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Costco Pet Insurance Review

Costco pet insurance review featuring a woman hugging her labrador retriever in her home
G. John Cole
Written by
G. John Cole
Written by
G. John Cole
Senior Writer
Graeme is a senior writer at ProtectMyPaws, working with our in-house team of data analysts and researchers to produce original studies and reports you will find under the Pet Care section of the site. Even though he doesn't have any pets at home now, Graeme grew up with a yellow Lab called Jake and a goldfish called Rudolph.
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ProtectMyPaws is an independent publication with no ties with companies mentioned on the site. We don’t accept free products in exchange for glowing reviews. Instead, we report our own findings to help you make an informed decision.

Costco is the first mega corporation entering the business of pet insurance. Realizing that providing pet owners with the necessary tools so they can protect their pet’s health is a trend that is projected to grow fast in the near future, Costco partners with Figo to do exactly that.

Costco Pet Insurance is a convenient solution for every Costco member to get a high-quality, tried, and tested pet insurance policy at a favorable discount. They issue their pet coverage policies through Figo, which is renowned for its top-tier service.

Some of the greatest advantages that come by opting for a Costco/Figo insurance policy for your dog or cat are:

  • Worldwide pet insurance coverage;
  • 15% discount for all Costco members;
  • Reimbursement rates of up to 100% of the vet bills;
  • An amazing Pet Cloud mobile app with tons of great features.

Continue reading this Costco pet insurance review to learn about the rest of the details, like what’s covered and what’s excluded, how Costco’s plans are priced, how to save big by using their discount options, and more.

Costco’s Pros & Cons

ProsCons
Figo doesn’t require a full physical exam as a requirement for enrolling.Expensive premiums for senior cats and dogs
One of the fastest processing times for claims (averaging on 1-4 days)No coverage for bilateral conditions (knee tissue issues, cruciate ligament conditions, etc.)
Incredibly short accident waiting period (1 day)Cats and dogs of pure breeds tend to have expensive policy premiums
Pet insurance coverage is available anywhere in the world$2.00 monthly transaction fee
Option to be completely reimbursed by Figo 
No maximum age restrictions for pets 
Two comprehensive options for pet wellness care 
Optional add-ons for veterinary exam fees and extra care 
Figo Pet Could – a smartphone app with AI assistance and tons of helpful stuff to aid pet parenting 
Discounts: 15% for Costco members;5-10% for multiple pets;5-10% as an employee benefit. 
30-day free look period 

Costco’s Key Attributes

  1. Underwriter: Independence American Insurance Company
    • AM Best Rating: A-
    • BBB Rating: B
  2. Exam period: While Figo will go through your pet’s medical history of the past 12 months before you subscribe to their service, they don’t obligate their customers to take a full veterinary exam as a requirement for enrolling. If you have not had your pet examined before you signed up with Figo, the first vet exam you’ll have after enrollment will be taken into consideration to determine the extent of your pet coverage.
  3. Increase in monthly premium: In order to ensure you’re always receiving the best healthcare for your pet, Figo increases the price of their policy premiums as your pet gets older. They do so because they understand that, with age, pets are more prone to accidents and disorders and their vet visits often become more frequent. Another factor here are the costs for veterinary services where you live. The higher they get with time, the higher your policy premium will become as well.
  4. Claim submission time limit: On average, you have about 180 days to file a claim with Figo, depending on where you live, but in general, this timeframe is the standard in any state. Our advice is to double-check what is the exact time limit for your particular state.
  5. Claim processing times: You can rest assured that your submitted claim will always be processed with Figo in 10 days. However, this timeframe is usually much shorter, and Figo processes claims from 1 to 4 days on average.
  6. Waiting periods: All pet insurance providers impose waiting periods in order to protect their good standing from dishonest customer behavior. Figo has one of the most decently constructed waiting periods – coverage for accidents becomes available in only 1 day after your enrollment (3 days in AK, CO, FL, ID, MO, NJ, NY, UT, and WA), while illnesses have a waiting period of 14 days. Orthopedic conditions have it the worst in this regard and for treating those you’d have to wait for 6 full months.
    • Accidents – 1 day (3 days in AK, CO, FL, ID, MO, NJ, NY, UT, and WA);
    • Illnesses –  14 days;
    • Wellness – no waiting period;
    • Orthopedic conditions – 6 months (only applies to dogs);
    • Knee conditions – 6 months in AK, CO, FL, ID, MO, NJ, NY, and UT;
    • In  Washington state, pet owners will have to wait an entire year to get access to coverage for the following conditions:
      • Hip Dysplasia;
      • Elbow Dysplasia;
      • Cruciate Ligament Injury;
      • Portosystemic Shunt;
      • Osteochondritis Dissecans;
      • Luxating Patella;
      • Cardiovascular Defects.
  7. Pet insurance coverage with Costco is valid anywhere in the world. That means that if you travel to Europe, Asia, or anywhere else and take your pet with you, they’ll have their healthcare coverage with them. However, residents of Utah, Tennessee, and Florida still can’t purchase Figo coverage through Costo.
    Note that policyholders that enrolled before December 2019, own a Figo pet coverage that’s valid for travel only to Canada and Puerto Rico.
  8. Bilateral conditions don’t come included in Figo’s policies. That means that conditions that can appear on both sides of a pet’s body won’t be covered if they have already been observed on one side of their body before (or during the waiting period) you sign up with them. The following conditions fall under that category:
    • Hip Dysplasia;
    • Elbow Dysplasia;
    • Cruciate Ligament Injuries;
    • Glaucoma;
    • Cherry Eye;
    • Cataracts;
    • Luxating Patella;
    • Ectropion;
    • Entropion;
    • Osteochondritis Dissecans.

