Wagmo Pet Insurance Review: Wellness Plans & Coverage for Accidents

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Wagmo was one of the first companies to offer pet wellness plans for things normal insurance policies don’t cover, such as annual checkups, dental cleanings, and vaccinations. However, Wagmo has since added traditional pet insurance policies to its product line as well, and many other insurance companies have started offering wellness plans.

So where does this leave Wagmo compared to its competitors in the pet insurance marketplace? We’ll unpack everything it offers and compare it to its rivals in this Wagmo Pet Insurance review.

Our top recommendation:

In this review:

• Our Wagmo Pet Insurance review
• Insurance policy options
• Wagmo Wellness plans
• What does Wagmo cover?
• How much does Wagmo cost?
• Frequently asked questions
• How does Wagmo Pet Insurance compare to other options?
• Other Wagmo reviews

Wagmo Pet Insurance review

Wagmo was founded by Christie Horvath and Alison Foxworth to fill a gap in the pet care industry. At the time, pet insurance was a common offering, but most companies excluded coverage for wellness care. This includes some of the most common expenses you face each year: routine checkups, blood work, vaccines, and grooming costs.

This made Wagmo a trailblazer in its industry, and we think it has continued to do a good job offering attractive coverage options to its customers since then. Customers can choose from a variety of policy levels and deductible amounts to get the coverage and premiums that work for them.

These days, however, Wagmo isn’t quite as different from some of its competitors. It has added traditional pet insurance to its available policies, and other pet insurance companies have added wellness plans. So, choosing the right company for you really comes down to comparing quotes from multiple companies, as well as the finer details of what’s covered.

One of the biggest areas where Wagmo stands out is in the fact that it offers its wellness plans and insurance policies separately, so you can get exactly what you want and nothing more. Some competitors require you to buy an insurance policy to get wellness coverage. 

We also love that Wagmo works with any vet. Some other wellness programs, such as PetAssure, only work with a limited network of veterinarians.

See more pros and cons below, then keep reading to learn about Wagmo’s various policy options, prices, and alternatives.

How does Wagmo work?

Getting a quote or policy from Wagmo is super easy. Just visit Wagmo’s website and click “Get my quote” to get started. Wagmo will take you through a brief survey where you’ll provide your pet’s name, species (dog or cat), breed (Mixed is an option), and birthday. 

You’ll also be able to indicate whether you’re interested in a Wagmo Wellness Plan for preventative care, a pet insurance plan for emergency care, or both. You can also ask them to make a recommendation if you’re not sure what you need.

You’ll then enter your zip code and contact information to finalize your price quote.

If insurance is available in your state, you’ll then see your price and policy options (learn more about them below). If it’s not available, you’ll still see your Pet Wellness options. 

Once you’ve tweaked your deductible, reimbursement rate, and plan level, you can activate your policy right away or think on it while you compare other options. Wagmo will save your pet’s information so you won’t have to enter it again later, and your quote is valid for 30 days.

Note that there are waiting periods for certain things, such as 15 days for accident and illness coverage, so your full policy won’t be available the day you activate. However, Wagmo Wellness coverage starts right away. See all waiting period conditions in the FAQs near the bottom of this review.

How do I file a claim?

Filing a claim with Wagmo is pretty straightforward. Ask your vet for an itemized invoice of the procedures they performed along with your pet’s medical history. This may come with your standard receipt. Then all you need to do is log in to your dashboard at Wagmo.io and click “Make a claim.” You’ll then be prompted to upload a picture of the invoice, and Wagmo will handle the rest.

If you’re filing a Pet Wellness claim, you should be reimbursed via your method of choice within as little as 24 hours. Venmo, PayPal, and bank transfers are all options. 

Due to some boring insurance regulations we won’t get into here, pet insurance claims take a few days longer. But your process is exactly the same: just snap a pic of your invoice and upload it to your dashboard. Wagmo will notify you via email within 3 to 7 days when your claim has been approved and/or paid. Insurance payments are available via bank transfer, paper check, or instant card payment.

