CostByBreedThe two policies side by side, from each insurer's own documents, captured on October 27, 2026. This page does not crown a winner. It lines up the terms that decide claims, so the difference between the two is visible.
| Policy point | Lemonade | Spot |
|---|---|---|
| Accident waiting period | 0 days in Lemonade's current waiting-period guide, which says there is no accident waiting period and accident coverage is available the day the policy goes into effect, at 12:01 AM the day after purchase. Note: Lemonade's main pet page FAQ and its older sample policy say 2 days for accidents, which conflicts with the current guide. | 14 days |
| Illness waiting period | 14 days | 14 days |
| Orthopedic waiting period | 30 days for orthopedic conditions in Lemonade's current waiting-period guide and vet guide. Note: Lemonade's main pet page FAQ and its older sample policy say 6 months for cruciate ligament events, which conflicts with the current guide's 30 day orthopedic period. | 14 days. The sample policy states a single 14 day waiting period for diagnosis, treatment or surgery related to accidents, illnesses and ligament and knee conditions, with no separate longer orthopedic period in that policy. |
| Hereditary and congenital conditions | Covered if not pre-existing. Lemonade's comparison and medication pages say hereditary and congenital conditions are covered as long as they are not a pre-existing condition. The sample policy excludes hereditary, congenital and bilateral conditions where clinical signs were present before the original start date or before the end of a waiting period. | Covered. Spot's own pages list congenital and hereditary conditions among covered illnesses, and its welcome materials list hereditary conditions as covered, provided they are not pre-existing. |
| Two sided (bilateral) conditions | The sample policy excludes congenital, hereditary and bilateral conditions for which clinical signs or symptoms were present prior to the original start date or before the end of any waiting period. No plainer other-leg sentence was found in the Lemonade pages checked beyond that sample policy wording. | Spot's sample policy defines ligament and knee conditions as bilateral conditions, meaning an occurrence on one side is considered related regardless of cause. Its cured condition rule does not apply to ligament and knee conditions, and its FAQ for new Spot customers says if a knee or ligament condition occurs before the coverage effective date or during a waiting period, any future ones will not be covered. |
| Pre-existing conditions | A pre-existing condition is any condition the pet showed signs of, was diagnosed with, or was treated for before the waiting period ended. In most states, temporary pre-existing conditions or injuries that resolve without recurrent symptoms or continued treatment for at least 12 months can become eligible again as curable pre-existing conditions. Lemonade states knee or ligament conditions and chronic conditions such as diabetes and allergies cannot be cured and therefore cannot be covered as curable pre-existing conditions. | A pre-existing condition is an illness, disease, injury or change to the pet's health that first occurs or shows symptoms before coverage is effective or during a waiting period, including related, secondary or resultant conditions. If a pre-existing condition is curable, has been cured, and has been free from treatment and symptoms for 180 days, it is treated as a new occurrence. This does not apply to chronic conditions or ligament and knee conditions. |
| Exam fees | Not covered in the base policy. Vet visit fees are an optional add-on that covers fees when visiting the vet for eligible accidents or illnesses. | Covered. Spot's own pages and welcome materials list vet exam fees among covered expenses for accidents and illnesses. |
| Dental illness | Not covered in the base policy. The sample policy lists any dental illness under conditions not covered, and Lemonade sells dental illness as an optional add-on covering treatments for dental illnesses such as gum disease and tooth extractions. Dental injury and accident costs are covered in the base policy. | Covered. Spot lists dental illnesses among covered illnesses on its own pages. The sample policy covers tooth extractions, and excludes aesthetic, cosmetic, endodontic or orthodontic dental services such as caps, crowns, fillings, implants and root canals, and excludes dental cleanings unless used to treat a covered illness or covered by an endorsement. |
| Age rules | Pets can be covered from 2 months old, according to Lemonade's vet-visit guide and waiting-period guide, which says you can buy a policy for a puppy or kitten from two months old. No maximum enrollment age was stated in the Lemonade pages checked. | Pets can be enrolled from 8 weeks old, with no upper age limit for new enrollments or coverage, according to Spot's own FAQ pages. |
| How claims are paid | Actual eligible vet bill after the annual deductible and co-insurance. The sample policy example applies co-insurance and then the annual deductible, and states only one deductible applies per year. | Actual costs for covered expenses, reimbursed after subtracting the annual deductible and applying the reimbursement percentage listed on the declarations page, subject to the annual limit, according to the sample policy. |
| Direct payment to the vet | No direct payment to the vet stated. Lemonade's FAQ says the owner enters bank account information when submitting a claim in the app and, once approved, Lemonade issues payment directly into the owner's account. | Not published |
Their own published examples
Lemonade: Lemonade's own pet page FAQ says pet insurance from Lemonade starts at $10 per month, with premium depending on breed, age, add-ons, deductible, co-insurance and the cost of vet care in the area.
Spot: Spot's own breed cost page says dog insurance plans start at $15 per month and cat insurance plans start at $9 per month, footnoted as an accident and illness plan with 80 percent reimbursement, a $500 annual deductible and a $2,500 annual limit for a 2-year-old small mixed dog (11 to 25 lbs) in ZIP 32009 for the dog price, and 80 percent reimbursement, a $750 annual deductible and a $2,500 annual limit for a 2-year-old mixed cat in 33801 for the cat price.
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