Companion Protect Pet Insurance
How much is Companion Protect?
Companion Protect is $45 per month for dogs and $23 per month for cats, based on sample quotes we obtained for a home in Raleigh, North Carolina. You can get a quote for your pet by using the provider’s online quote tool.
Is pet insurance worth it with preexisting conditions?
Pet insurance may be worth it with preexisting conditions. While preexisting conditions aren’t covered by any pet insurance provider, some providers have different definitions of preexisting conditions and may cover them if your pet has no symptoms for a certain time period. Additionally, a pet insurance policy will cover any other accidents and illnesses your pet experiences, so you can still reduce the money you spend out of pocket for your pet’s care.
Can you hide preexisting conditions from pet insurance?
No, you can’t hide preexisting conditions from pet insurance. Providers request a copy of your pet’s medical records from your vet at enrollment. Some also require a full physical within the first few months of enrollment. If your pet has a preexisting condition, the provider will likely document it.
Can you have two pet insurance companies and submit a claim twice?
No, you can’t have two pet insurance companies and submit a claim twice. Filing the same insurance claim with two separate insurers is considered insurance fraud and could result in hefty fines or even jail time.
Our Rating Methodology
We are dedicated to thorough, in-depth reviews of each product or service that we detail in our content. Determined to build trust with our readers through transparency, accuracy, and accountability, we’ve built a detailed rating system to score pet insurance brands. Included in this methodology are the following six factors with their respective scoring weights:
- Coverage (25)
- Plan options (20)
- Monthly cost (20)
- Company reputation (15)
- Customer service (10)
- Species eligibility (10)
Our researchers keep all data in each company’s score up to date, making any changes to our content when necessary to provide our readers with the most accurate information on relevant metrics, such as plan options, customer service, reputation, and monthly cost.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