Insurance policy options

Wagmo’s pet insurance policies provide coverage for certain accidents, injuries, and illnesses. These include things like x-rays on a broken bone, surgeries for intestinal blockages, cancer treatment, and much more. You can see more coverage areas lower in this review.

Wagmo offers three deductible options and two reimbursement amounts on their insurance policies. Tweaking these coverage options will affect your monthly price, as well as what you’ll have to pay when you visit the vet.

Your deductible is the amount you have to pay before your insurance policy kicks in. Wagmo’s deductibles are annual, meaning you only have to pay that balance as much as once per year, not every time you file a claim. This is important if your pet incurs a significant vet expense multiple times in a single year.

Your reimbursement rate dictates what percentage of your bill Wagmo pays out after you’ve met your deductible.

Deductible options

• $250 – lowest liability, highest monthly price
• $500 – mid-range
• $1,000 – highest liability, lowest monthly price

These deductible options are roughly similar to what we’ve seen offered by other pet insurance providers, but not all brands offer deductibles as high as $1,000. 

The higher your deductible, the more you’re on the hook for before your policy pays out. However, higher deductibles also mean your monthly premiums will be lower. You’ll have to decide for yourself how you want to balance monthly premiums with the risk of a bigger bill if your pet gets injured.

Reimbursement rates:

• 90%
• 100%

Reimbursement rates work the same way. If you choose a 90% reimbursement rate, you’ll have to pay 10% of your covered vet expenses (after your deductible is paid), but it will come with lower monthly premiums than the higher reimbursement rate.

It’s worth pointing out here that most pet insurance brands don’t offer a 100% reimbursement rate. For example, Lemonade offers reimbursement rates of 70%, 80%, and 90%, which gives you a little bit more flexibility in lowering your monthly rates. However, you don’t have the opportunity to get all of your expenses reimbursed (after your deductible) like Wagmo offers.

If your pet is generally healthy and you want the cheapest policy possible, you may want to choose the highest deductible and lowest reimbursement rate. But be aware that this could cost you more in the long run if your pet incurs a significant vet expense.

Wagmo Wellness plan options

Wagmo’s Pet Wellness plan works differently than its pet insurance policy. This plan isn’t meant to cover surprise expenses from accidents and illnesses. Instead, it’s meant to help you pay for your pet’s predictable expenses and to spread the cost of this care over the whole year.

Wagmo offers three Pet Wellness levels:

• Value: This budget plan covers the most basic care your pet should receive each year, such as a routine exam and vaccinations. See a full rundown in the coverage section below. It costs just $20 per month.
• Classic: This mid-range plan extends your coverage for a more in-depth assessment of your pet’s health, and it also introduces reimbursement for grooming expenses. It costs $36 per month.
• Deluxe: This premium plan provides comprehensive coverage for routine testing and vaccinations, grooming, and dental care. It’s important to get your pet’s teeth cleaned annually to prevent periodontal disease and costly tooth extractions. The Deluxe plan costs $59 per month.

We’ll get into what exactly is covered in the next section and help you break down which Wellness Plan is right for you.

What does Wagmo cover?

Wagmo’s pet insurance policy covers:

• Accidents and illnesses (including diseases such as cancer and hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia in pets younger than 6 years of age)
• X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and other diagnostic tests for accidents and illnesses
• Surgeries and procedures to treat these accidents and illnesses
• Pet ambulance fees related to a covered issue
• Up to 50% of the cost of your vet-prescribed medication related to a covered treatment
• End of life care and euthanasia

What’s not covered?

First and foremost, pre-existing conditions are never covered. This is true of all pet insurance companies. 

According to Wagmo’s terms and conditions, pre-existing conditions include conditions that show symptoms before your insurance policy’s effective date or during your waiting period, even if they haven’t been formally diagnosed or treated by a veterinarian.

