Pawp Pet Insurance Review 2025: Pros, Cons & Costs

Our expert's opinion on Pawp

Last update: September 4, 2025

Discover the offer

3.1

Score

3.1

Score

A. Fruchard

Insurance expert

Pawp offers an Emergency Fund membership that provides up to $3,000 for one life-threatening pet emergency per year for cats and dogs, activated only after a video assessment with a Pawp Veterinary Professional.

The program is structured as a single emergency benefit rather than a traditional multi-line insurance policy: it includes a 14-day waiting period, requires video confirmation before clinic admission, requires veterinary treatment within eight hours of activation, and reimburses members after treatment upon submission of the application and final invoice (applications reviewed in 5–7 business days; payments by ACH or mailed check); it does not operate with typical annual deductibles or dedicated wellness budgets. Compared with traditional pet insurers, Pawp focuses on a teletriage-first, single-emergency benefit model instead of broad accident and illness coverage, trading wider lifetime coverage and flexible reimbursement options for a narrowly defined, lower‑scope emergency safety net.

Best for owners who want low-cost emergency backup for otherwise healthy cats or dogs and who are comfortable with teletriage and a single annual benefit.

Pawp operates as a digital pet care provider offering 24/7 veterinary video access and emergency assistance; provider-average rating 3.1, claims applications are reviewed within 5–7 business days and reimbursements are issued by ACH or mailed check, with support available at support@pawp.com.

Pros

• ✅Up to $3,000 coverage for one life-threatening emergency annually
• ✅Covers emergencies even if related to pre-existing conditions
• ✅24/7 access to a Pawp Veterinary Professional via video call
• ✅Ability to visit any U.S. clinic within eight hours of activation
• ✅Quick application review window (5–7 business days)
• ✅Reimbursements issued by ACH or mailed check
• ✅Clear activation and documentation process for claims

Cons

• ❌Only one emergency covered per year
• ❌$3,000 annual cap may be insufficient for major emergencies
• ❌14-day waiting period before fund use
• ❌Fund unavailable if pet admitted prior to Pawp video confirmation
• ❌Extensive exclusions for follow-up and routine care

Discover the offer

3.1

Score

3.1

Score

ProsCons

• ✅Up to $3,000 coverage for one life-threatening emergency annually
• ✅Covers emergencies even if related to pre-existing conditions
• ✅24/7 access to a Pawp Veterinary Professional via video call
• ✅Ability to visit any U.S. clinic within eight hours of activation
• ✅Quick application review window (5–7 business days)
• ✅Reimbursements issued by ACH or mailed check
• ✅Clear activation and documentation process for claims

Our expert's opinion on Pawp

Last update: September 4, 2025

A. Fruchard

Insurance expert

Pros

• ✅Up to $3,000 coverage for one life-threatening emergency annually
• ✅Covers emergencies even if related to pre-existing conditions
• ✅24/7 access to a Pawp Veterinary Professional via video call
• ✅Ability to visit any U.S. clinic within eight hours of activation
• ✅Quick application review window (5–7 business days)
• ✅Reimbursements issued by ACH or mailed check
• ✅Clear activation and documentation process for claims

Cons

• ❌Only one emergency covered per year
• ❌$3,000 annual cap may be insufficient for major emergencies
• ❌14-day waiting period before fund use
• ❌Fund unavailable if pet admitted prior to Pawp video confirmation
• ❌Extensive exclusions for follow-up and routine care

Discover the offer

3.1

Score

3.1

Score

ProsCons

• ✅Up to $3,000 coverage for one life-threatening emergency annually
• ✅Covers emergencies even if related to pre-existing conditions
• ✅24/7 access to a Pawp Veterinary Professional via video call
• ✅Ability to visit any U.S. clinic within eight hours of activation
• ✅Quick application review window (5–7 business days)
• ✅Reimbursements issued by ACH or mailed check
• ✅Clear activation and documentation process for claims

Pawp offers an Emergency Fund membership that provides up to $3,000 for one life-threatening pet emergency per year for cats and dogs, activated only after a video assessment with a Pawp Veterinary Professional. The program is structured as a single emergency benefit rather than a traditional multi-line insurance policy: it includes a 14-day waiting period, requires video confirmation before clinic admission, requires veterinary treatment within eight hours of activation, and reimburses members after treatment upon submission of the application and final invoice (applications reviewed in 5–7 business days; payments by ACH or mailed check); it does not operate with typical annual deductibles or dedicated wellness budgets. Compared with traditional pet insurers, Pawp focuses on a teletriage-first, single-emergency benefit model instead of broad accident and illness coverage, trading wider lifetime coverage and flexible reimbursement options for a narrowly defined, lower‑scope emergency safety net. Best for owners who want low-cost emergency backup for otherwise healthy cats or dogs and who are comfortable with teletriage and a single annual benefit. Pawp operates as a digital pet care provider offering 24/7 veterinary video access and emergency assistance; provider-average rating 3.1, claims applications are reviewed within 5–7 business days and reimbursements are issued by ACH or mailed check, with support available at support@pawp.com.

