Overview
Pumpkin launched in 2020 from the same founders who built BarkBox. Their insurance is underwritten by Crum & Forster (same as Embrace, ASPCA, Spot). The differentiator is Pumpkin's preventive care plan, which is more generous than competitors — full reimbursement for vaccines, annual exam, dental cleaning, fecal test, heartworm test, and more.
Insurance coverage is solid mid-market: 90% reimbursement, customizable deductibles and annual max, covers hereditary conditions, dental illness, behavioral issues, and alternative therapies. They have a simple plan structure compared to Pets Best or Embrace — fewer tiers to choose between.
Pumpkin's pricing tends to be slightly higher than Spot or Lemonade for the base insurance, but the preventive plan is genuinely valuable if your vet's annual wellness package costs $400+. For Long Island owners doing all the recommended puppy care in year one, Pumpkin's preventive plan can actually break even or come out ahead.
Puppy and kitten owners who want robust preventive care AND insurance bundled simply.
✓ Strengths
- →Most-comprehensive preventive plan in the category
- →90% reimbursement standard
- →No separate orthopedic waiting period
- →Covers behavioral, alternative therapies, dental illness
- →Simple plan structure — fewer decisions
⚠ Drawbacks
- →Base insurance pricing slightly higher than Lemonade or Spot
- →Newer brand (2020) — less long-term data
- →Preventive Essentials is flat-rate (you essentially pre-pay, get reimbursed if you use it)
- →Only 90% reimbursement (no lower-cost 70% option)
Pricing on Long Island
Preventive Essentials is fixed-benefit, not reimbursement — flat $19/month for dogs, $12/month for cats in most markets.
Plan structure
What's covered
Our take
Skip Pumpkin Pet Insurance if: Owners who already get preventive care free elsewhere (employer benefit, vet's annual wellness package included), those wanting the cheapest base premium.
Pick Pumpkin Pet Insurance if: First-year puppy or kitten owners committed to all recommended preventive care, owners who want one monthly bill covering everything pet-vet-related.
Fine print to know
- Preventive Essentials is technically not insurance — it's a vet wellness package operated separately.
- If you don't use all preventive benefits, you don't get money back.
- Same underwriter as Embrace/ASPCA/Spot, so financial backing is solid.
Get a real quote for your pet
Pricing varies by breed, age, and ZIP. Always quote on the carrier's own site.
Visit Pumpkin Pet Insurance →We don't take commissions from insurers. This is an independent review.