Lemonade’s Types of Plans and Coverage
Lemonade pet insurance offers an accident and illness pet insurance plan like you would find at the best pet insurance companies, but you can add to it by purchasing extra coverage for various types of pet expenses, such as vet visit fees or preventative care.
Accident and Illness Coverage
Lemonade pet insurance offers an accident and illness plan, which is the most common type of pet insurance policy and covers the widest range of problems, such as:
Lemonade Add-ons
Lemonade pet insurance offers add-ons so you can customize your plan to pay for expenses like vet visit fees, behavioral conditions and dental illness. You can also buy a pet wellness plan for routine care, such as wellness exams and vaccinations.
Behavioral Conditions
This add-on covers the cost of therapies and treatments for behavioral conditions, such as destructive behaviors, excessive barking and separation anxiety. The types of treatments include:
- Prescription medications.
- Specialized training.
- Therapy sessions.
This add-on has a $1,000 annual limit. Your deductible and reimbursement level will apply.
Dental Illness
This add-on covers the cost of diagnostics, medications, procedures and treatments related to dental illnesses such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. The types of treatments include:
- Crowns.
- Dental surgeries.
- Extractions.
- Root canals.
This add-on has a $1,000 annual limit. Your deductible and reimbursement level will apply.
End-of-Life and Remembrance
This add-on covers the costs for vet-recommended euthanasia, cremation and commemorative items, such as digital photo storage, framed pictures of paw prints and even a tattoo.
This add-on has a $500 limit. Your deductible and reimbursement do not apply.
Physical Therapy
This add-on covers the cost for physical therapy (such as acupuncture and hydrotherapy) related to functionality issues due to an accident or illness. This add-on does not cover physical therapy for pre-existing conditions. Alternative medicines and therapies such as aromatherapy and CBD are not covered by this add-on.
Your deductible and reimbursement level will apply to this add-on.
Vet Visit Fees
This add-on covers your veterinary exam fees related to accidents and illnesses covered by your policy, such as a laceration or ear infection.
Your deductible and reimbursement level will apply to this add-on.
Preventative and Preventative+ Packages
Lemonade offers two preventative care packages for dogs and cats and one plan for puppies and kittens. These plans pay for vet expenses like wellness exams, vaccinations, and other tests and procedures. These add-ons include online access to a live chat with a vet or vet technician, available seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. ET.
Here’s a look at what each plan covers.
| Veterinary expense | Preventative Care plan | Preventative Care+ plan | Preventative care for puppies and kittens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual wellness exam | 1 exam, up to $50 per year | 1 exam, up to $50 per year | 2 exams, up to $100 per year |
| Fecal or internal parasite test | 1 test, up to $35 per year | 1 test, up to $35 per year | 2 tests, up to $70 per year |
| Bloodwork | 1 test, up to $65 per year | 1 test, up to $65 per year | 1 test, up to $65 per year |
| Vaccines | 3 vaccines or boosters, up to $75 per year | 3 vaccines or boosters, up to $75 per year | 6 vaccines or boosters, up to $150 per year |
| Heartworm or FeLV test | 1 test, up to $40 per year | 1 test, up to $40 per year | 1 test, up to $40 per year |
| Flea/tick or heartworm medication | Not covered | Up to $65 per year | Up to $65 per year |
| Routine dental cleaning | Not covered | Up to $150 per year | Not covered |
| Spay/neuter procedure | Not covered | Not covered | Up to $120 |
| Microchip | Not covered | Not covered | Up to $40 |
What Does Lemonade Not Cover?
Similar to other pet insurance policies, Lemonade doesn’t cover every expense. Some of Lemonade’s coverage exclusions include:
- Any illness or injury that is a result of neglect.
- Dental care (unless you purchase an add-on).
- Elective surgeries not resulting from illness or injury.
- Pre-existing conditions.
Remember, if you choose not to purchase an additional package, you won’t have coverage for things like exam fees or wellness visits.
Lemonade Pet Insurance Coverage Levels
Maximum Annual Limit Options
Pet insurance companies typically put a coverage cap on the amount they will pay for qualifying expenses in a given year. Lemonade offers several coverage limits to choose from, including:
- $5,000
- $10,000
- $20,000
- $50,000
- $100,000
Deductible Options
Before your coverage starts reimbursing you for pet medical expenses, you must pay a deductible toward vet bills. Lemonade gives you these options:
- $100
- $250
- $500
- $750
Reimbursement Options
Pet insurance policies also come with reimbursement levels. This means that the pet insurer will only cover expenses up to a certain percentage of the total vet bill. With Lemonade, you can choose reimbursement levels of:
- 70%
- 80%
- 90%
What Are Lemonade’s Pet Insurance Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions?
Pet insurance doesn’t kick in until a certain amount of time after you purchase the policy, known as the waiting period. Lemonade has the following waiting periods:
- Accident waiting period begins at 12:01 a.m. the day after you buy a policy.
