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CarePlus by Chewy Pet Insurance Review April 2024

CarePlus by Chewy review
KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • CarePlus by Chewy offers an accident-only plan, accident and illness coverage, and wellness add-ons, allowing you to customize your plan to meet your pet’s unique needs.
  • Depending on where you live, your Chewy pet insurance may come from either Lemonade or Trupanion.
  • If you have one of Chewy’s Trupanion pet insurance policies, you can submit a claim for reimbursement or have Trupanion pay your veterinarian directly.
  • To see how CarePlus by Chewy Pet Insurance plans and prices compare to other providers, use our online comparison tool and get multiple quotes at once.
SUMMARY

Chewy makes life a little easier for pet owners by offering a wide range of food, medications, toys and other pet products. Customers also have access to Autoship, which allows you to automate the delivery of prescriptions, dog food, cat food, litter and almost every other product Chewy sells.

In 2022, Chewy expanded its offerings by introducing CarePlus, a comprehensive insurance plan designed for cats and dogs. To help you determine if CarePlus by Chewy is the right choice for your pet, we did an in-depth review of the coverage options and limitations.
Best for Prescription Coverage
COMPARE PLANS via Chewy's secure website
4.2
Maximum annual coverage
Unlimited
Reimbursement choices
80%, 90%
Deductible choices
$250
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About CarePlus by Chewy pet insurance

Along with PetSmart, Petco and Pet Supplies Plus, CarePlus by Chewy is one of the top pet companies in the United States.

Initially, the company focused on selling food, medications and other pet supplies via its e-commerce website. When the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, executives decided to expand Chewy’s offerings by introducing a virtual pet triage service. Chewy now partners with Trupanion and Lemonade to offer affordable pet insurance for cats and dogs. Coverage is available in all 50 states except Alaska, Hawaii and Vermont.

Chewy has a reputation for going above and beyond to retain customers. In fact, the company has surprised thousands of people by sending them hand-painted portraits of their pets.

CarePlus by Chewy pros & cons

These are some of the top pros and cons of CarePlus by Chewy pet insurance.

Pros
  • Includes video visits with a licensed vet
  • Waiting period of just 14 days for cruciate ligament injuries
  • Wellness plans available
  • 100% coverage for prescriptions ordered via Chewy.com
Cons
  • Not all plans cover dental disease
  • Exam fees not included in base plan
  • Higher-than-average prices
  • CarePlus pet insurance has a limited history (launched in 2022)
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CarePlus by Chewy
COMPARE PLANS via Chewy's secure website
4.2
Maximum annual coverage
Unlimited
Reimbursement choices
80%, 90%
Deductible choices
$250

MetLife Pet Insurance
COMPARE PLANS on MetLife's secure website
4.7
Maximum annual coverage
$1,000-$10,000
Reimbursement choices
70%, 80%, 90%
Deductible choices
$50, $100, $250, $500

Lemonade Pet Insurance
COMPARE PLANS on Lemonade's secure website
4.8
Maximum annual coverage
$5,000 - $100,000
Reimbursement choices
70%, 80%, 90%
Deductible choices
$100, $250, $500

CarePlus by Chewy Pet Insurance plans & coverage

CarePlus by Chewy makes it easy for pet parents to pay unexpected vet bills.

The company’s accident-and-illness plan covers costs associated with a wide range of injuries and illnesses. CarePlus by Chewy also offers two wellness plans that provide preventative care.

Let’s take a look at what these plans include.

CarePlus by Chewy accident and illness plans

CarePlus by Chewy offers three accident and illness plans. Plan availability varies by state.

We break down the plans and what they cover below.

Value Accident & Illness plan

  • Broken bones or ligament issues
  • Treatments to remove foreign or toxic substances
  • Common sicknesses like vomiting, diarrhea, allergies
  • Muscle stiffness or pain that causes limping
  • Age-related conditions like heart, kidney or liver disease, cancer or arthritis
  • Acute emergencies for emergency care like seizures or difficulty breathing
  • Vet exam fees related to accident or illness treatment
  • Prescriptions and supplements (80% of the cost)
  • Dental accidents
  • Diagnostic tests
  • Free video consults with a vet

