Bivvy Pet Insurance Review
Editor’s note: Bivvy announced in 2023 that it would no longer offer new pet insurance policies. It advised users to consider Spot Pet Insurance instead. Keep reading to find out more about what happened to Bivvy—or if you’re looking for an excellent pet insurance provider, check out our review of Spot, our guide to the best pet insurance for cats and dogs, and our review of Fetch Pet Insurance, our selection for best coverage.
Bivvy Pet Insurance was a notable provider in the pet insurance industry from 2016 to 2023. It offered low, fixed premiums and emphasized its simplicity.
We’ll explore Bivvy’s journey and what the announcement that it’s no longer accepting new applications means for current and future pet insurance policyholders.
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About Bivvy
In 2016, Bivvy joined the pet insurance market, offering a transparent, low-cost solution to pet owners: For a fixed monthly premium ($15 at the time it stopped accepting new applications), and after a $100 deductible, it reimbursed 50% of the cost of pets’ accidents and illnesses—up to $2,000 per year.
Bivvy offered optional wellness add-ons to cover scheduled veterinary exams, heartworm prevention, and more.
Bivvy no longer allows pet parents to sign up for new policies. Still, it’s providing coverage for current customers through their policy’s anniversary date, at which point it will not renew policies.
What happened to Bivvy Pet Insurance?
In early 2023, the “Sign up” link from Bivvy’s homepage led to a message that announced, “We are not opening new Bivvy policies at this time. We encourage you to check out our friends at Spot Pet Insurance instead!”
Source: Bivvy
Spot’s website discloses on its webpage under “Bivvy Pets, Meet Spot” that Bivvy is “shutting down” because its team “could not continue to grow” the Bivvy product line to the level it needed to.
What will happen to Bivvy Pet Insurance customers?
Current Bivvy customers will retain their coverage through their anniversary date—in most cases, one year after they signed up for or last renewed their policy. Bivvy won’t renew any policies beyond that. Customers will get a notice of nonrenewal before the anniversary date, but Bivvy will continue to process and reimburse for claims before that date.
If they have more than one pet insured with Bivvy but signed up for coverage at different times, each policy will end on the anniversary date on its declarations page.
Bivvy invites pet parents to sign up for a plan with Spot when their Bivvy plan expires. However, Spot’s “welcome letter” to Bivvy customers notes it treats these as new policies and requires a 14-day waiting period before coverage starts.
How does Bivvy compare to other pet insurance companies?
Bivvy’s flat fee was unique, but pet parents interested in Bivvy might find similar coverages with Spot, Lemonade, or MetLife.
These companies don’t offer flat-fee policies like Bivvy did, but we chose companies with low coverage limits or that advertise low premiums to get coverage similar to Bivvy’s.
Here’s how they compare to Bivvy and one another. Click the company name in the table to see more about how it compares to Bivvy.
Bivvy | Spot | Lemonade | MetLife | |
Lowest annual coverage limits available | $2,000 (only option) | $2,500 | $5,000 | $2,000 |
Lowest reimbursement percentage available | 50% (only option) | 70% | 70% | 70% |
Deductibles | $100 (only option) | $100 – $1,000 | $100 – $500 | $50 – $500 |
LendEDU editorial rating | N/A | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.7 out of 5 | 4.2 out of 5 |
Best for | — | Best selection of terms | Best for fast claims | Best family plan |
Get a free quote | Get a free quote | Get a free quote |
We obtained sample quotes from each company, but factors such as your pet’s age and your location will influence your premiums.
How much is a Spot pet insurance policy?
Best selection of terms
- Choose between 105 different policy term combinations
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 pet helpline
Our team’s sample quotes for Spot accident and illness policies—but no wellness add-ons—are as follows:
Details | Quote 1 | Quote 2 | Quote 3 | Quote 4 |
Dog or cat | ||||
Breed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed |
Sex | Male | Male | Female | Female |
Age | 2 years | 2 years | 5 years | 5 years |
Zip code | 45227 | 45227 | 45227 | 45227 |
Coverage limit | $2,500 per year | $2,500 per year | $2,500 per year | $2,500 per year |
Deductible | $100 | $500 | $100 | $500 |
Reimbursement rate | 70% | 70% | 70% | 70% |
Monthly premium | $25.92 | $16.17 | $17.90 | $10.18 |
As you can see, both premiums for cats are comparable to or less than Bivvy’s $15-per-month coverage—and at a higher reimbursement rate.