- 14-day waiting period for illnesses.
- 30 days for orthopedic conditions.
Lemonade may have upper age limits depending on your pet’s breed. For example, you may not be able to buy a new policy for a Golden Retriever age 14 or older.
| Company | Accident waiting period | Illness waiting period | Special waiting period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite | 3 days | 14 days | 6 months for cruciate ligament conditions |
| 1 day | 14 days | 6 months for cruciate ligament conditions (can be waived with an orthopedic exam) | |
| Essential Plus | 5 days | 14 days | None |
| Lemonade | Begins at 12:01 a.m. the day after you buy a policy | 14 days | 30 days for orthopedic conditions (in most states) |
How Much Is Lemonade Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance from Lemonade costs an average of $32 a month for a dog and $18 a month for a cat, according to our analysis of pet insurance costs. This includes $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. The average cost of Lemonade pet insurance is $48 per month for a dog and $26 for a cat for $100,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level.
Average Monthly Cost of Lemonade Pet Insurance by Dog Breed and Age
| Dog breed | Average cost per month for puppies age 3 months | Average cost per month for dogs age 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Beagle | $49 | $53 |
| Bulldog | $62 | $68 |
| Dachshund | $38 | $42 |
| French bulldog | $81 | $89 |
| German shepherd | $52 | $57 |
| Golden retriever | $55 | $60 |
| Labrador retriever | $53 | $58 |
| Mixed breed (large) | $43 | $47 |
| Mixed breed (medium) | $36 | $40 |
| Mixed breed (small) | $30 | $33 |
| Poodle | $44 | $48 |
| Rottweiler | $95 | $97 |
Average Monthly Cost of Lemonade Pet Insurance by Cat Breed and Age
| Cat breed | Average cost per month for kittens age 3 months | Average cost per month for cats age 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Abyssinian | $26 | $28 |
| Bengal | $25 | $27 |
| Bombay | $26 | $28 |
| British shorthair | $27 | $30 |
| Exotic shorthair | $24 | $26 |
| Maine coon | $27 | $29 |
| Mixed breed | $22 | $24 |
| Persian | $25 | $27 |
| Ragdoll | $25 | $27 |
| Siamese | $23 | $24 |
Lemonade Costs vs. Other Top Insurers
Lemonade Pet Insurance Claims
You can file a Lemonade pet insurance claim by using the Lemonade app. Download the app at Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Here’s what you’ll need to do to file a claim:
- Hit “File a claim” in the app.
- Answer questions regarding what your pet was treated for.
- Record and submit a short video explaining the vet visit.
- Upload your veterinary invoice and receipt.
Lemonade will review your claim and, if it is approved, reimbursement will be sent to your bank account.
Digital Experience Analysis: Mixed
We looked at the digital experience offered by Lemonade and found ups and downs. It does have a mobile app where you can manage a policy, pay online and submit claims. Android and Google users gave it a high average rating of 4.7 out of 5.
The Lemonade pet insurance website has a search function but it didn’t perform well in our test questions, failing to deliver adequate results. Its website lacks live chat, which can be a convenient and helpful feature among insurers that offer it.
Lemonade vs. Pets Best
| Rating and coverage details | Lemonade pet insurance | Pets Best pet insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Forbes Advisor rating |   | |
| Average monthly cost for a dog with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement | $48 | $50 |
| Deductible choices | $100, $250, $500, $750 | $50, $100, $200, $250, $500 |
| Optional wellness plan available? | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 vet helpline available? | No | Yes |
Lemonade vs. Figo
| Rating and coverage details | Lemonade pet insurance | Figo pet insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Forbes Advisor rating | |  |
| Average monthly cost for a dog with unlimited annual coverage ($100,000 for Lemonade), a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement | $48 | $75 |
| Deductible choices | $100, $250, $500, $750 | $100, $250, $500, $750 |
| Optional wellness plan available? | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 vet helpline available? | No | Yes |
Lemonade vs. Chewy
| Rating and coverage details | Lemonade pet insurance | Chewy Essential Plus pet insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Forbes Advisor rating | | |
| Average monthly cost for a dog with unlimited annual coverage ($100,000 for Lemonade), a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement (90% for Chewy) | $48 | $89 |
| Deductible choices | $100, $250, $500, $750 | $250, $500, $1,000 ($500 in California) |
| Optional wellness plan available? | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 vet helpline available? | No | No |
About Lemonade Pet Insurance
Lemonade insurance launched in 2016 as a fully licensed insurance company that underwrites its own policies. As a newbie to the insurance industry, Lemonade threw out the traditional insurance model and created a structure that shares its profits with numerous charities.
It does so by taking a flat fee after claims and expenses are paid, then donating up to 40% of what’s left over to a charity you choose, through the Lemonade GiveBack program. Examples of charities that have received money through the program include The Trevor Project, American Red Cross and Teach for America.