Essential Plus Accident & Illness plan

  • Broken bones or ligament issues
  • Treatments to remove foreign or toxic substances
  • Common sicknesses like vomiting, diarrhea, allergies
  • Muscle stiffness or pain that causes limping
  • Dental disease
  • Age-related conditions like heart, kidney or liver disease, cancer or arthritis
  • Acute emergencies for emergency care like seizures or difficulty breathing
  • Prescriptions and supplements
  • Dental accidents
  • Diagnostic tests
  • Free video consults with a vet

Complete Accident & Illness plan

  • Broken bones or ligament issues
  • Treatments to remove foreign or toxic substances
  • Common sicknesses like vomiting, diarrhea, allergies
  • Muscle stiffness or pain that causes limping
  • Dental disease
  • Age-related conditions like heart, kidney or liver disease, cancer or arthritis
  • Acute emergencies for emergency care like seizures or difficulty breathing
  • Vet exam fees related to accident or illness treatment
  • Behavioral treatments for issues like anxiety or aggression
  • Physical and rehabilitation therapies, including physical therapy and acupuncture
  • Prescriptions and supplements
  • Dental accidents
  • Diagnostic tests
  • Free video consults with a vet

CarePlus by accident-only plan

CarePlus by Chewy offers one accident-only plan through Trupanion.

Accident-only plan

  • Broken bones or cruciate issues
  • Treatments to remove foreign or toxic substances
  • Prescriptions and supplements
  • Dental accidents
  • Diagnostic tests
  • Mobility devices related to surgery recovery, paralysis or amputation
  • Free video consults with a vet

CarePlus by Chewy wellness plans

You can expand your coverage by purchasing a wellness add-on. These preventative care plans cover things like annual check-ups, flea and tick treatment, heartworm medication, vaccinations and other routine expenses.

  • Optional add-on

Preventative plan (and annual limits)

  • 1 annual check-up ($50)
  • 1 fecal or parasite test ($35)
  • 3 vaccines ($75)
  • 1 blood test ($65)
  • 1 heartworm test ($40)
  • Optional add-on

Puppy Preventative plan (and annual limits)

  • 2 check-ups ($100)
  • 2 fecal or parasite tests ($70)
  • 6 vaccines ($150)
  • 1 blook test ($65)
  • 1 heartworm test ($40)
  • Flea, tick or heartworm medications ($65)
  • Spaying or neutering ($120)
  • Microchip ($40)

CarePlus by Chewy Pet Insurance exclusions

CarePlus health plans are comprehensive, but they all exclude the following:

What’s not covered

  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Neglect and preventable situations
  • Alternative and experimental treatments
  • Breeding or pregnancy
  • Elective procedures
  • Unverified vets

We describe these exclusions in more details below:

CarePlus by Chewy waiting periods and age restrictions

Insurance plans from Chewy have some waiting periods and age restrictions you must know about.

CarePlus by Chewy doesn’t provide insurance to any pet that’s under two months old, but there’s no maximum enrollment age.

CarePlus by Chewy coverage options

When you buy insurance from CarePlus by Chewy, you have several coverage options:

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How much does CarePlus by Chewy Pet Insurance cost?

We got example quotes from CarePlus by Chewy to give you an idea of how much pet insurance costs.

All quotes are for the standard CarePlus by Chewy accident and illness plan. Each plan has a $250 deductible, an 80% reimbursement rate and a $20,000 annual coverage limit. This sample customer lives in the 90401 ZIP code.

The table below shows our CarePlus by Chewy quotes for cat insurance.

Cat Breed Monthly cost for a six-month-old cat Monthly cost for a four-year-old cat
Abyssinian $27 $29
Domestic shorthair $24 $24
Ragamuffin $25 $26

This table shows the CarePlus by Chewy quotes we got for dog insurance.

Dog breed Monthly cost for a six-month-old dog Monthly cost for a four-year-old dog
Akita $64 $75
Labrador retriever $59 $66
Pomeranian $41 $43

Keep in mind that many factors impact how much you’ll pay for pet insurance:

1

Pet type

Dogs tend to have more health issues than cats. Therefore, insurance companies typically charge more to cover dogs.

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2

Pet breed

Some breeds are prone to developing cancer, joint problems and other serious health conditions. If your pet is one of them, you can expect to pay a little more for your plan.

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3

Pet age

Just like people, pets are more likely to develop chronic health problems as they age. Your insurer accounts for the increased cost of care by charging higher premiums.

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4

Coverage options

The more coverage you buy, the more you can expect to pay for pet insurance. For example, a plan with a $20,000 annual limit will cost more than a plan with a $5,000 annual limit, assuming both plans have the same deductible and reimbursement rate.