If you know your dog or cat has a pre-existing condition and you’re looking for a way to get treatment at a discount, we recommend checking out a veterinary discount program such as PetAssure. It’s not an insurance policy, but it can get you 25% off at participating clinics. This won’t provide as much potential financial protection as an insurance policy, but it’s one of your only options when it comes to pre-existing issues. Unfortunately, PetAssure can only be obtained if it’s offered by your employer.

Other common procedures that Wagmo won’t cover include costs related to breeding, pregnancy, and giving birth, as well as spaying or neutering. If you’re looking for help paying for a spay/neuter procedure, check out Lemonade’s Puppy/Kitten wellness plan add-on. 

Finally, your Wagmo pet insurance policy won’t cover expenses related to routine care. This applies to things like annual vaccines and exams, grooming, or dental care. However, you may be able to get reimbursement for some of these costs by getting a Wagmo wellness plan (more on this below).

This list is not exhaustive, so make sure you check your proposed policy for a full list of what’s excluded from your coverage.

Wellness Plan coverage

We introduced Wagmo’s three Pet Wellness plans above, but here are the details on what exactly each plan level includes.

	Value ($20)	Classic ($36)	Deluxe ($59)
Routine exams	1 exam	1 exam	2 exams
Vaccines	2 vaccines	3 vaccines	4 vaccines
Routine bloodwork	1 test	1 test	1 test
Fecal test	1 test	1 test	1 test
Urinalysis	n/a	1 test	1 test
Flea / Tick / Heartworm	n/a	$100 reimbursement	$200 reimbursement
Grooming	n/a	$100 reimbursement	$200 reimbursement
Dental care	n/a	n/a	$100 reimbursement

Which is right for me?

If you have a very low-maintenance dog that you never take to the groomer, then the Value plan may work for you.

But when you calculate the annual cost of each plan, as well as what you get for it, we think upgrading to the Classic or Deluxe plan is a no-brainer for pet owners who take their dog to the groomer at least twice a year and who get a flea / tick / heartworm prescription from their vet. 

The Classic plan costs an extra $192 per year on top of what you’d pay for the Value plan, but you get $200 in extra reimbursement for grooming and parasite medication, as well as coverage for an extra vaccine and a urinalysis test. These can be pricey depending on where you live.

The Deluxe plan costs an additional $276 per year on top of the Classic plan, but it adds a fourth vaccine, yet another $200 of additional coverage for grooming and parasites, and $100 for dental care.

And if you’ve never had your dog’s teeth cleaned, the sooner you do it the better. Periodontal disease is common among dogs over time, and the best way to prevent costly tooth extractions is through regular cleaning.

How much does Wagmo cost?

Wagmo’s Pet Wellness plans start at $20 per month, and Pet Insurance plans start at just $13 per month. However, your price will depend on a variety of factors, including your pet’s breed and age, your location, and the policy deductibles and limits you choose.

The only way to find out exactly how much you’d pay is by getting a free quote from Wagmo’s site. Getting a quote only takes a couple of minutes, and you don’t have to make any commitments or enter any payment info to get one.

To give you a rough idea of how much it might cost, we ran a couple of tests. A 9-month old, mixed-breed, neutered male dog in Frisco, Texas with a 90% reimbursement rate and a $1,000 deductible would cost about $18.63 per month to insure. Moving that same policy to New York City increased the cost to $22.45 per month, and changing that NY policy to one with a $500 deductible and a 100% reimbursement rate increased the price again to $35.97 per month.

In terms of variables you can control, your deductible will be the biggest factor. Increasing your reimbursement rate doesn’t have as big of an effect. But you’ll have to get your own quote to play with the terms and see how they affect your price.

Getting a policy sooner, rather than later, can also help. “The younger your pet is, the less it costs,” says a representative from Wagmo. “Also, if you’re looking for the lowest monthly costs, you’ll want to explore a high-deductible option.” Cats also tend to be cheaper to insure than dogs.