Costco’s Insurance Plans

The three plans that Figo offers to appease every pet parent’s need are Essential, Preferred, and Ultimate, each characterized by high customizability and packed with tons of coverage instances for unexpected accidents and illnesses.

These three coverage packages are all similar to each other. The main difference that separates them is the annual benefit amount that’s unique for every tier.

It is also important to note that the deductibles that are offered for each plan largely depend on the pet’s age. They have different amounts for pets younger than 6, those that are between 6 and 10 years old, and those that are older than 10.

This might be a bit confusing to understand, but here we’ll demonstrate every detail for all the different options of each plan and pet’s age:

  • Essential plan:
    • Annual benefits – $5,000;
    • Reimbursement percentages available – 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%;
    • Annual deductibles:
      • for pets under 6 years – $100, $250, $500, and $750 (only $500 and $750 if you choose 100% reimbursement);
      • for pets between 6 and 10 years of age – $250, $500, $750, and $1,000 (only $500, $750, and $1,000 if you choose 100% reimbursement);
      • for pets over 10 years of age – $500, $750, $1,000, and $1,500.
  • Preferred plan:
    • Annual benefits – $10,000;
    • Reimbursement percentages available – 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%;
    • Annual deductibles:
      • for pets under 6 years – $100, $250, $500, and $750 (only $500 and $750 if you choose 100% reimbursement);
      • for pets between 6 and 10 years of age – $250, $500, $750, and $1,000 (only $500, $750, and $1,000 if you choose 100% reimbursement);
      • for pets over 10 years of age – $500, $750, $1,000, and $1,500.
  • Ultimate plan:
    • Annual benefits – Unlimited;
    • Reimbursement percentages available – 70%, 80%, and 90%;
    • Annual deductibles:
      • for pets under 6 years of age – $100, $250, $500, and $750;
      • for pets between 6 and 10 years of age – $250, $500, $750, and $1,000;
      • for pets over 10 years of age – $500, $750, $1,000, and $1,500.

All of the above-mentioned plans provide the same coverage for treating unplanned and unexpected injuries, accidents, and illnesses. The main difference, as we can see, is in the number of benefits that can be added to each plan.

What is also the same for all three tiers are the waiting periods. Accidents have a waiting period of only a single day (3 days in AK, CO, FL, ID, MO, NJ, NY, UT, and WA), coverage for illnesses becomes available after a 14-day waiting period, and you’d have to wait 6 months to unlock your coverage for orthopedic conditions (only applicable to dogs). A good thing about the waiting period for orthopedic conditions is that you can waive it if your pet undergoes an orthopedic exam and obtains a health certificate within the first month of your enrollment with Figo/Costco.

Your Figo pet insurance policy is valid anywhere in the world if you bring your pet with you while traveling. Figo can be purchased anywhere in the US through your Costo membership, although the states of Florida, Utah, and Tennessee are still on the waiting list to have this option become available for them.

In any case, Figo’s pet insurance coverage is valid when traveling with your pet anywhere in the world.

To conclude this section, to be able to sign up with Figo through Costo, your little pup or kitten needs to be at least 8 weeks old. Above that age, there are no further restrictions for signing up.

