An Expert’s Breakdown – Dogster

Odie Pet Insurance

Our Final Verdict

We give Odie Pet Insurance a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Having pet insurance is a responsible move when you’re a parent to a four-legged best friend. Injuries, illnesses, and wellness are all costs that can quickly skyrocket beyond anyone’s budget, and insurance is there to help. Odie is aiming to change the pet insurance industry by offering an easy-to-understand, customizable, affordable option for all of us pet parents out there (being, on average, 15-30% less expensive than comparable companies). Trust me, having insurance and never using it is better than finding yourself in the emergency room without it.

Odie Pet Insurance Review

Pros

  • Budget-friendly insurance
  • Provides coverage in all of the United States, as well as Canada
  • No breed or age restrictions
  • 90% reimbursement on all covered treatments
  • Customizable
  • 24/7 tele-vet care is included
  • Wellness Plan is available
  • Filing a claim is quick and easy
  • Very short waiting periods
  • No rate increased based on claim history

Cons

  • The breed list is out of order
  • There is no unlimited payout option
  • Bilateral and behavioral conditions are considered pre-existing and excluded

About Odie Pet Insurance

Odie is a relatively new type of insurance company that has hit the pet coverage marketplace, and Odie is quickly making its name known amongst the other big-name pet insurance providers. Having been founded by a pet owner who was frustrated with the process of finding insurance for their dogs Luke and Summer, Odie prides themselves on making pet insurance easy to understand, affordable, and no fuss! Lucky for all of us, Luke and Summer’s parents are three-generation insurance experts, so Odie was craftfully designed by someone with a lot of knowledge in that industry.

Odie’s manifesto best discloses the core principles of this insurance company, which are Affordability, Prevention, and Commitment. Odie believes that insurance should be an affordable and accessible option for all, especially with the staggering statistic of only 2% of dog and cat owners having insurance. When an emergency happens, vet bills can be devastating – and often have a pet’s life held in the balance over cost. Odie believes that education and preventative care help make pets healthier, which is why the company developed a Wellness plan to further facilitate happy pets and reduce claims. Odie’s commitment to their customers and beloved pets aims to shine through with compassion and excellent customer service.

Alongside all of this, Odie provides coverage in all states and is probably one of the most comprehensive coverage regions of many of the big pet insurance players. From Odie themselves, “we provide treatment coverage while the pet is in the US, Canada, or any region under US government control, including territories or military installations/bases in foreign countries. If a pet requires medical treatment or veterinary services in these specified locations, the policy will cover the associated costs per the terms and conditions of the insurance contract.” This also gives you peace of mind when traveling or relocating with your pet.

All of this being said some have criticized Odie for not having an unlimited payout option like some other pet insurances offer. You can only choose between a $10,000 or $40,000 annual limit. However, this does help Odie remain affordable and truth be told, most average pet owners will not cross the threshold of a $40,000 yearly limit in their pet’s lifetime! As such, pet owners tend to overspend on insurance.

On the note of the average pet owner, Odie’s policies are best meant for your average pet. Purebred dog and cat breeders, canine sports enthusiasts, and working animals aren’t really the market for Odie – so the policies don’t tend to cover medical costs associated with these practices. If anything, Odie specifically states they will not cover costs related to breeding, training canines for racing or sledding, and the like.

Pricing & Plans (Updated in 2024)

Pet Insurance Cost Comparison

Company Sample Monthly Cost For Dogs Sample Monthly Cost For Cats Learn More
Odie $9 for the Accident Plan, $45 for the Illness and Injury Plan $6 for the Accident Plan, $25 for the Illness and Injury Plan Get Quote
Lemonade $19.44 $11.00 Get Quote
Spot $36.54 $16.51 Get Quote
Wagmo $70.12 $30.88 Get Quote
Trupanion $29.70 $12.22 Get Quote
Fetch $26.89 $11.93 Get Quote

Base Policy

Odie has three base policies to choose from:

The Illness & Injury Plan

    • This fully customizable plan allows you to choose what you want or need to be covered. This helps reduce cost, as you won’t be charged for coverage that isn’t necessary. On average, this plan comes out to $45 for dogs and $25 for cats.
    • This plan also includes unlimited, around-the-clock tele-vet for any questions, concerns, or needs. A member of Odie is also available at all times for any policy-related queries and customer service.
    • The waiting periods are short, and claims are processed very quickly.
    • There are multi-pet discounts as well for this plan

The Accident Only Plan

    • This plan is exclusively for emergency vet visits, which can help pet owners on a tight budget sleep easier at night, knowing that any injury caused by an accident will be covered. The starting cost is $9 per month for dogs and $6 per month for cats.
    • This is also a great option for pets with pre-existing conditions, whose conditions cause them to be more susceptible to accidents.
    • Injuries such as broken bones, sprains, eye injuries, traumatic dental fractures, bites, lacerations, snake bites, and bee stings are covered. Veterinary treatments associated with these injuries, such as X-rays and emergency care, are also covered.

