Why should we avoid Lemonade for pet insurance? I’ve been dealing with them, and honestly, it’s been a nightmare. They’ll find any excuse not to pay claims.
I signed up with them because their prices were low, and they use AI to handle claims. It worked fine for the first year claims were quick. But as soon as my dog’s policy hit 12 months, they almost doubled the premium and started rejecting every claim.
The latest denial was for my dog’s allergy-related treatment. They denied it because he had an ear infection during the waiting period, even though my vet confirmed it had nothing to do with allergies. They just decided to say it was a pre-existing condition. My vet even wrote a letter stating the infection was due to yeast, not allergies, but Lemonade ignored it.
I appealed, waited a whole month for an update, and they just repeated the same nonsense, sticking to their original decision. I want to warn others about this, they lure you in with low prices but will deny you when it matters.
If anyone has advice on how to report them or can recommend a reliable pet insurance company, I’d appreciate it🙏
I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this! I’ve heard more and more stories lately about Lemonade dragging out claims and making it hard to get in touch with someone who can help. I’d definitely recommend looking beyond just the price when considering pet insurance. Lemonade might seem cheaper, but I wonder if it’s really worth it in the long run.
Does your pup have any other pre-existing conditions? You might run into similar issues with other companies since all pet insurance tends to have those exclusions. They often interpret things in their favor. I’d write a formal complaint to Lemonade and send a copy to your state’s insurance commissioner. It could also help to share your story on social media if you think it’ll get some traction.
For what it’s worth, my dog’s insurer, Trupanion, didn’t deny a claim even though he had gastroenteritis during the waiting period. It wasn’t an issue for me. Trupanion is a bit more expensive, but sometimes you get what you pay for.
Thanks for the insight, Dolph. My pup’s only 2 years old, so apart from some behavioral issues (which most insurance doesn’t cover), there’s nothing major in his medical history.
I get that insurers have some leeway in how they interpret medical conditions, but what frustrates me is that their decision goes against my vet’s diagnosis. And no one seems to care. In Europe, I feel like consumers are more protected from these kinds of companies. I’ll definitely look into Trupanion, sounds like you’ve had a better experience with them.
Yeah, it’s frustrating that there aren’t stronger protections for pet insurance consumers here. Maybe because so few people in the U.S. have it compared to places like Sweden? It’s probably not a priority for lawmakers. It’d be nice if we could get rid of pre-existing condition exclusions altogether, like they did with human health insurance.
It’s wild that these companies can sell you policies and then just interpret the fine print however they want. I hope you can get some more attention on this and get things turned around.
I didn’t realize human insurance used to have similar issues before the ACA. Hopefully, pet insurance can go through the same progress. Thanks again for all the advice
I wish I’d seen this earlier. My dog tore her ACL and needed TPLO surgery, and Lemonade’s been dragging out my claim. What they’re telling me over email doesn’t match what I’m seeing in the app. I pay $50 a month for peace of mind, but now I’m worried I’ll be stuck with a $4k bill.
My dog had TPLO surgery about six weeks ago, and we have Trupanion. They paid the vet directly without any hassle. They don’t cover routine stuff like vaccinations, but we find it worth it for major expenses like surgeries.
Maybe consider them for the future. Unfortunately, it won’t help with your current situation, but something to look into.
If you feel like they made the wrong decision on your claim, I’d definitely reach out to your state’s Department of Insurance. Also, you can file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
Side note: Lemonade only keeps 25% of premiums for profit, and the rest goes to charity after claims are paid. So technically, they don’t benefit from denying your claim.
That’s good to know about the charity thing! I still don’t get how they can ignore my vet’s diagnosis, though. The medical records show it was an ear infection, and the vet said in writing that it wasn’t related to allergies. Yet, Lemonade decided it was.
I want to warn others about this, they lure you in with low prices but will deny you when it matters.