What’s Covered With a Costco Policy

Figo is one of the best options out there for providing a thorough accident and illness pet coverage policy that comes with included instances that you’ve never even heard of before.

In this part of the review, we’ll detail the most common medical conditions and injuries for dogs and cats that are most often treated by vets around the country. If you feel lazy going through all of what’s mentioned below, just remember that your pet is covered for motley everything that’s not a planned veterinary procedure and a pre-existing condition.

  • Accidents – bone fractures and facial trauma, car accidents, ingestion of foreign bodies, bite wounds, burns, sprains, cuts, tears, lacerations, and many more;
  • Illnesses – bacterial or viral infections to organs like the urinary tract, bladder, kidneys, lungs, ears, and eyes, diarrhea and vomiting, knee and ligament conditions, heartworm, and many more;
  • Congenital and hereditary conditions – conditions that affect specific breeds (especially dog ones) elbow and hip and elbow dysplasia, respiratory infections, thyroid disease, heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, disorders of the nervous system, glaucoma, cataracts, and many more;
  • Chronic conditions – skin disorders, epilepsy, asthma, allergies, arthritis, and many more;
  • Cancer treatments – biopsy procedures, diagnostics, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and more;
  • Diagnostics and laboratory testing – lab work, blood work, X-rays, urinalysis, MRI CT scans, ultrasound, and more;
  • Alternative and holistic treatments – physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, rehabilitative therapy, hydrotherapy, and similar unconventional treatments;
  • Non-routine dental treatments for accidents that cause dental trauma and require tooth extractions;
  • Boarding, surgery, and hospitalization;
  • Intravenous medications and fluids (IV) and medical supplies such as band-aids, bandages, casts, and more;
  • Prescription medications approved by the FDA and recommended by a licensed veterinarian (including meds used in treatment for behavioral issues);
  • Orthopedic devices and prosthetics that help aid rehabilitation and recovery from  surgery, arthritis, paralysis, and amputation;
  • Euthanasia that is recommended by a licensed veterinarian;
  • Cremation and burial expenses.

Coverage for vet visit fees is available on an optional add-on that can be purchased and added to your Figo base pet coverage.

What’s Excluded From Costco’s Coverage

Insurance companies would do anything to maintain their financial stability and protect their assets. One of the practices they implement in that regard is excluding some instances that people have been known to abuse to take advantage of in the past.

Figo excludes stuff from their pet coverage policy as well. In their documented policy agreements, they make it abundantly clear what your pet isn’t covered for, so you’re always in the know for what to expect at your next visit to the vet.

In a nutshell, here’s what Figo doesn’t cover your pet for:

  • Pre-existing conditions;
  • Spaying/neutering;
  • Organ transplants and experimental procedures;
  • Treatments that are needed for complications from breeding, pregnancy, or nursing;
  • Procedures involving cloning of pets;
  • Elective and cosmetic procedures like grooming, tail docking, dewclaw removal, declawing, ear cropping, and more;
  • Dietary foods, vitamins, and other supplements;
  • Treatments for neglected or intentionally injured pets (by you or a member of your immediate family);
  • Teeth cleaning;
  • Veterinary exam fees (optional add-on available at an extra fee);
  • Pet wellness care like preventative check-ups, microchipping, vaccines, and more (optional add-on available at an extra fee);

Costco’s Wellness Plans

Costco pet insurance wellness featuring a woman holding her yellow kitten in her lap

You can’t be referred to as a great pet parent if you’re not always on top of your furry baby’s health. That means, taking care of their tender needs not only when they become sick or injured but also while they’re healthy (just like you would take care of yourself or your family members).

But, in this day and age, it’s not that easy. Veterinary costs are on the rise and budgeting for these things can become a little tricky. That’s why Figo comes with two incredible pet wellness care packages to make your life easier and your pet happier.

Their Basic and Plus wellness plans can help you pay for every routine and preventative treatment that you wish to take for your pet. Benefits like dental cleaning, wellness exams, spaying/neutering, vaccines, bloodwork, microchipping, and more, are all included on these two tiers.

Review the chart below to see how much in annual benefits you’ll get if you decide to opt for one of Figo’s preventative care packages.

