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Emergency Fund Add-On
Coverage & Exclusions
What's not covered by the Emergency Fund?
What's not covered by the Emergency Fund?

Find out more about how the Pawp Emergency Fund works.

Pawp Team avatar
Written by Pawp Team
Updated over a week ago

The Pawp Emergency Fund is a financial safety net that reimburses you up to $3,000 for one vet bill a year in the event of an unexpected, life-threatening medical situation. It is available as an optional monthly add-on to your base Pawp membership. In this article, we'll discuss exclusions and what's not covered. If you're looking for what is covered, you can check out our What's Covered article for a deeper dive.

In order to be reimbursed for an emergency vet bill, you must submit an Emergency Fund Application. If approved, you will receive up to $3,000 via ACH e-transfer or mailed check. Each application is evaluated on a case-by-case basis by our in-house medical review team to see if the medical situation qualifies as an emergency.

What does Pawp consider an emergency?

Pawp defines an emergency as an unexpected, life-threatening medical situation that requires immediate veterinary attention.

This definition of emergency mentions both "unexpected" and "life-threatening." In order to qualify for reimbursement, your issue must meet both of these criteria, meaning we can't provide coverage for things that are planned and expected (like scheduled surgeries) nor things that aren't life-threatening (like deworming).

What doesn't the Emergency Fund cover?

Outside of how Pawp defines an emergency, there are a few other things that may prevent you from being approved for coverage. These mostly apply to making sure your Emergency Fund is available for use and there were no lapses in care that may have worsened your pet's issue. Please find a list of exclusions from Emergency Fund coverage below:

  • Emergencies that occur prior to the conclusion of the 14-day waiting period.

  • Emergencies where the member has failed to take the pet to a veterinary provider within 8 hours of a Pawp veterinary professional instructing them to seek emergency in-person care.

  • Preventative care, including, but not limited to:

    • Wellness exams

    • Preventative treatment, including annual tests or diagnostic procedures

    • Vaccinations

    • Parasite prevention

    • Spaying or neutering

    • Grooming and dematting

  • Any scheduled appointments for routine checkups or anticipated procedures, or any scheduled surgery or procedure.

  • Emergencies that have not been deemed as such by a Pawp veterinary professional and approved by Pawp’s Risk Services.

  • Cremation costs exceeding $250 or memorabilia of any kind.

  • Boarding or daycare.

  • Treatment for illness related to the teeth and/or gums or routine dental care.

  • Cost of treatments for follow-up care after an emergency, including scheduled appointments for additional procedures related to the emergency.

  • Treatment for injury or illness caused by the aggressive actions of another animal where there is deliberate endangerment of the member's pet, including but not limited to, organized fighting.

  • Treatment for injury or illness caused by persistent neglect of the animal.

  • Treatments for any illness for which a vaccine is available for the member’s pet to prevent such illness and for which vaccination is both recommended by a Veterinarian and rejected by the member.

  • Costs for any treatment for:

    • Prosthetic limbs and devices

    • Organ transplants

    • Genetic/chromosome testing

    • Vaccinations

    • Deworming

    • Routine checkups

    • X-rays or ultrasounds unrelated to an emergency

    • Prescription medications unrelated to an emergency

    • Non-emergency surgeries

    • Follow-up appointments after an emergency

    • Emergencies arising from or in any way related to pet breeding or pregnancy issues, including but not limited to nursing, neonates, and weaning

  • Costs for any treatment arising from or in any way related to:

    • avian, swine, or any other type of influenza or any mutant variation

    • intentional slaughter by, or under, the order of any government or public or local authority

    • epidemics or pandemics as declared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture

You can find all our Emergency Fund rules and regulations here.

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