The similar premium for a dog includes a higher deductible ($500 versus Bivvy’s $100) but also a higher reimbursement rate (70% versus Bivvy’s 50%).
How much is a Lemonade pet insurance policy?
Best for fast claims
- Add up to 6 pet insurance coverages to your policy
- Discount if you bundle pet insurance with another policy
- Fast AI-powered claims process
Here are our team’s sample quotes for Lemonade accident and illness policies—but no wellness add-ons:
Details | Quote 1 | Quote 2 | Quote 3 | Quote 4 |
Dog or cat | ||||
Breed | Mixed | Mixed | Domestic short hair | Domestic short hair |
Sex | Male | Male | Female | Female |
Age | 2 years | 2 years | 5 years | 5 years |
Zip code | 45227 | 45227 | 45227 | 45227 |
Coverage limit | $5,000 per year | $5,000 per year | $5,000 per year | $5,000 per year |
Deductible | $100 | $500 | $100 | $500 |
Reimbursement rate | 70% | 70% | 70% | 70% |
Monthly premium | $24.41 | $12.77 | $17.14 | $11.00 |
The quotes for higher-deductible plans ($500)—but more than double Bivvy’s coverage limits ($5,000 versus $2,000)—came in under Bivvy’s monthly premium for a cat and a dog.
For the same $100 deductible and a $5,000 annual limit, the premium for a cat was only around $2 higher with Lemonade, but the premium increased by almost $10 for a dog.
How much is a MetLife pet insurance policy?
Best family plan
- Include up to 3 pets on a single policy under one deductible
- 24/7 telehealth concierge chat
- Accidents covered as soon as the next day
Our team’s sample quotes for MetLife accident and illness policies—but no wellness add-ons—are as follows:
Details | Quote 1 | Quote 2 | Quote 3 | Quote 4 |
Dog or cat | ||||
Breed | Mixed | Mixed | Domestic short hair | Domestic short hair |
Sex | Male | Male | Female | Female |
Age | 2 years | 2 years | 5 years | 5 years |
Zip code | 45227 | 45227 | 45227 | 45227 |
Coverage limit | $2,000 per year | $2,000 per year | $2,000 per year | $2,000 per year |
Deductible | $100 | $500 | $100 | $500 |
Reimbursement rate | 70% | 70% | 70% | 70% |
Monthly premium | $41.06 | $27.22 | $25.19 | $19.25 |
For similar coverage, MetLife’s quotes for dogs are 81% to 173% higher than Bivvy, for a higher reimbursement rate but equal or higher deductibles.
The higher-deductible ($500) quote for a cat is the closest we got to Bivvy’s $15 premium.
Bivvy’s unique flat-fee approach is no longer available, but Spot Pet Insurance and other providers offer solid alternatives. With Spot, pet parents can get a customizable and comprehensive option with various coverage limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates.
Be sure to assess your needs and compare quotes to find the best fit. We encourage pet parents to conduct thorough research, including our detailed reviews on Spot and other pet insurance providers, to decide on the best care and protection for their furry family members.
FAQ
Can I still file claims with Bivvy?
Yes, if you’re a current policyholder. Bivvy continues to process and reimburse claims until the policy expires.
What is the cheapest Bivvy pet insurance alternative?
When we requested similar coverages from several pet insurance providers, Spot and Lemonade offered policies for cats as low as $10.18 and $11.00, respectively.
Lemonade offered us the lowest premium for a dog.
How do I transition from Bivvy to Spot Pet Insurance?
Bivvy encourages its customers to consider Spot Pet Insurance. However, Spot will treat it as a new policy application, including a 14-day waiting period before coverage starts. The transition isn’t automatic, and you can also consider other pet insurance companies.
Does Spot offer similar coverage to Bivvy?
Spot offers a range of customizable policies that may differ from Bivvy’s. We recommend reviewing Spot’s plans—and those of other insurers—to determine the best fit for your needs.
How does Spot’s pricing compare to Bivvy’s?
Spot’s pricing varies based on the deductible, reimbursement rate, and coverage limit you select. Our team found that Spot offered us monthly premiums as low as $16 for dogs and $10 for cats, but these rates differ based on location and pet, unlike Bivvy’s flat-fee structure.
What if I have multiple pets insured with Bivvy?
If you have multiple pets insured with Bivvy, each policy will end on its respective anniversary date, as stated on the declarations page.
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