BenefitsWellness – BasicWellness – Plus
Wellness Exams$20$40
Vaccines:
Flea, Tick, and Heartworm;
Heartworm Preventative;
Rabies;
DHLP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza);
Parvovirus/Corona;
Bordetella;
Lyme;
Canine Influenza;
FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia);
Leukemia;
FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis);
Other Vaccines as approved for general use by AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), or equivalent industry regulating entity.
$30$50
Spay/Neuter or Teeth Cleaning$40$75
Tests:
Blood Panel;
Heartworm Test;
Fecal Test;
Urinalysis Test;
FeLV Test (Feline Leukemia Virus).
$20$45
Microchip / Health Certificate$15$30
Deworming$10$10
Annual Maximum$135$250

It’s very practical that both the Basic and the Plus wellness packages are priced at a fixed monthly price which is then added to your base coverage premium price. The Basic wellness plan costs 9.50 per month and the Plus wellness plan is $16.50 per month. As usual, the story is different for Californians. On the west coast, things are cheaper and the Basic wellness plan would cost you $5.50 per month and the Plus wellness plan $9.50 per month.

Note that neither of the preventative care packages can be purchased as a standalone coverage. You can only get them if you plan to be a full-blow Figo-insured customer and purchase their base coverage first.

Lastly, you can purchase Figo’s wellness plans anywhere in the US except in the states of Utah and Florida.

Extra Features

The pet wellness plans are only the beginning of Figo’s amazing palate of features. The company offers three additional power-ups that can be either optional (for an extra fee) or complementary and always there for free.

Veterinary Exam Fees for Accident and Illness Visits

Vet visits cost a separate price on your vet bill since they include check-ups, diagnostics, and consultations for further treatments and procedures. Many companies, including Figo, don’t cover those with their base pet coverage.

However, Figo offers an excellent add-on to get this issue fixed. The add-on for Veterinary Exam Fees is optional and can be used for anything you visit your vet for a condition or injury that’s covered by your Figo pet policy.

This add-on can only be added to your Figo’s pet coverage policy and costs a monthly price that will be included in your total monthly premium

The veterinary exam fees add-on price depends on the benefits that you opt for during your pet policy build-up.

We tested its price and figured that, for young mixed-breed puppies and kittens, it can cost about $1.3/month (if your chosen benefits are budget-friendly), and for senior purebred cats and dogs the cost can go up to $25/month (with benefits that will cost you less in the long run).

Extra Care Pack

Sometimes, even the most obscure things can happen to us when we least expect them, to make our lives a brief moment in hell.

To help ease the pain from unfortunate moments like losing your pet, having it stolen or strayed, or when you have to pay from your own pocket when they are the cause for third-party damage, Figo has just the right add-on for that.

The Extra Care Pack can be a great addition to your pet coverage policy and it costs a fixed monthly fee of only $6.62.

Below are all the benefits included in this pack and the maximum amounts that can be used for each of them:

BenefitsMaximum Amount
Final respects: costs for cremation or burial (as a result of an illness or accident that’s not covered by Figo)up to $250 (no deductible)
Advertising and reward for strayed or stolen petUndisclosed (no deductible)
Pet emergency that requires canceling a vacationUndisclosed (no deductible)
Fees for boarding your pet whenever you need to be hospitalizedUndisclosed (no deductible)
Pet theft or loss due to strayingup to $150 (no deductible)
Third-party property damage liabilityup to $10,000 per policy period (a separate deductible is required)

You can purchase Figo’s Extra Care Pack anywhere in the US except in the states of Utah and Florida.

Figo Pet Cloud

Every Figo policyholder has a right to the free Figo Pet Cloud –  a complementary feature designed to bring pets and pet parents together and educate them on all things pet.

The Figo Pet Cloud is, in fact, a smartphone app designed for iOS and Android. It’s a really helpful tool when pet parents want to meet each other, discover pet-friendly sports, set up playtime meetings, share memorable moments through images and videos, and tons of other purrfect stuff. 

Additionally, you can explore your area to find pet parks, pet-friendly restaurants, daycare centers, and even find dog walkers. Exploring your town and discovering places like pet-friendly restaurants, pet parks, daycare centers, and more, is made easy by the Figo pet Cloud.

You can even book a dog walker or a pet sitter through the app whenever you need to go away and have to leave your pup on their own.

You can keep your pet’s details and their medical history up to date on this app so it’s always readily available in the case of pet emergencies. Setting reminders for your next vet appointments is also possible with this amazing tool

The best feature of the Figo Pet Cloud, however, is probably the 24/7 online access to a live vet. Whenever you’re experiencing a pet emergency and you need professional advice, a trained professional will always be there to answer your needs.