Wagmo discounts

Wagmo offers a couple of discounts:

• Multiple pets discount: If you insure multiple pets, you can save up to 10% on your monthly premiums.
• No claims discount: You can earn up to an additional 15% off when you renew your policy for another year if you filed no claims in the previous year.

Is Wagmo worth it?

Pet insurance isn’t cheap. But neither are vet expenses. Ultimately, you’ll have to decide for yourself if pet insurance is right for you.

We personally know three dogs who have had unexpected surgeries in their first year of life that cost $5,000 to $7,000 each. If you could handle that unexpected expense without going into debt or putting your family’s financial stability at risk, then maybe you don’t need it. But if you want the peace of mind of knowing you’ll never have to choose between your pet’s life and your wallet, then pet insurance can help.

Wagmo Pet Insurance FAQs

Does Wagmo cover spaying or neutering?

No, neither Wagmo’s pet insurance policy nor its Pet Wellness plan covers spaying or neutering procedures. To get coverage for this procedure, consider getting the Puppy/Kitten preventative package from Lemonade. It can be added to your standard insurance policy. You’ll see options for this add-on coverage after you begin filling out their quote survey.

You should also check if any of the vets in your area participate in the Friends of Animals spay/neuter certificate program.

Where is Wagmo available?

Wagmo Pet Wellness Plans are available in all 50 states. 

Wagmo Pet Insurance is active in all states except Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Rhode Island. However, Wagmo hopes to expand to these states soon, so it’s worth checking if it’s available in your area yet.

What vets does Wagmo work with?

You can take your pet to any licensed veterinarian, including online / telehealth vets, in-office visits, and in-home visits. Just ask them for an itemized receipt of the procedures they performed, so you can submit your claim to Wagmo.

Is there a waiting period for Wagmo?

Yes. Once you activate your insurance policy, you’ll begin a 15-day waiting period before Wagmo will cover any accidents or illnesses. You’ll also begin a 30-day waiting period before any cancer treatment is covered. The 15-day period is one day longer than many other insurance companies require, but this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. Some other companies also require 6 months of waiting before cruciate ligaments are covered, but not Wagmo.

There is no waiting period for Wagmo’s Pet Wellness plans. Your plan just needs to be active before the procedure you’re seeking reimbursement for takes place.

Does Wagmo pay the vet directly?

No. You’ll pay the vet when your procedure takes place and file a claim with your itemized receipt with Wagmo. Pet Wellness plans pay out via PayPal, Venmo, or direct deposit in as little as 24 hours. Pet insurance reimbursements typically come within a week (via paper check, direct deposit, or a preloaded payment card).

How good is Wagmo’s customer service?

Wagmo’s customer service quality seems to be about par. 

You can chat with a representative or leave a message on Wagmo’s website, or you can email them at [email protected]. We consider it a con that you cannot easily contact the company by phone, but this is unfortunately common for most pet insurance companies. Lemonade is one company that does offer phone support, but it is limited to emergency support, so it’s not available to those with general questions.

We pored over customer reviews for Wagmo’s customer service experience and, of course, the results were mixed. However, we were surprised to see so many positive experiences (these reviews tend to over-represent the negative experiences since angry customers are more likely than satisfied customers to get online and leave a review).

Most often we saw people happy about how quickly they were reimbursed for their Wellness plan claims—sometimes on the same day they filed the claim! Others were happy with the company’s response time, which signals a positive customer support experience.

One recurring complaint we saw was about the lack of a phone number, which we mentioned above.

Can I cancel my policy at any time?

You can cancel your pet insurance policy at any time. You just need to contact Wagmo’s team and inform them of the date you want your coverage to end.

Wellness plans have more stipulations around canceling to prevent people from abusing the program. You’ll have a 24-hour grace period during which you can cancel for a full refund, as long as you haven’t filed any claims. If you’re beyond that grace period and/or you’ve already filed claims under your plan, you still may be able to cancel, but Wagmo may charge a cancellation fee. We recommend getting in touch with their team to review your circumstances.

