Figo Pet Dog Insurance Review

When it comes to insuring your dog, there are a lot of options out there—and a lot of wrong choices. It can be tricky figuring out which insurance company and policy is right for your pup, but fortunately, we’ve gone ahead and done most of the research for you. Here’s what you should know about Figo Pet Insurance:

Brand Overview

Located in Chicago, Figo Pet Insurance began out of a technology facility that was surrounded by tech-related businesses. As a result, Figo has made it their priority to fuse the convenience of modern technology with great health insurance. Rather than deal with complicated claim forms, Figo provides a simple, online process for submission.

With three different flexible plans, pet owners can find the policy that works best for their dog and their financial situation. Not only does this mean you can pick and choose the coverage you want, but it also offers more opportunities for reimbursement and discounts. There are options to pick higher deductibles and lower monthly premiums or a lower annual deductible but a higher monthly premium.

Despite only being in business for six years, Figo has been able to help a wide variety of pets as well as earn a B-Plus rating from the Better Business Bureau.

2024 Figo Pet Insurance Review

Figo Pet Insurance has plenty of benefits, but they also have a few disadvantages too. Before you begin pulling out your wallet, it’s a good idea to know all the facts.

Pros:

• Responsive support staff and customer service
• The simple claim filing process
• Quick reimbursements

Cons:

• Monthly premiums are subject to change as your dog ages
• Claims may require complete documentation and medical records

What do customers like about Figo Pet?

The best way to understand what a company has to offer is usually by talking to other customers. Here’s what real customers have liked about their experiences with Figo Pet:

“Figo saved my pets life and my family a ton of money!!! I saw a few negative responses about claim times so I wanted to chime in. Not sure if the others received the same letter I did, but they have been great at communicating their growing pains and it seems to me like they are on it. 

Personally my experience has but nothing but fabulous. They paid my claim and whenever I text them they are super responsive. All in all, they are hands down the best pet insurance company out there.”  – Phillip W on Better Business Bureau

“I am very happy that Figo pays for alternative care like acupuncture and chiropractic services which are important to me. Monthly payments are also quite reasonable considering that they have plans where they actually pay 100% once you reach your deductible. Wish we had human health plans that’s like Figo.”  – Reviewer on petinsurancereview.com

“My 6-year old boxer mix started limping. After a couple vet visits, it was determined that she would need knee surgery and follow-up visits. I filed my claim for the surgery from my phone immediately after settling the bill, and received an email stating the claim had been closed by Figo later that same afternoon. 

The reimbursement was sent directly to my bank account and made available a few days later. All the claims filed post-surgery have been reviewed and paid promptly. The level of service I received from Figo through this stressful time has been outstanding! Very thankful we chose Figo as the pet insurer for our dog. Thank you, Figo!”  – Michael B on Better Business Bureau

What do customers dislike about Figo Pet?

No company is perfect, Figo Pet included. Here’s what customers haven’t liked about their experiences:

“We were covered by FIGO from July 2017 until July 2018. Prior to coverage effect we took our kitten to our vet for her first check-up and she was found healthy. We submitted the records to FIGO as required. During the first several months, they refused every claim for our 4 month old kitten asserting everything was a “pre-existing condition”. 

By October 2017 I was fed-up, so I sent them a strongly worded letter where I explained in part: “Every insurance contract has an unwritten, invisible, or implied term referred to as the covenant or promise of good faith and fair dealing. 

This is a promise imposed by law upon an insurance company to always act fairly towards its insured in handling their claims…In my estimation the apparent failure to investigate my claims leading to the unwarranted denial of said claims is gross mismanagement needling dangerously close to the appearance of bad faith insurance practices.”

 I then threatened to report them…After this, they paid my claims and I never heard from them again. They always paid every claim. (Suspicious action in my estimation. I believe they didn’t want to have someone investigating their practices.) 

Now, here at the end of July (2018), it is time to renew our policy. They decided to increase our premium by 100 percent for an otherwise healthy 1 year old cat. They further did this with zero transparency. They sent an email out in June explaining “some states could potentially see a rate increase”. 

They gave no information as to which states would see an increase or by what amount. They instructed us to log-in and see if we would be affected. We did and we were not. 3 weeks later, we still were not affected. Then today, when payment for the next year would be due, we found they increased the rate 100 percent. We are SO disgusted by this company and advise you strongly to avoid it like the plague!

“Not worth the headache. I’ve had to explain 3 times now on our claim that we’ve provided all records we have on our puppy and all records from his emergency visit and they keep asking for the same information.”  – LaQueta A on Better Business Bureau

I physically went and picked up these records and provided them. My vet also stated they needed a fax from Figo with the requested info and never got one. I’d say look elsewhere and save yourself the trouble.”  – Catrin on petinsurancereview.com

How Does Figo Pet Insurance Work?

When you first enroll in Figo Pet Insurance, you’ll want to make sure your pup has had a routine health exam in the past twelve months. Figo doesn’t necessarily require a health exam to enroll, but they do use annual exams as the basis for determining pre-existing conditions.

After you’ve signed up, your policy effective date will be the following day at 12:01 am and you’ll enter into the waiting period. Since waiting periods can vary from state to state, Figo asks new customers to contact their support staff for details on how long the waiting period will be before coverage kicks in.

The good news is that submitting a claim doesn’t take hours. The simplest way to complete the submission process is to use the “Pet Cloud” section on the Figo website. Here, all you need to do is upload a copy of the paid invoice from your appointment and submit it. To speed up the process, you should ask your vet to send the medical records to Figo as well.

Before they approve your claim, Figo will likely request medical records from your vet office (if they haven’t already been sent) so that they can figure out whether or not your pup’s treatment was due to a pre-existing condition (and if their symptoms began before coverage or during the waiting period of your claim).