Costco’s Pricing Quotes

The price of your premium will always be directly influenced by how old your pet is, if they are pure-bred or mixed, whether you live in an urban or a rural area, etc. The amount of benefits that you choose is also a great driver of what your premium price will look like.

If you want the best coverage that Figo offers on their website, you should be prepared to open up your pocket. The average prices for purebred dogs can revolve around $80/month, while purebred cats get premiums that are less than double the price for dogs (about $45/month).

Cats and dogs of mixed breed have considerably cheaper policy premiums. Domestic cats range around $30/month, while mixed-breed dogs are in the $45-$55/month bracket.

Pricing Quotes for Dogs

BreedGerman ShepherdFrench BulldogLabrador Retriever
GenderMaleMaleFemale
Age2 years 4 months4 years 2 months6 years 6 months
LocationNew YorkCaliforniaColorado
Deductible$500$500$500
Reimbursement90%90%90%
Essential ($5K Annual Benefit)$46.47/month$70.15/month$55.81/month
Preferred ($10K Annual Benefit)$54.23/month$81.88/month$65.13/month
Ultimate (Unlimited Annual Benefit)$61.54/month$92.92/month$73.93/month

*quotes obtained in October 2021
**the 15% Costco Member Discount is applied in the prices shown above

Pricing Quotes for Cats

BreedSiamesePersianAbyssinian
GenderMaleMaleFemale
Age2 years 5 months4 years 1 month8 years 2 months
LocationNew York ColoradoCalifornia
Deductible$500$500$500
Reimbursement90%90%90%
Essential ($5K Annual Benefit)$22.92/month$21.54/month$35.02/month
Preferred ($10K Annual Benefit)$26.76/month$25.15/month$40.87/month
Ultimate (Unlimited Annual Benefit)$30.38/month$28.56/month$46.39/month

*quotes obtained in October 2021
**the 15% Costco Member Discount is applied in the prices shown above

Discounts and Savings

In our quest to help our readers save as much as they can when shopping around for pet insurance options, we performed thorough research involving Costco and Figo.

This is what we discord – four simple ways that you can use to bring the price of your policy premium as low as it can be:

  • Costco Membership Discount:
    • 15% Discount – Every Gold Star & Business Costco member can save 15% off on their Figo pet insurance policy. That’s a huge discount especially if your original premium is quite high;
    • Executive & Business Executive Costco members can waive their $15 enrollment fee on top of the 15% discount they also receive for being loyal Costco members;
  • Multi-pet discount – Figo will reward you with a 5-10% discount whenever you decide to add an extra pet to your base accident and illness policy. The amount of the discount depends on your area of residence. To find out how much of a discount you’ll get, access Figo’s website and opt for a free quote.
  • Employee benefits – More employers decide to motivate their employees and keep the employee retention rate high by offering them pet insurance perks. This way, employers get to improve the culture in their companies, while employees get a 5-10% discount on their Figo pet insurance policy (discount amount depends on the state where it’s offered).
  • 30-day free look period – This benefit functions as the traditional money-back guarantee where customers are allowed to test a service’s features and value and decide if they want to cancel within their first month or continue using the service. Given that you haven’t submitted any claims within your first 30 days of usage, you can request a full refund from Costco/Figo.
Costco pet insurance featuring a man petting his dog in his office

How Does Costco Compare With Its Competitors?

All pet insurance companies on today’s market are pretty similar to each other. However, some offer more customizability of their coverage, some are oriented toward lumping everything into one comprehensive plan, while others provide options to choose what you need the most, etc.

With the charts below, we’ll compare Costco/Figo with three other pet insurers that target different kinds of pet owners. Lemonade, SPOT, and PetPartners are our choices for today, so go ahead and review how they compare to Costco/Figo. This could be helpful toward realizing which of them ticks all of your boxes.

Costco vs. Lemonade

With Lemonade, there will be no entry fee when you sign up for their pet coverage policy (Figo’s entry fee is $15 unless you’re a Costco Executive member for which there’s no entry fee).

Also, Lemonade is super fast since they’re power-upped by high-scale AI.  

On the other hand, Lemonade won’t get you covered if you travel with your pet outside the USA. They also don’t provide an option for unlimited benefits.

