How long pet insurance claims take

How you file, how long each insurer says it takes to pay, and how long you have to send the claim.

Beagle
On this page
  1. The short answer
  2. By insurer
  3. What this means for your dog
  4. Before you buy
  5. Questions owners ask

Updated October 2, 2026. Plan facts come from each insurer's published documents; each insurer's policy documents control.

The short answer

Most insurers take claims in an app or online and say they pay within days to two weeks: Lemonade pays about half of claims instantly, Healthy Paws says most take 2 days, Spot under 3, and Embrace asks for 10 to 15 business days.

You usually pay the vet first and are reimbursed after the claim is approved.

What will it cost for your dog?

Pick your breed, age and ZIP code to see the estimated monthly price from the insurers we compare.

Model updated Sep 2026 · No phone calls · Independent

Filing and payout time, by insurer

InsurerFiling and payout timeNotes
EmbraceOnline/app; 10-15 business days[1][2]First claim can take up to 30 days due to medical history review. MyEmbrace online or app is fastest and needs no claim form; email, fax or mail need a form.
FetchApp/online; typically processed within 15 days[3]Submit invoice and medical records via app or online account; direct deposit pays 5-10 days faster than checks.
Healthy PawsApp/online, no forms; most in 2 days[4]Upload a photo of the invoice via app or customer center within 90 days of invoice date.
LemonadeIn app; ~50% paid instantly[5][6]File in the Lemonade app within 180 days of treatment (90 in Texas); rest typically within 5 days. Claims must be filed within 180 days of treatment; Texas residents have 90 days.
OdieMember portal; no processing time stated[7]Claims filed in member portal within 180 days of treatment; after approval ACH takes 2-5 days, paper check 5-7 days.
Pets BestOnline/app; bank deposit 5-7 days[8][9]Fastest with a saved reimbursement method: bank deposit in 5-7 days or CareCredit in 3-5 days; otherwise a paper check. Claims must be filed within 180 days of treatment.
SpotApp/member center; most under 3 days[10][11]Most claims are processed in under 3 days; paid by direct deposit or check. Claims must be filed within 270 days of the date of service.
TrupanionNot verified yetTrupanion's website blocks automated requests, so we could not check this against its policy yet. Ask Trupanion directly.

From each insurer's own sample policy, terms or FAQ, checked October 2, 2026. Terms vary by state and plan, and the policy you buy controls.

Check how this applies to your breed

What this means for your dog

Processing time matters most for large bills. An emergency for bloat in a Great Dane or surgery for IVDD in a Dachshund can mean several thousand dollars on your card while you wait. If that would be hard, look at the insurers that can pay the vet directly.

The speed an insurer quotes starts when it has everything it needs. Fetch, for example, counts from when it receives all your documents. Send the itemized invoice and, if asked, your vet records with the claim. A first claim can take longer while the insurer reviews your dog's history: Embrace says up to 30 days.

Watch the filing deadline: Lemonade and Pets Best give you 180 days from treatment, and Spot 270 days. Set a reminder to file right after each visit rather than in a batch at the end of the year.

Before you buy

  • Note the deadline to file a claim after treatment.
  • Check which documents a claim needs: itemized invoice, vet records, a claim form or not.
  • Ask how payouts are made, by direct deposit or check, and set up direct deposit early.
  • Ask whether the first claim takes longer because of a medical history review.

Questions owners ask

How long does a pet insurance claim take?

It varies by insurer: Lemonade says it pays about 50% of claims instantly and the rest in about 5 days on average, Healthy Paws says most claims take 2 days, Spot under 3 days, Fetch typically within 15 days and Embrace 10 to 15 business days.

How do I file a claim?

With all seven insurers we could check, online or in the insurer's app, with an itemized invoice from the vet. Healthy Paws says no claim forms are required.

Is there a deadline to file a claim?

Yes. Lemonade and Pets Best require claims within 180 days of treatment (90 days in Texas for Lemonade), and Spot within 270 days.

How is the money paid?

Usually by direct deposit or check to you. Pets Best says bank deposits arrive in 5 to 7 days; Odie says direct deposits take 2 to 5 days after approval.

Sources

  1. How long does it take for Embrace to process claims?. Embrace Pet Insurance.
  2. How do I submit a claim?. Embrace Pet Insurance.
  3. How does the claims submission method work | Fetch FAQs. Fetch.
  4. File a Claim | Healthy Paws. Healthy Paws.
  5. How Does Pet Insurance Work? (Lemonade coverage guide). Lemonade.
  6. The Ultimate Lemonade Pet FAQ. Lemonade, 2026.
  7. Help Center - Odie Pet Insurance. Odie Pet Insurance.
  8. Frequently Asked Questions | Pets Best. Pets Best Insurance Services.
  9. Accident and Illness Policy Form, Arizona sample (IAIC-PB10001-ILL). Pets Best Insurance Services.
  10. What Does Pet Insurance Cover? | Spot Pet Insurance. Spot Pet Insurance.
  11. Accident & Illness Sample Policy (Arizona, form PET-P-20000-1024, Independence American Insurance Company). Spot Pet Insurance.

How we choose and check sources: Sources we use.

Reimbursement. The share of an eligible vet bill the insurer pays back after your deductible. At 80%, a $1,000 covered bill returns $800. More in the glossaryDirect vet pay. An option where the insurer pays the vet clinic directly for a covered claim, instead of reimbursing you after you pay the bill. More in the glossary