VetMedGuide

Vet Med Guide

Dog beside veterinary insurance documents and bill folders.
Insurance2026-07-08 · 17 min read

Spot, Pumpkin, and Figo Pet Insurance: Same Owner (JAB), Different Underwriters

Compare Spot, Pumpkin, and Figo pet insurance. Learn how their shared owner (JAB's Independence Pet Group) affects policies, underwriter splits, and key coverage differences.

Ran Chen
Ran Chen
Founder, VetMedGuide. Life-sciences operator and 10× global market-access lead.
Published

When shopping for pet insurance, owners are often presented with a wide array of brands that appear to compete fiercely. Among the most popular options are Spot, Pumpkin, and Figo. These brands boast distinct visual identities, unique marketing campaigns, and different plan configurations. However, behind the consumer-facing branding lies a corporate reality: all three are now owned by the same parent company, JAB Holding Company, through its pet-insurance division, Independence Pet Group (IPG).

Despite sharing a parent organization, Spot, Pumpkin, and Figo are not the same policy. They are underwritten by different entities, use different policy wording, and handle claims, exclusions, exam fees, and waiting periods in distinct ways. This guide provides a detailed, policy-first comparison of Spot, Pumpkin, and Figo, correcting common affiliate mistakes and helping owners choose the right fit for their pets. To see how they stack up against the wider field, see our best pet insurance for dogs rankings.

Fast answer: How do they compare?

Spot, Pumpkin, and Figo share a holding company but operate on different insurance contracts. Figo is underwritten solely by Independence American Insurance Company (IAIC), while Spot and Pumpkin are underwritten by either Independence American or United States Fire Insurance Company (a Crum & Forster company) depending on the state and the date the policy was issued.

Key policy differences include:

  • Exam Fees: Spot and Pumpkin include sick-visit exam fees in their base plans. Figo excludes them from base plans but allows owners to add them via a paid "Vet Exam Fees Powerup" rider.
  • Dental Illness: Pumpkin offers the most comprehensive base dental coverage, covering dental illness (including periodontal disease) with no annual cap and no requirement for annual cleanings. Figo excludes periodontal disease and general illness-related cleanings. Spot offers standard dental coverage under its base plan.
  • Orthopedic Waiting Periods: Figo imposes a 6-month orthopedic (cruciate ligament) waiting period for dogs, which can be waived if a vet conducts an exam within the first 30 days of the policy. Spot and Pumpkin have no separate cruciate wait; their standard 14-day accident/illness waiting period applies to all covered conditions.
  • Pre-Existing Conditions: All three exclude pre-existing conditions, but they differ on "curable" lookbacks. Figo requires a pet to be symptom- and treatment-free for 12 months to cover a recurring curable condition, whereas Spot and Pumpkin only require 180 days.
  • Direct Pay: None of the three offers direct payment to the veterinarian at checkout. They operate on a reimbursement model, though Pumpkin offers a fast-reimbursement feature called "PumpkinNow" that can pay owners within 15 minutes for qualifying large claims.

Are Spot, Pumpkin, and Figo the same company, and who actually underwrites each policy?

To understand how these three brands relate, we must look at the consolidation of the pet insurance industry that occurred between 2021 and 2022.

Historically, pet insurance brands operated as managing general agencies (MGAs). An MGA acts as the public face: they handle marketing, set up the website, design the plan structure, and handle customer service. However, they do not actually carry the financial risk of the insurance policies. That risk is held by an underwriter — a licensed insurance company regulated by state departments of insurance.

The JAB / Independence Pet Group Consolidation

Between 2021 and 2022, JAB Holding Company (a massive private investment firm that also owns veterinary hospital chains like National Veterinary Associates and Compassion-First) moved aggressively to consolidate the pet insurance market under its newly formed entity, Independence Pet Group (IPG):

  1. October 2021: IPG completed the acquisition of Figo Pet Insurance.
  2. October 2022: IPG completed a multi-billion-dollar acquisition of the pet insurance operations of Fairfax Financial Holdings. This transaction included Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group (which operated the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance brand and underwrote Spot and Pumpkin) and Hartville Pet Insurance.
  3. Pumpkin Integration: Around the same time, JAB acquired a controlling stake in Pumpkin Insurance Services, integrating it into the IPG family.

As a result of these transactions, Spot, Pumpkin, and Figo transitioned from independent competitors to sibling brands under the Independence Pet Group umbrella.