FeatureCostcoLemonade
Coverage Effective WorldwideUSA
ReimbursementChoice of 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% of covered expensesChoice of 70%, 80%, or 90% of covered expenses
Co-Payment0%, 10%, 20%, or 30%10%, 20%, or 30%
Deductible$100 – $1,500 depending on pet’s age$100 – $500
Type of DeductibleAnnualAnnual
Claim Limit Options$5,000, $10,000, or Unlimited$5,000 – $100,000
Accident-Only PlanNot availableNot available
Wellness PlanAvailable in all states except Florida and UtahAvailable
Unlimited Benefits Plan YesNot available
AccidentsYesYes
IllnessesYesYes
Illness Waiting Period14 days14 days
Accident Waiting Period1 day (3 days in AK, CO, FL, ID, MO, NJ, NY, UT, and WA)2 days
Orthopedic Conditions Waiting Period6 months (only applies to dogs)6 months
Bilateral ExclusionsYesYes
Chronic ConditionsYesYes
Hereditary and Congenital ConditionsYesYes
CancerYesYes
Dental CoverageYesYes
Prescription MedicineYesYes
Alternative/Holistic TherapyYesOptional add-on
Behavioral IssuesYesNo
Exam FeesOptional add-onOptional add-on
Exam Required for EnrollmentNoYes
Available At Any Vet ClinicYesYes
MicrochipOptional add-onOptional add-on
Minimum Pet Age Limit8 weeks8 weeks
Maximum Pet Age LimitNo LimitNo limit
Entry Fee$15.00$0.00
Monthly Transaction Fee$2.00$1.00
Multi-Pet Discount5%-10% for each additional pet (depending on the state)5% for each additional pet
Claim RepaymentWithin 10 days (1-4 days on average)Within minutes (as advertised)
Direct Vet Bill PaymentNoNot available
Money-Back Guarantee30 days30 days
AM Best RatingA-A
BBB RatingBC

*companies compared in October 2021

Read the full Lemonade Pet Insurance review.

Costco vs. SPOT

If paying your vet bill by yourself and then waiting to be reimbursed is something of a pet peeve to you, there’s SPOT to do it all for you. They offer direct vet bill payments so you don’t have to wait through the entire hassle.

The company is great when it comes to orthopedic conditions and sets its waiting period at only 14 days. In comparison, Figo has this waiting period set at 6 months. However, Figo has a waiting period of accidents of only a single day, while SPOT makes you wait for 14 days to get that coverage available.

FeatureCostcoSPOT
Coverage Effective WorldwideUSA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, and US Virgin Islands
ReimbursementChoice of 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% of covered expensesChoice of 70%, 80%, or 90% of covered expenses
Co-Payment0%, 10%, 20%, or 30%10%, 20%, or 30%
Deductible$100 – $1,500 depending on pet’s age$100 – $1,000
Type of DeductibleAnnualAnnual
Claim Limit Options$5,000, $10,000, or Unlimited$2,500 – Unlimited
Accident-Only PlanNot availableAvailable
Wellness PlanAvailable in all states except Florida and UtahAvailable
Unlimited Benefits Plan YesYes
AccidentsYesYes
IllnessesYesYes
Illness Waiting Period14 days14 days
Accident Waiting Period1 day (3 days in AK, CO, FL, ID, MO, NJ, NY, UT, and WA)14 days
Orthopedic Conditions Waiting Period6 months (only applies to dogs)14 days
Bilateral ExclusionsYesYes
Chronic ConditionsYesYes
Hereditary and Congenital ConditionsYesYes
CancerYesYes
Dental CoverageYesYes
Prescription MedicineYesYes
Alternative/Holistic TherapyYesYes
Behavioral IssuesYesYes
Exam FeesOptional add-onYes
Exam Required for EnrollmentNoNo
Available At Any Vet ClinicYesYes
MicrochipOptional add-onYes
Minimum Pet Age Limit8 weeks8 weeks
Maximum Pet Age LimitNo LimitNo limit
Entry Fee$15.00$0.00
Monthly Transaction Fee$2.00$2.00
Multi-Pet Discount5%-10% for each additional pet (depending on the state)10% for each additional pet
Claim RepaymentWithin 10 days (1-4 days on average)Within 30 days (10-14 days on average)
Direct Vet Bill PaymentNoYes
Money-Back Guarantee30 days30 days
AM Best RatingA-A
BBB RatingBB

*companies compared in October 2021

Read the full SPOT Pet Insurance review.

Costco vs. PetPartners

If accident-only coverage is what you’re after, you won’t find that neither with Figo nor Costco. But there comes PetPartners for the rescue. Their accident-only plan is readily available for every pet parent in the US.

PetPartners is excellently ranked (even better than Figo), even though they restrict coverage for illnesses for pets above the age of 9. 