Odie’s Wellness Plan

    • This plan is solely to reduce costs for routine pet care, helping keep our furry ones healthy. The Wellness Plan offsets the cost of regular necessary care, such as flea medication, yearly check-ups, vaccinations, microchipping, and more. This is not a health insurance plan, just a plan to assist with costs associated with pet care. This comes out to $14 per month for the basic plan and $23 per month for the plus plan.
    • Because this is not a health insurance offering, there is no waiting period nor deductible, and pets with pre-existing conditions are applicable (because pre-existing conditions don’t matter).
    • There are bundles available where you can pair Odie’s Wellness Plan with their insurance plans.

Customizations

The Illness & Injury Plan

  • Choose between a $250 deductible or $500 deductible
  • Choose between a $10,000 annual limit or $40,000 annual limit
  • Office Visit and Exam Fee Coverage is optional
  • Rehabilitative Care Coverage is optional
  • Prescriptions Coverage is optional

The Accident Only Plan

No customizations. All policies have a $10,000 annual limit with a 90% reimbursement on emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, lab tests associated with an injury, MRIs, CAT scans, and X-rays. The deductible is $250.

The Wellness Plan

The Basic Plan

    • Rabies Vaccinations: $15
    • Flea & Tick Prevention: $50
    • Heartworm Prevention: $30
    • Vaccination / Titer: $30
    • Wellness Exam: $50
    • Heartworm Test or FELV Screen: $25
    • Blood, Fecal, Parasite Exam: $50
    • Microchip: $20
    • Urinalysis or ERD: $15
    • Deworming: $20
    • Does not cover spay/neuter
    • Does not cover teeth cleanings

The Plus Plan

    • Spay/Neuter and/or Teeth Cleaning: $150
    • Rabies Vaccination: $15
    • Flea & Tick Prevention: $65
    • Heartworm Prevention: $30
    • Vaccination / Titer: $40
    • Wellness Exam: $50
    • Heartworm Test or FELV Screen: $30
    • Blood, Fecal, Parasite Exam: $70
    • Microchip: $40
    • Urinalysis or ERD: $25
    • Deworming: $20

Odie Pet Insurance Price Comparison for Dogs

Breed Name Small Mixed Breed Border Collie
Male or Female Female Male
Age 8 years old 1 year old
Location Los Angeles, CA Las Vegas, NV
Reimbursement Level 90% 90%
Annual Deductible $500 $250
Annual Max $10,000 $40,000
Price per month $88.71 $38.50
Breed Name Under 1 5 Years Old
Golden Retriever $29.95 per month $40.37 per month
Toy Poodle $18.89 per month $21.25 per month
Cocker Spaniel $25.55 per month $34.44 per month

Deductibles & Claims

The Illness & Injury Plan gives you a deductible option of either $250 or $500. The The Accident Only Plan has a set deductible of $250. Odie’s Wellness Plan has no deductible.There are no limits to the amount of claims a customer can make. The claims process is quite simple and is the same or similar to other insurance companies. A claim must be submitted within 180 days of the treatment date. Customers can use their account and online portal to submit a claim digitally, which simply requires uploading the requested documents. Otherwise, customers can request a claim form, which Odie will mail, email, text message, or fax based on their preference.

Claims are investigated within five business days; however, this time can vary based on the details of the claim. Claims involving pre-existing conditions are the most common to be denied, but generally speaking, claims that fall within the policy terms are covered.

Please note that you must submit your pet’s medical records prior to making the first claim. You will not have to repeat this afterward.

What Does Odie Pet Insurance Cover?

All of Odie’s Pet Insurance plans cover 90% of costs, so you’ll only be out of pocket 10%! This is absolutely incredible, as few insurance companies come this close.

The annual deductible options are either $250 or $500, and the maximum yearly coverage is optioned at $10,000 per year or $40,000 per year.