Discover the offer

Why trust Hellosafe?

At HelloSafe, our pet insurance experts review the terms and pricing of insurance policies available in the Canadian market each year, providing you with trustworthy and unbiased analysis.

Thanks to our careful approach, hundreds of thousands of Canadians rely on us every month to help guide their most important financial decisions.

Best pet insurances

#1Kozoo

#2Lassie

#3SantéVet

#4Figo

#5Assur O'Poil

Compare

Pawp's Guarantees

Pawp offers a single membership product structured as an emergency fund rather than a traditional multi-tier insurance policy. The fund is positioned as emergency-only protection for companion animals, focused on covering one life‑threatening event per policy year with clearly defined activation and reimbursement procedures. Key features center on instant access to a Pawp Veterinary Professional via live video call, a defined annual cap for emergency payments, and a requirement to follow the fund activation process before seeking in‑clinic care.

Coverage is limited to life‑threatening emergencies that are confirmed during the tele‑veterinary assessment. The fund provides up to $3,000 for one qualifying emergency per year and can apply even when the emergency relates to a pre-existing condition, subject to the fund’s rules. There is a mandatory 14‑day waiting period after sign‑up before the fund can be used; this waiting period resets if the membership is cancelled and later reactivated.

Activation and claims procedures are central to access: members must contact a Pawp Veterinary Professional by video call before presenting the pet to a clinic, and the pet must be visible on the call. After treatment, members submit an Emergency Fund Application with the final invoice and complete medical records within 14 days of discharge; applications are reviewed within approximately 5–7 business days and payments are issued by ACH or mailed check.

Strengths of the product include 24/7 tele‑veterinary access and the ability to obtain support for true life‑threatening emergencies quickly, with reimbursement available even for emergencies tied to pre‑existing conditions. Limitations include a single annual emergency cap, strict activation and timing requirements (including an 8‑hour window to reach a clinic after activation), and several explicit exclusions that restrict use of the fund for routine, planned, or non‑emergency care.

The fund excludes a range of items and situations: emergencies occurring during the 14‑day waiting period; failure to contact Pawp and obtain emergency confirmation before clinic admission; preventative and routine care (wellness exams, vaccines, parasite prevention, spaying/neutering); grooming and boarding; routine dental care; follow‑up or scheduled procedures related to an emergency; treatment arising from organized fighting or deliberate endangerment; treatment resulting from persistent neglect; and costs related to breeding, pregnancy, neonates, and weaning. Certain high‑cost or specialized services (prosthetics, organ transplants, genetic testing) and costs linked to major epidemics/pandemics or government‑ordered actions are also excluded.

Key limitations to consider are the single‑event annual cap (one emergency up to $3,000), strict activation and timing rules (video confirmation before clinic admission and an 8‑hour window to reach a clinic), and specific monetary limits on elements such as cremation. The product is designed for acute, life‑threatening situations rather than comprehensive ongoing veterinary coverage; routine, preventive, and many elective services are outside the scope of the fund.

Pawp Exclusions

Pawp’s Emergency Fund exclusions are focused on operational and scope boundaries rather than blanket medical exclusions, and a notable feature is that life‑threatening emergencies related to pre‑existing conditions can qualify for coverage provided the fund is properly activated and other requirements are met.

Activation and timing rules are stringent: claims for emergencies occurring within the 14‑day waiting period, emergencies not confirmed by a Pawp Veterinary Professional via live video call, or cases where the pet was admitted before the required video call are excluded.

Routine and preventive services are explicitly excluded, as are non‑medical and ancillary costs such as boarding, grooming, and cremation above the fund’s $250 cap; scheduled or planned procedures and follow‑up care after an emergency are also not payable.

High‑complexity or investigational treatments, prosthetic devices, organ transplants, genetic testing, and emergency costs arising from certain public‑health or government actions (epidemics, intentional slaughter orders) are listed among specific exclusions.

Pawp Prices

Pawp occupies a niche between entry‑level and mid‑range offerings by focusing on a targeted emergency fund rather than broad, comprehensive policies; its model provides up to $3,000 for one life‑threatening emergency per year and pairs that benefit with digital triage and veterinary consultation, which shifts the value proposition toward immediate access and episodic financial support.