FeatureCostcoPetPartners
Coverage Effective WorldwideUSA and Canada
ReimbursementChoice of 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% of covered expensesChoice of 70%, 80%, or 90% of covered expenses
Co-Payment0%, 10%, 20%, or 30%10%, 20%, or 30%
Deductible$100 – $1,500 depending on pet’s age$100 – $1,000
Type of DeductibleAnnualAnnual
Claim Limit Options$5,000, $10,000, or Unlimited$2,500 – Unlimited
Accident-Only PlanNot availableAvailable
Wellness PlanAvailable in all states except Florida and UtahAvailable
Unlimited Benefits Plan YesYes
AccidentsYesYes
IllnessesYesYes
Illness Waiting Period14 days14 days
Accident Waiting Period1 day (3 days in AK, CO, FL, ID, MO, NJ, NY, UT, and WA)2 days
Orthopedic Conditions Waiting Period6 months (only applies to dogs)6 months
Bilateral ExclusionsYesYes
Chronic ConditionsYesYes
Hereditary and Congenital ConditionsYesOptional add-on
CancerYesYes
Dental CoverageYesAccidents only
Prescription MedicineYesYes
Alternative/Holistic TherapyYesYes
Behavioral IssuesYesYes
Exam FeesOptional add-onOptional add-on
Exam Required for EnrollmentNoNo
Available At Any Vet ClinicYesYes
MicrochipOptional add-onOptional add-on
Minimum Pet Age Limit8 weeks8 weeks for dogs and 10 weeks for cats
Maximum Pet Age LimitNo Limit9 years for illnesses
Entry Fee$15.00$0.00
Monthly Transaction Fee$2.00$3.00 or $4.00 (depending on the state)
Multi-Pet Discount5%-10% for each additional pet (depending on the state)5% for multiple pets
Claim RepaymentWithin 10 days (1-4 days on average)Within 14 days (7 days on average)
Direct Vet Bill PaymentNoNo
Money-Back Guarantee30 days30 days
AM Best RatingA-A-
BBB RatingBA+

*companies compared in October 2021

Read the full PetPartners Pet Insurance review.

Customer Service

The only support you could get regarding your Figo pet coverage through Costco is by calling 1-844-200-2607. But, you can always contact Figo directly and their customer support services are plenty.

The Figo Pet Cloud app is the one place where all pet things happen. You can file claims through it, discover tons of amazing features, and contact Figo whenever you wish by only tapping the appropriate button. Their chatbot, Evie, is always there to guide you through whatever is you need help with.

With Figo’s app, you also gain access to a 24/7 live telehealth line where you can talk to a licensed professional about all of your pet-related questions.

Here’s how you can contact Figo through the rest of their communication channels:

Claims support:

Monday to Friday: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm CT

Customer support:

Monday to Friday 7 am to 7 pm CT

Saturday 8 am to 6 pm CT

Sunday 11 am to 3 pm CT (only for text support)

Customer Reviews

Costco isn’t exactly known for its pet insurance options. Since the entire policy management and claim process is handled by Figo, customers review Figo’s services online.

That’s why, in this review, we’ll present you with real customers’ options about their experience with Figo. You can read a few positive and negative ones below.

Positive Costco Pet Insurance Reviews

My dog loves sugar-free gum. Once was a mistake (we thought he ate it, but didn’t); the second was a nightmare. Rufus ate a new 40 piece pack of sugar free gum. 3 pieces can cause liver failure and death. Within 5 minutes of him eating the gum, we were on the road and at the emergency vet (Sunday afternoon, of course) within 30 minutes.

Rufus’ glucose was already falling. Stomach pumped, glucose support, liver-strengthening drugs, and 48 hours of supervision and he was out. The cost of observation when we only thought he ate gum: $1,900. When your dog actually eats sugar-free gum: $3,500. Figo was with us both times.

Tom W.

My experience with FIGO has been really great. My dog suffers from mitral valve disease and it has been a very stressful period for our family. It has been such a relief to not have to worry about cost when the vet gives an estimate for what needs to be done. FIGO has really been a bright light in the whole experience and it’s because of them that I have not been forced to make that dreaded decision that every pet owner fears and I have the peace of mind that I was able to do everything possible to make her comfortable. 

