Is 24PetWatch Pet Insurance Good? Here's How It Stacks Up

Learn more about the company’s plans, pricing, claims process, and more so that you can make an informed choice about your pet insurance provider.

Table of Contents

• Does 24PetWatch offer pet insurance?
• An overview of 24PetWatch Pet Insurance
  • Available plans
  • Exclusions
  • Pricing
  • Discounts
  • Claims and reimbursement times
• What we like about this coverage
• What could be improved
• Is 24PetWatch Pet Insurance worth it?

Does 24PetWatch offer pet insurance?

24PetWatch was founded in 2003 as a subsidiary of Pethealth Inc., a pet tech company that offers products like animal management databases and RFID microchips. The company also offers the 24PetWatch Gift of Insurance program (formerly known as ShelterCare), which provides new pet adopters with up to 45 days of complimentary pet insurance covering common illnesses and accidents that occur post-adoption.

24PetWatch pet insurance policies are underwritten by The North River Insurance Company, and by The United States Fire Insurance Company, rated A by AM Best 2020. The policies are available in all 50 US states and in all provinces of Canada except the Territories and Quebec.

An overview of 24PetWatch Pet Insurance

Available plans

24PetWatch has four different policy Accident and Illness Policy options: Extra, Classic, Super, and Champion. Each of these plans comes with a fixed 80% reimbursement, a preset annual limit, and a limited choice of deductibles.

Services covered include congenital and hereditary conditions, diagnostic and exam fees, rehabilitative and physical therapies, hospitalization, surgeries, lab tests, ultrasounds, and X-rays.

Customers can make accident claims the day after the effective date of their policy, whereas, for illnesses, the waiting period is 14 days. There’s also a 14-day waiting period for musculoskeletal and cruciate ligaments, which is shorter than what many other pet insurance companies require.

24PetWatch also offers coverage for common illnesses on the third day following enrollment, including intestinal parasites, heartworm disease, mites, ringworm, tick-borne diseases, parvovirus, feline panleukopenia, upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, eye illnesses, and ear illnesses.

24PetWatch also offers optional two add-on wellness care plans that reimburse pet owners for preventative pet care. The Routine plan comes with $200 in annual coverage, whereas the Advanced plan is with $400 in annual coverage.

Exclusions

Like most other pet insurers, 24PetWatch doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. The company also doesn’t cover the following:

• Cosmetic and elective procedures
• Illnesses or accidents resulting from hunting, racing, coursing, organized fighting, guarding, or law enforcement.
• Natural or man-made disasters
• Medical conditions arising from repetitive activity requiring repeated treatment
• Medical conditions resulting from a failure to follow a preventative health care plan
• Mistreatment or neglect
• Grooming
• Training
• Dental and orthodontic health care
• Medical conditions that can be prevented with sterilization (neutering or spaying)
• Fertility treatment, breeding, whelping, and pregnancy-related care
• Investigational or experimental medical procedures and treatments
• Euthanasia
• Additional memorial options at the time of cremation, including caskets, memorial stones, and urns

Pricing

The price of your policy will vary based on the breed and age of your pet along with the plan and wellness care add-on you choose.

Compared to other insurers’ plans, 24PetWatch is somewhat expensive. All of the company’s plans have a $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 per year deductible, 80% reimbursement, and 20% copay. In addition, pet owners can choose from four payout limit amounts: $3,000, $5,000, $10,000, and $20,000.

Wellness coverage starts at $10 per month for Routine Wellness and $25 per month for Advanced Wellness.

Discounts

24PetWatch offers 5% off of your premiums if your dog or cat is already microchipped and an option to save $30 in monthly fees if you pay your policy annually.

Claims and reimbursement times

Customers can submit their claims through MyPethealth, an online platform which helps you to track the status of your claim. The company doesn’t accept paper claims but PDF forms can be sent by fax or email.

24PetWatch pays claims within 60 days of submission either with a deposit to you or directly to the vet. Customers must submit claims within 180 days of treatment.

What we like about this coverage

24PetWatch stands out from competitors by offering reimbursement for personal costs in addition to the treatment of accidents and illness. Examples of expenses include:

• Accidental death
• Lost pet recovery costs
• Trip cancellation
• Boarding kennel fees
• Euthanasia and cremation
• Additional living expenses

The company also covers alternative therapy ($1,000 per year), therapeutic food ($500 per year), and prescription medications. The waiting periods for accidents, common illnesses, and orthopedic conditions are also much shorter than what other pet insurance providers require.

Additionally, 24PetWatch offers a lifetime pet protection membership that includes microchip registration, a 24/7 vet helpline, and lost pet recovery for a one-time fee of $94.95.

What could be improved

In our review of 24PetWatch pet insurance, we found that the plan structures are somewhat complicated and confusing. The fact that they don’t give pet parents the opportunity to customize their policies is also a downside.

The cost of 24PetWatch insurance premiums are expensive compared to other providers, which can start at about $30 for dogs and $20 for cats. The annual limit for claim reimbursement goes up to $20,000, but other companies have no cap at all. They don’t offer ways to save that are common among other competitors, such as multi-pet discounts, and they charge a monthly $2.00 processing fee.

24PetWatch will only insure dogs up to the age of ten and cats up to 12 years. They require a veterinary exam within the first 30 days of coverage if you have no medical records for your pet, or if your pet hasn't been seen by a vet within the past year.

Is 24PetWatch Pet Insurance worth it?

While 24PetWatch offers a number of unique benefits and short waiting times, it’s one of the more expensive pet insurance companies on the market. The 24PetWatch lifetime membership can be valuablet, but they do not provide pet insurance for older pets nor coverage for certain conditions.

If you are not sure if 24PetWatch is the best choice for you and your pet, we suggest that you compare more pet insurance providers. Or, you can input your pet’s information to quickly see the best valued plans based on your unique details.