If you have issues submitting your claim online, you can always call the customer support staff and get help filing it.

Since Figo does have some excursions on what they’ll approve, some pet owners may appeal a claim that was denied. If that’s the case, you’ll need to write an appeal on paper and send it to Figo. This written appeal can be sent electronically through email or as a letter.

Figo Pet Pricing Details

Now that you understand how filing a claim works and the basic details of the brand, it’s time to think about the specific costs you’ll need to deal with and how you can get the best plan.

How much does it cost per month for their best plan?

There aren’t any one-size-fits-all options. The cost of your monthly premium often depends on the age, breed, and gender of your dog. Keep in mind that senior dogs and purebred dogs tend to cost more than younger, healthier dogs without any serious health issues.

Are there any coupons, deals or incentives to sign up?

Besides the savings you know you’ll get from signing up, Figo doesn’t currently offer any deals or incentives for enrolling.

What’s the deductible? Is it annual or per visit?

Deductibles can vary from dog to dog, but Figo only uses annual deductibles.

Do you have to pay a copay or are claims covered 100%?

While some plans and specific treatments may allow for 100% reimbursement, in most cases, customers often have a copay they’re responsible for.

Will the rates go up over time?

Your monthly premiums and deductible are subject to change as your dog gets older. Typically, senior dogs continue to have growing premiums throughout their golden years.

Figo Pet Coverage Details

Cost may be important but knowing what your plan covers is just as crucial.

Does it cover regular vet office visits and routine check-ups or only unexpected emergencies?

Although Figo covers hospitalization and unexpected emergent costs, they don’t currently cover routine check-ups or wellness care. If you choose to, you can include additional coverage in your plan for exam fees and consultations.

Does it cover dental and teeth cleaning?

Unfortunately, Figo does not cover regular teeth cleanings since this is a “routine” procedure. However, if your pup were to injure their teeth or jaw due to an illness or accident, the dental work they receive would be covered.

Does it cover hip dysplasia?

Currently, Figo does cover hip dysplasia.

Does it cover spaying and neutering?

Since spaying or neutering your dog is an expected charge (and technically elective), Figo does not cover this procedure

Does it cover pre-existing conditions?

Figo does not cover pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are symptoms or illnesses that your dog develops before they enroll in a Figo policy or during the waiting period. Keep in mind that your dog does not have to be diagnosed to have their illness or symptoms ruled as pre-existing.

If your vet notes that your dog is displaying signs or symptoms that later turn out to be a more serious illness, it would likely be ruled as pre-existing.

There is no required physical exam that your dog needs to undergo to enroll, but Figo will ask for previous medical records (and require that your dog has had a physical exam in the past twelve months). These records help Figo determine what signs or symptoms may have appeared before the policy started.

Does it cover cancer?

As long as your dog’s cancer is not a pre-existing condition, your dog ‘s cancer treatments will be covered by Figo.

Does it cover prescription medications?

Any prescription medications that your dog may need to take as treatment will be covered by Figo.

What else does it cover?

Figo strives to cover the majority of your medical costs including:

• Surgeries
• Emergency care
• Hospitalization
• Hereditary conditions
• Congenital conditions
• Prescription medications
• Cancer treatment
• Knee conditions
• Prosthetics and orthotics
• Imaging
• Hip dysplasia
• Chronic conditions
• Veterinary specialists

Keep in mind that, for an additional cost, you can also add alternative treatments and exam fees to your coverage.

What else does it NOT cover?

There are, however, still a few things that Figo does not cover such as:

• Pre-existing conditions
• Spaying/neutering procedures
• Experimental procedures
• Cosmetic surgery
• Routine care such as grooming or annual health exams
• Cloning procedures
• Pregnancy and giving birth

Are there any restrictions on breed-specific conditions or age?

Figo doesn’t have any breed-specific restrictions, but they do require that your dog be at least eight weeks old before you ensure them. Senior dogs are allowed to enroll at any age, but Figo does recommend that you follow your vet’s advice regarding senior wellness and care.

Is there a waiting period? How soon can I start using the insurance after I sign up?

Since waiting periods can vary depending on where you live, Figo requires new customers to contact their customer service to figure out how long their waiting period will be. However, once you’ve enrolled, you’ll enter into a waiting period immediately after the policy effective date.

Is it easy to cancel if I change my mind?

If you need to cancel your policy, you can do so by emailing Figo. All cancellations need to be in writing through either the mail or email.

How does Figo Pet compare to other pet insurance companies?

In comparison to other pet insurance companies, Figo Pet certainly ranks well. Unlike some insurance companies that require claim forms to be in writing or on the phone, Figo Pet’s online filing option gives customers more flexibility.

Most pet insurance companies don’t allow senior dogs over the age of thirteen or fourteen to enroll. While Figo Pet won’t accept animals younger than eight weeks, they don’t discriminate against older dogs.

Another time-saver is that they don’t require a new health exam upon enrollment. While some companies may force dogs to go through a new health exam, Figo doesn’t require an exam and will accept past medical records instead.

Would you recommend this pet insurance company for dogs?

Given their flexibility, lax requirements, and wide coverage, Figo Pet Insurance is a company worth recommending to dog owners.

What about coverage for other animals?

Many pet owners own more than just a dog and look for companies that will allow them to ensure multiple animals on the same policy.

Do they offer coverage for cats?

Fortunately, Figo does offer coverage for cats. However, if you’d like to branch out and explore more options for insuring your feline, this article gives an in-depth review of some of the best cat insurance around.

Do they offer coverage for horses, birds, reptiles and other exotic animals?

Unfortunately, Figo Pet only allows pet owners to create policy options for cats and dogs. At this time, they do not allow you to insure horses, birds, or other exotic animals.