The Underwriter Split: Correcting the Affiliate Myth

Many affiliate comparison sites and blog posts state that Spot, Pumpkin, and Figo are all underwritten by Crum & Forster (United States Fire Insurance Company). This is incorrect. IPG is actively migrating its brands toward its own carrier, Independence American Insurance Company (IAIC), though legacy contracts and state-by-state filings create a split:

  • Figo: Underwritten solely by Independence American Insurance Company (NAIC 26581). Figo does not write new policies on United States Fire Insurance Company paper.
  • Spot: Underwritten by either United States Fire Insurance Company (NAIC 21113) or Independence American Insurance Company, depending on the state and the date the policy was issued.
  • Pumpkin: Underwritten by either United States Fire Insurance Company or Independence American Insurance Company, depending on the state and policy type.
  • adoro: In late 2025, Crum & Forster launched a new pet insurance product called adoro (underwritten by United States Fire) to serve as their primary direct-to-consumer brand as the IPG-owned brands continued their transition toward IAIC underwriting.

The Lesson: You must check the bottom of your policy declarations page or the legal footer of your quote. The underwriter of record dictates which state-approved policy form applies to your claim, which AM Best financial rating supports your policy, and which department of insurance handles complaints. State waiting-period and disclosure rules follow the NAIC pet insurance model act as it is adopted state by state.

Which of the three includes the exam fee, and which makes you buy it as a rider?

When a pet is sick or injured, the first expense an owner faces is the veterinary exam fee (or office visit fee). This fee typically ranges from $50 to $100 for a general practice visit, and can exceed $150 to $200 for emergency or specialty visits.

Many owners do not realize that some pet insurance policies exclude the exam fee entirely, reimbursing only for the diagnostics (bloodwork, X-rays) and treatments (surgery, medications) performed during the visit.

Here is how the three brands handle this expense in their policy language:

  • Spot: Included in Base Plan. Spot covers exam fees for covered accidents and illnesses in its standard policy. There is no need to purchase an additional rider.
  • Pumpkin: Included in Base Plan. Pumpkin covers exam fees (including virtual vet visits and emergency/specialty consultations) within its standard accident and illness policy.
  • Figo: Excluded from Base Plan (Requires Rider). Figo's base policy explicitly excludes exam fees. Under Figo's standard policy form (e.g., IAIC-FPI-POL-OH-08012024, exclusion 7), "fees for veterinary professional services, including but not limited to examinations, consultations, and office visits" are not covered. To cover these fees, owners must purchase the "Vet Exam Fees Powerup" rider, which increases the monthly premium.

Why this matters: If your dog has a chronic illness requiring monthly specialist visits, an excluded exam fee means paying $100+ out of pocket each month before your reimbursement level is applied. For these pets, Spot or Pumpkin's built-in coverage represents a significant financial advantage over Figo's base plan.

How do their reimbursement tiers, deductibles, and annual limits compare?

Reimbursement percentages, deductibles, and annual limits are the financial levers that dictate your premium cost and out-of-pocket exposure. While all three brands allow customization, their available choices differ.

Reimbursement Tiers

The reimbursement tier is the percentage of the covered veterinary bill the insurer pays after your deductible is met.

  • Figo: Offers 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% reimbursement options. Figo is one of the few remaining providers in the market to offer a 100% option (which eliminates your co-insurance entirely, though it substantially increases the premium).
  • Spot: Offers 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement options.
  • Pumpkin: Offers 80% or 90% reimbursement only. Pumpkin does not offer a lower 70% tier to reduce premiums, nor does it offer a 100% option.

Deductible Configurations

The deductible is the annual amount you must pay out of pocket before the policy starts reimbursing. All three brands use an annual deductible model (meaning you only meet it once per policy year, rather than per incident).

  • Spot: Deductible options range from $100 to $1,000 (typically $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000).
  • Figo: Deductible options range from $100 to $1,500. Figo's higher deductible options are useful for owners seeking "catastrophic-only" coverage with very low monthly premiums.
  • Pumpkin: Pumpkin typically restricts deductible options to $100, $250, or $500 for dogs, and $100 or $250 for cats.

Annual Coverage Limits

The annual limit is the maximum amount the insurer will pay out in a policy year.

  • Spot: Offers highly customizable limits ranging from $2,500 to Unlimited.
  • Figo: Offers limits ranging from $5,000 to Unlimited.
  • Pumpkin: Pumpkin does not offer an unlimited option. Instead, it offers fixed annual limits, typically $10,000 or $20,000 for dogs, and $7,000 or $15,000 for cats. While these limits are sufficient for most veterinary emergencies, they present a risk of exhaustion in cases of severe trauma, multiple major surgeries, or high-cost oncology protocols (such as a complex mast cell tumor staging and Palladia routine).