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5

ZIP code

CarePlus by Chewy and other pet insurance companies base their premiums on how much it costs to reimburse you for your vet expenses. If you live in a city with a high cost of living, it costs more to care for a pet. This results in higher pet insurance premiums.

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Does CarePlus by Chewy offer any discounts?

CarePlus by Chewy offers a multi-pet discount of up to 10% for pet parents who add at least two pets to their insurance policies.

How does CarePlus by Chewy compare to other providers?

Use the tool below to compare CarePlus by Chewy to other top pet insurance providers like Metlife Pet Insurance, Lemonade Pet Insurance, and more.

When comparing CarePlus, Metlife, and Lemonade, CarePlus by Chewy’s insurance plans have the shortest waiting periods for cruciate ligament injuries. However, MetLife has a shorter waiting period for accident coverage, and Lemonade and MetLife both have more deductible and reimbursement options than CarePlus.
GET A QUOTE
CarePlus by Chewy MetLife Pet Insurance
GET A QUOTE
Compare Coverage
Accident & Illness Coverage
Available
Available
Accident-Only Coverage
Available
Not Available
Surgery
Covered
Covered
Hereditary and Congenital Conditions
Covered
Covered
Chronic Conditions
Covered
Covered
Dental Disease
Covered
Covered
Allergies
Covered
Covered
Cancer Treatment
Covered
Covered
Physical Therapy
Add On
Covered
Alternative Therapies
Not covered
Covered
Behavioral issues
Covered
Add On
Breed Specific Issues
Not covered
Covered
Emergency Vet Visits
Covered
Covered
Telehealth Visits
Covered
Covered
24/7 Vet Chat
Covered
Covered
Specialist Visits
Covered
Covered
Exam Fees
Covered
Add On
Blood Tests
Add On
Covered
Laboratory Testing
Covered
Covered
X-Rays & CT Scans
Covered
Covered
Wellness Coverage
Add On
Add On
Prescription Medication
Covered
Covered
Prescription Food
Covered
Covered
Microchipping
Not covered
Not covered
Boarding
Not covered
Not covered
Euthanasia
Covered
Covered
Max Enrollment Age
No Max
No Max
Accident Waiting Period
2-5 days
Midnight on Same Day
Illness Waiting Period
14 days
14 days
Orthopedic Waiting Period
14 days / 30 days / 6 months
14 days

CarePlus by Chewy FAQs

Is CarePlus by Chewy worth it?

Yes. Pet insurance from CarePlus Chewy is worth the cost because it covers both accidents and illnesses. You can also expand your coverage by purchasing a wellness add-on. The optional add-on reimburses you for exam fees, vaccinations, flea and tick treatment and other routine vet bills.

This pet insurance also pairs well with Chewy’s Autoship service, which makes it easier to order pet food, cat litter and other pet supplies. You may even qualify for free shipping based on your order total.

Does CarePlus by Chewy pay the vet directly?

It depends on whether you have pet insurance with Trupanion or Lemonade. Trupanion is set up to pay vets directly, but Lemonade isn’t. If you have Trupanion pet insurance through CarePlus by Chewy, then you can opt to submit a claim on your own or have the company pay your vet directly. If you have Lemonade pet insurance, you’ll have to pay up front, file a claim and wait to be reimbursed.

How do I file a claim with CarePlus by Chewy?

If you have Trupanion pet insurance, you can submit a claim in one of the following ways:

  • Log in to Chewy’s member dashboard and submit a digital claim.
  • Send an itemized invoice from your vet to Trupanion, 6000 4th Avenue South, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98108.

If you have Lemonade pet insurance, download the Lemonade app on your smartphone or tablet. Once you log in, click “File a Claim” and follow the steps for submitting your itemized invoice.

Leigh Morgan
Leigh Morgan Personal Finance

Leigh Morgan is a seasoned personal finance contributor with over 15 years of experience writing on a diverse range of professional legal and financial topics. She specializes in subjects like navigating the complexities of insurance, savings, zero-based budgeting and emergency fund development.

In the last 5 years, she’s authored over 300 articles for credit unions, digital banks, and financial professionals. Morgan is also the author of “77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse,” a book focused on helping caregivers protect the elderly from financial scams.

In addition to her writing skills, she brings real-world financial acumen thanks to her previous experience managing rental properties as part of a $34 million real estate portfolio.

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