I actually am getting to enjoy my dog for a while longer. The claims process is smooth, customer service is always really helpful and friendly, and with the app/website set up, I’m able to easily keep track of the processing of my claims. As far as payment on claims, FIGO has really held up their end of the deal. They have paid us back quickly and if there is ever an issue with a claim, they get in touch, so I’m not just left in the dark, waiting. I’m very happy with FIGO and will continue to use them for my pets.

Jake M.

Negative Costco Pet Insurance Reviews

Two years in a row Figo changed underwriters of my Cindy’s policy. Each year came with an increase in the premium. The second year however is what forced me to leave. They said my premium would increase nearly 150% from $55 to $121 a month to keep the same coverages.  Or just a five-dollar increase with a doubling of the deductible and a 35% loss of the coverage (from 90% to 70%).

I promptly switched over to a competitor. This blatant money grab should drive them out of business. Big fat zero from me.

Rodney W.

Be aware of this company! I had my insurance with them for over a year and I paid premium coverage for my dog. When my dog got sick I went to the vet and paid for all the diagnostics and treatments. When I received the decision on my claim I was really upset that this insurance was not going to reimburse me for anything! I mean this is a total joke to pay this company and at the end of the day just receiving a denial letter.

Please be aware that this insurance is using any loophole to avoid paying back to their clients! This was a terrible experience and I just want to warn all the pet owners before considering this company! Their declaration pages include all the exclusions that could possibly happen to your dog or cat! They will not cover accidents or illness as they state on their website because literally, their exclusions have almost the most common situations that could cause your pet to be sick!

Anna Z.

Conclusion

To sum up, after evaluating every single detail about Costco and its partner Figo, we have no doubts that his duo is within the ranks of the top leaders in the pet insurance industry.

The partnership is a match made in heaven regarding their most-thorough accident and illness coverage policy for pets.

With their flexibility and the opportunity to get back 100% of the money you pay for your pet’s veterinary care, Costco and Figo are the combo that every pet family should consider having on board at all times.

Figo’s pricey policy premiums are well justified by their innovativeness and reliability, and there are, of course, Costo’s discounts to soften the blow of high monthly bills.

Finally, feel free to visit ProtectMyPaws and browse around all the other options we have reviewed for you.

Costco’s Alternatives

If Figo doesn’t all of your expectations, here are a few alternatives that might do so:

Starting with Prudent Pet, we’re focusing on pet coverage that’s suitable for senior cats and dogs. The company handles pricing for older pets in a tamer way, especially by offsetting high premiums with some sizable discounts. Although, going about their services isn’t too user-friendly since the insurer doesn’t provide a mobile app. That can be a deal-breaker for the tech-savvies among the pet parenting community.

PetFirst is another safe option you can always go with. They boast transparent pricing, awesome discount options, and don’t impose bilateral exclusions in their pet coverage policy. Their extensive knowledge base is a valuable asset for every pet parent, however, PetFirst’s annual benefits are limited and their money-back guarantee is only 14 days long.

If claim-processing speed is crucial in your decision-making process, Healthy Paws is very similar to Figo in that regard. They are also even better rated than Figo on many occasions.m However, Healthy Paws lack many of the features that come with Figo including the extra care pack, the pet wellness care packages. Even their accident waiting premium is a lot higher than Figo’s.

F.A.Q.

What is Costco’s strategy behind pricing the monthly premiums?

Constructing the price of a pet policy premium involves several factors that surround your pet’s details and your area of residence. Veterinary services cost differently in different areas, so that weighs in on the price as well. Your pet’s breed and age are also important when calculating how much veterinary care they could require by an estimate.

On another note, choosing your coverage limits and benefits also affects the price of the premium. Adding several optional riders for vet visit fees or pet wellness care, for example, will bump up your insurance fee. But if you’re a Costco member, you can use their big discount to lower your policy premium.

What’s the procedure for applying for Costco’s pet insurance for an adopted pet whose age is unclear?

If you rescued a pet or adopted them from a shelter where they don’t have their age details, you could discuss it with a licensed veterinarian who’ll be able to provide an estimate of how old your new family member might be. Then you can pick a date around the assumed date of birth and put that in their pet’s certificate.

Should my pet be spayed or neutered before I sign up with Costco?

While it is recommended to have your pet spayed or neutered at some point in their youth, this is not a requirement for signing up with either Costco or Figo. As far as our research goes, no pet insurance company would put this as a requirement for enrollment.

Although, some pet insurers would ask about this particular detail and tailor their premium price based on your answer. They do this because pets that aren’t spayed/neutered are believed to be more prone to certain disorders later in their adulthood.

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