The Illness & Injury Plan

Covered

  • 24/7 Televet Chat
  • Laboratory Tests
  • Diabetes & Insulin
  • Emergency Vet Visits
  • Hereditary & Congenital issues
  • Cancer Treatment
  • Overnight Hospital Stays
  • Breed-specific Conditions
  • Tooth Extractions
  • IV Fluids & Medications
  • Hip Displaysia
  • Poison Control Consultation
  • Medical Supplies
  • Foreign Object Ingestion
  • Lacerations and Wounds
  • Surgeries
  • Toxic Poisoning
  • Bites & Stings
  • MRI/CAT Scans
  • X-rays & Ultrasounds
  • Treatment for Behavioral issues
  • Rehabilitative Care
  • Office Visits & Exam Fees
  • Dental Disease & Fractures
  • Prescription Medications
  • ACL Tears
  • Organ or Heart Valve Transplants
  • Gastrointestinal Issues
  • There are many more coverages, so long as it is not listed in the Not Covered category

Not Covered

  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Dental prophylaxis and associated care
  • Endodontic treatment for teeth other than the canines and carnassials
  • Open or closed root planing at any time for any reason
  • Any treatment for supernumerary teeth, absent teeth, and malocclusion
  • Training/obedience classes
  • Boarding
  • Breeding, pregnancy, or birth expenses
  • Prescription food
  • Cosmetic or elective procedures
  • Biohazard fees
  • Preventative Care (this can be added with the Wellness Plan)
  • Any prescription or over-the-counter medications that is not included in the prescription formulary
  • Injuries due to any intentional act, such as illegal dog fighting
  • Complications of diagnostic tests, treatments, therapies, and/ or medications related to Conditions not covered or restricted
  • Anal gland expulsion
  • Pet care products
  • Any Condition resulting from activities related to training for or participating in racing, including track or sled racing
  • Holistic and alternative treatments
  • Experimental therapies and treatments
  • Cremation and burial

The Accident Only Plan

Covered

  • Broken bones
  • Sprains
  • Eye injuries
  • Traumatic dental fractures
  • Bite wounds
  • Lacerations
  • Snake bites
  • Bee stings
  • X-rays related to accidents
  • Ultrasounds related to accidents
  • Laboratory tests related to accidents
  • Emergency care related to accidents
  • Hospitalization related to accidents
  • CT Scan related to accidents
  • MRI related to accidents
  • Surgery related to accidents

Not Covered

  • Breed-specific health issues or illnesses, congenital conditions, chronic conditions, dental Illness
  • Pre-existing injuries, cruciate ligament events, or Injuries due to behavioral conditions or intentional acts
  • Routine or wellness care includes checkups, vaccinations, spay/neuter, microchipping or teething cleaning
  • Everything else other than the above coverage

Pre-Existing Conditions

Like most pet insurance companies, pre-existing conditions are not covered under Odie’s Illness & Injury Plan. Odie defines pre-existing conditions as chronic conditions, bilateral conditions, intervertebral disc conditions, and any condition that had been diagnosed before the policy started or during the waiting period.

Waiting Periods

Insurance companies apply waiting periods to ensure that insurance fraud isn’t committed, which means that your policy requires a select amount of time to pass before coverage begins. Odie’s waiting periods are the following:

  • Accidental Injuries: 3 days
  • Illnesses: 14 days
  • Cruciate Ligament Events: 6 months

This is why it is crucial to have insurance for your pet before something bad happens.

This being said, Odie states that in some instances, the waiting periods may be reduced or waived through pre-approved channels where the animal’s health is certified by a participating veterinarian before coverage is purchased.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is there a multi-pet household discount?

Yes! There is a 5% discount for multiple pets.

Does Odie cover pets that are not dogs or cats?

At this time, Odie only covers dogs and cats.

What is a Prescription Formulary that Odie states on their Illness & Injury Plan?

The Prescription Formulary is a list of about 950 medications that Odie’s insurance will cover under their Take Home Prescription Medication Coverage.

What if I want to cancel my policy?

What is unique about Odie is that customers have a 30-day money-back guarantee if no claims are covered. Otherwise, shoot Odie an email to cancel your policy.

Our Verdict

Although Odie is newer to the pet insurance world, there is no reason to hesitate on them – Odie is by far the most affordable plan out there! Even if you can only afford the Accident Only insurance plan, that still gives considerable relief should something occur. With covering 90% of treatment costs in both the Injury & Illness and the Accident plans, I am astonished that this is possible. The annual deductible isn’t too high either, and I am definitely putting my own pup on Odie as soon as I finish writing this.





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