Methodology
To find the best pet insurance, we collected data and scored each pet insurance company for several categories. Only pet insurers offering annual maximum coverage of $100,000 or unlimited were scored, so that comparisons were fair among companies. If a company has more than one top-scoring policy we show only the policy with the highest score.
- Pet insurance rates for mixed breed dogs (20% of score): We calculated average rates for medium sized mixed breed dogs age 3 months, 2 years, 5 years and 7 years for plans with unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and a 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.
- Pet insurance rates for purebred dogs (20% of score): We calculated average rates for French bulldogs, German shepherds, golden retrievers, labrador retrievers and poodles age 3 months and 3 years for plans with unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and a 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.
- Direct payment to vet (10% of score): Pet insurance companies that have the ability to pay a vet directly earned points. In order to receive points, this feature must be stated on the pet insurer’s website.
- Special waiting period (5% of score): Many pet insurance companies have a special waiting period for problems such as cruciate ligament issues and hip dysplasia. Plans that have no special waiting period, a waiting period of fewer than six months or the ability to have the waiting period waived scored higher. In certain states waiting periods are dictated by state law and may vary.
- 24/7 vet health line (5% of score): Insurers that provide access to a 24/7 vet health line earned points.
- Routine wellness plans (5% of score): Insurers that offer optional wellness plans earned points.
- Multipet discount (5% of score): Many pet insurance companies offer a discount if you insure more than one pet. Insurers that offer a multipet discount earned points.
- Digital experience (5% of score): We evaluated pet insurers on mobile app ratings for both Android and Apple, if there’s a useful website search function and if there’s a live chat that provides helpful information.
- Behavioral therapy (2% of score): Insurers that cover behavioral therapy in their base policies earned points.
- Alternative therapy (2% of score): Insurers that include alternative therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic care and hydrotherapy in their base policies earned points.
- Dental illness (2% of score): Insurers that include coverage for dental illnesses, such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, earned points.
- Pays veterinary exam fees (1% of score): Policies that cover the vet exam fee received points. Not all insurers cover exam fees, even if the fee is for an illness or accident-related visit that’s covered by insurance.
- Stem cell therapy (1% of score): Insurers with coverage for stem cell therapy in their base policies earned points.
- Coverage for prescription food and supplements (1% of score): Insurers that reimburse for food and supplements prescribed by a veterinarian earned points.
- Euthanasia or end-of-life expenses (1% of score): Insurers that cover end-of-life expenses, such as euthanasia, cremation or burial fees, received points.
- Forbes Advisor customer satisfaction survey (15% of score): We conducted two surveys of current pet insurance customers. 1) We surveyed 1,300 American pet owners with insurance that have purchased a new policy within the last 12 months, 100 per company. This online survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from October 11-29, 2024. The margin of error is ± 1.5 point with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR). 2) We surveyed 1,300 American pet owners who have filed a pet insurance claim within the past 12 months. This online survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from October 11 to November 4, 2024. The margin of error is ± 1.9 point with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
Find The Best Pet Insurance Companies Of 2025
Lemonade Pet Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Lemonade pet insurance good?
Lemonade scored 4.0 out of 5 stars in our ratings of the best pet insurance companies, mainly thanks to its low cost.
But Lemonade might not be the best option for all pet owners. For example, Lemonade doesn’t have a 24/7 vet helpline and it doesn’t cover vet exam fees. Lemonade also has a thirty day waiting period for coverage of cruciate ligaments, whereas some pet companies do not have a waiting period for cruciate ligaments. That’s why it’s smart to compare pet insurance quotes from multiple insurers to find the coverage you need at a reasonable price.
Does Lemonade work with any vet?
Yes, Lemonade pet insurance will pay for claims from any vet in the U.S., as long as the vet is licensed.
Since Lemonade pet insurance is reimbursement-based, you’ll have to pay upfront for your vet bills, then submit a claim through Lemonade’s mobile app. If your vet bills are covered by your policy, you’ll receive a reimbursement payment.
Can I insure multiple pets to my Lemonade pet insurance policy?
Yes, you can insure multiple pets with Lemonade pet insurance. By doing so, you’ll also be eligible for a 5% or 10% multi-pet discount, depending on your state.
Does Lemonade pet insurance cover dental care?
A Lemonade policy includes pet dental insurance for dental accidents such as broken teeth, but it does not include coverage for dental illnesses, such as gingivitis.
If you want coverage for dental illnesses, you’ll need to pay extra for Lemonade’s Dental Illness add-on. The Dental Illness package has a $1,000 annual limit and your deductible and reimbursement level will apply.
Does Lemonade pet insurance cover spaying and neutering?
Lemonade’s optional preventative package for puppies and kittens covers spaying and neutering, up to $120.
How can I reach Lemonade’s customer service?
You can contact Lemonade by calling (844) 733-8666 or emailing help@lemonade.com. You can also contact Lemonade through the company’s app.