Because the product is structured as a capped emergency fund, traditional pricing levers like reimbursement rate and deductible play a different role: the single‑event annual limit, the mandatory 14‑day waiting period, and the requirement to activate support via a video call before treatment are the primary determinants of competitiveness against plans that use coinsurance, deductibles, and higher or unlimited annual limits.

Key differentiators that justify Pawp’s pricing approach include 24/7 access to veterinary professionals via video calls, streamlined digital activation and claims submission, and the ability to cover qualifying emergencies even when related to pre‑existing conditions under the fund rules; compared with more traditional insurers, Pawp emphasizes immediacy and telemedicine integration over broad chronic‑care coverage or large annual caps.

Pawp Promo Codes

Note: Promo codes are subject to change. For the latest offers, check our comparison of the best pet insurance providers.

How much will I be reimbursed with Pawp?

Pawp reimburses eligible, life‑threatening emergency veterinary expenses after a Pawp Veterinary Professional confirms the emergency via video call and you submit the final invoice; reimbursements are paid up to $3,000 per year for one emergency and there is no deductible for the Emergency Fund.

✅ Example 1: Emergency surgery for toxic ingestion Total vet costs: $4,200 (emergency stabilization, surgery, medications, 48‑hour hospitalization) Deductible amount to subtract: $0 (Emergency Fund has no deductible) Amount reimbursable after deductible with the Emergency Fund: $4,200 – $0 = $4,200 → capped at yearly maximum $3,000 = $3,000 Remaining out-of-pocket cost: $4,200 – $3,000 = $1,200
👉 You receive a reimbursement of $3,000.
ℹ️ *The Emergency Fund covers one life‑threatening emergency per year up to $3,000 and requires a video call confirmation before visiting the clinic; reimbursement is made after you submit the final invoice and medical records.*

✅ Example 2: Surgical repair of a fractured leg Total vet costs: $1,800 (radiographs, surgery, anesthesia, post‑op meds) Deductible amount to subtract: $0 (Emergency Fund has no deductible) Amount reimbursable after deductible with the Emergency Fund: $1,800 – $0 = $1,800 (under the $3,000 annual cap) Remaining out-of-pocket cost: $1,800 – $1,800 = $0
👉 You receive a reimbursement of $1,800.
ℹ️ *This payout reduces the remaining annual Emergency Fund limit; after this claim you would have $1,200 available for another qualifying emergency within the same policy year.*

✅ Example 3: Annual vaccination and wellness exam Total vet costs: $120 (exam + core vaccines) Deductible amount to subtract: $0 (Emergency Fund has no deductible) Amount reimbursable after deductible with the Emergency Fund: $120 – $0 = $120 → Preventive care is excluded, reimbursable amount = $0 Remaining out-of-pocket cost: $120 – $0 = $120
👉 You receive a reimbursement of $0.
ℹ️ *Preventive and routine care, including vaccinations and wellness exams, are excluded from the Emergency Fund and must be paid by the owner or covered by a separate wellness plan.*

Pawp Assistance

Pawp’s assistance is sharply focused on an Emergency Fund that provides up to $3,000 for one verified life‑threatening event per year, accessed through mandatory live video triage with a Pawp Veterinary Professional.

The protocol to initiate a video call before clinic admission and the eight‑hour transfer window help direct urgent care quickly but require owners to be able to connect and travel promptly.

Reimbursements are paid to the member after treatment—via ACH or mailed check—on submission of the Emergency Fund Application, final invoices, and medical records, so there is no direct pay to clinics.

Notable constraints include a 14‑day waiting period before fund use, strict exclusions for follow‑up or non‑emergency care, and a single emergency per year limit, which can leave owners responsible for subsequent or uncovered expenses.

Pawp Customer Reviews

No customer reviews specific to Pawp pet insurance are available on Trustpilot or Google Reviews; because platform-sourced feedback is not available, a balanced synthesis of customer opinions and illustrative excerpts cannot be provided.

Contact Pawp

FAQ

A. Fruchard

Insurance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and an experienced entrepreneur in the insurance and personal finance sector, Antoine uses his experience and in-depth knowledge of the market to help Internet users make the right choices. With an MBA in economics, he is a committed expert whose mission is to make personal finance and insurance issues simple and understandable. With a rich career marked by the creation of innovative companies, Antoine's ambition has always been to bring transparency to complex issues and to give power back to consumers. With HelloSafe, he continues to translate this vision by providing accurate advice, impartial comparisons and detailed explanations of travel insurance. He has analysed hundreds of contracts to reveal the best options available on the market.