How does Wagmo compare to other options?

When comparing premiums, Wagmo offered fairly competitive prices. As we mentioned near the top of this review, Lemonade promotes a lower starting price of $9.99 per month, although your price will depend entirely on your pet’s species (dog or cat), breed, age, neuter status, and your own location, among other variables. Comparing quotes is the only way to see where you’ll get a better offer.

One difference between these two companies is that Wagmo offers more comprehensive coverage in its base plan, while Lemonade allows you to include or exclude certain coverage through policy add-ons. For example, Wagmo’s insurance policy automatically covers vet exam fees—the fee you pay just for visiting the vet, in addition to the actual treatment they provide. Lemonade requires you to choose a policy add-on to get this coverage.

Whether this is a pro for Wagmo or Lemonade is a matter of perspective. If you want the peace of mind that more expenses are included in your base coverage, Wagmo is a little more straightforward. On the other hand, Lemonade’s approach offers a bit more flexibility. For example, if you live in an area with relatively low vet exam fees, and you don’t take your pet to the vet very frequently, excluding this coverage from your policy with Lemonade could be a strategy to keep your monthly premiums lower.

Lemonade also offers a wellness plan that includes coverage for spay/neuter procedures, which Wagmo doesn’t cover. Additionally, Lemonade offers an online medical chat service, a higher annual payout limit, no lifetime or per-incident limits, discounts for paying your bill annually instead of monthly, and discounts for bundling your policy with their other insurance policy types (home, auto, rental). You can learn more about it in our full Lemonade Pet Insurance review.

Pumpkin is another company that offers both traditional pet insurance and pet wellness plans. The premiums we were offered from Pumpkin were higher than both Wagmo and Lemonade, however. You can learn more in our Pumpkin Pet Insurance review.

If you’re interested in exploring insurance alternatives, we know of a few more options for you to consider. We already described PetAssure, a flat-rate vet discount program, earlier in the review. It doesn’t offer as much financial protection, and you have to visit a participating clinic, but its monthly membership fees are much lower than the premiums typically charged by insurance companies. However, you can only obtain membership through your employer.

Pawp is another interesting option. It offers membership to a monthly pet telehealth service, so you can chat with a vet whenever you have a question. In addition, Pawp offers a $3,000 emergency fund for life-threatening accidents and illnesses. Although this operates differently than traditional insurance, it can help you cover an unexpected expense in a pinch. One thing we like about Pawp is that you can get a free 7-day trial to its telehealth service, so trying it out is easy. Learn more in our Pawp pet insurance review.

Other Wagmo reviews

“I signed up my newly adopted dog about a week ago & took her to the vet this morning. My reimbursement was in my account 4 hours later! It’s so easy so submit. I love that I pay a small monthly fee that ends up paying me back for that annual wellness visit which can cost a couple hundred dollars.” — Darcy Anderson

“​​I just made my first claim and am so impressed! Within one hour of making a claim for grooming, a Wagmo rep reached out to say that their bank transfer service was down but they wanted to reimburse me today. They asked if I had PayPal and sent the money immediately. Amazing customer service and using Wagmo is seriously a no-brainer to save some money on our pup!” — Angela Stokes

“Really incredible service! I recently moved to a capital city and the pet care here is much more expensive. Signed up for Wagmo yesterday, took my dogs for their annuals today, and I was just reimbursed for almost the entire cost of their visits, which equaled roughly the cost of Wagmo for the entire year. This service has literally already paid for itself on the first day! Extremely satisfied with the cost, the ease of filing a claim and the speed of reimbursement. Can’t wait for my state to get the approval for the Wagmo Illness and Accident insurance. I’ll definitely be adding it to my dogs’ plans! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ” — Ashley McDonald

^{User-submitted reviews from Wagmo’s Facebook page}

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