What is the waiting period, and does the orthopedic or cruciate wait matter?

A waiting period is the time between your policy's effective date and the date coverage actually begins. Any illness or injury that shows clinical signs during the waiting period is classified as a pre-existing condition and is permanently excluded from coverage.

The three brands handle waiting periods differently, particularly for accidents and orthopedic conditions:

Waiting Period Spot Pumpkin Figo
Accident Wait 14 Days 14 Days 1 Day (Standard)*
Illness Wait 14 Days 14 Days 14 Days
Orthopedic / Cruciate Wait None (Flat 14 Days) None (Flat 14 Days) 6 Months (Dogs only)**

*Note: Figo's 1-day accident waiting period is standard in most states, but is extended to 3 days in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Utah, and Washington due to state-specific filings. Spot and Pumpkin apply a flat 14-day waiting period for both accidents and illnesses nationwide.

The Orthopedic Wave: Figo's 6-Month Constraint

For dog owners, the waiting period for cruciate ligament (CCL) tears and other orthopedic conditions is a critical decision point. CCL tears are common, high-cost injuries (often requiring TPLO surgery costing $4,000 to $6,000 per knee).

  • Spot and Pumpkin: Apply no special waiting period for orthopedic conditions. A cruciate tear is covered if it occurs on day 15 or later.
  • Figo: Imposes a 6-month cruciate ligament and orthopedic waiting period for dogs. Any cruciate injury or joint issue occurring in the first 6 months is excluded.
  • The Figo Loophole (The Waiver): Figo allows owners to waive this 6-month waiting period. To do so, a licensed veterinarian must perform an orthopedic exam on the dog within the first 30 days of the policy, and the medical records must explicitly state that there are no pre-existing joint or cruciate issues. If this exam is submitted and approved, the orthopedic wait is reduced to the standard 14 days.

How does each handle dental illness and periodontal disease?

Dental disease (specifically periodontal disease) is the most common illness diagnosed in adult dogs and cats. Treating advanced periodontal disease requires general anesthesia, full-mouth dental radiography, and surgical extractions, which routinely cost $1,500 to $3,000.

Many pet insurance policies exclude dental cleanings and limit dental coverage to "accidental dental fractures" (broken teeth from chewing on hard objects), excluding "dental illness" (periodontal disease, gingivitis, stomatitis, resorptive lesions).

  • Pumpkin: Most Comprehensive Dental Coverage. Pumpkin covers both dental accidents and dental illnesses in its base plan. More importantly, Pumpkin's policy does not require an annual dental cleaning to maintain coverage, and it does not place a separate annual sub-limit on dental illness claims.
  • Spot: Covers dental illness and accidents in its base plan, provided the pet has no pre-existing dental disease. However, the policy requires that the pet's teeth be kept in good condition and may exclude coverage if a veterinarian has previously recommended a cleaning that the owner deferred.
  • Figo: Restricted Dental Coverage. Figo's policy excludes periodontal disease and routine dental illnesses from its base plan in many states. Figo's dental coverage is primarily focused on accidental dental trauma. If Figo does cover dental illness, it typically requires proof of annual professional dental cleanings and veterinary dental exams.

Feline Tip: Feline tooth resorption (resorptive lesions) is a painful, common dental illness in cats that requires surgical extractions. Pumpkin's base policy is widely considered the strongest option for cats due to its lack of cleanings-based exclusions for dental illness.

What counts as a curable pre-existing condition, and how long is the lookback?

No pet insurance policy covers pre-existing conditions. If a dog had a chronic, incurable disease (like diabetes, Cushing's, or chronic kidney disease) before the policy started, any claims related to that disease are excluded.

However, policies handle "curable" conditions differently. A curable condition is a temporary illness — like a urinary tract infection (UTI), ear infection, or giardia — that can be treated and resolved.

If a pet has a resolved curable condition before the policy starts, how long must they go without symptoms before the insurer will cover it if it happens again?

  • Spot: 180-Day Lookback. If a pet is symptom- and treatment-free for 180 days, Spot will cover a recurrence of a curable condition (excluding ligament and knee injuries, which are considered bilateral and incurable once injured).
  • Pumpkin: 180-Day Lookback. Pumpkin uses the same 180-day curable pre-existing condition window as Spot.
  • Figo: 12-Month Lookback. Figo's policy is much stricter. Figo requires the pet to be symptom- and treatment-free for 12 consecutive months before they will cover a recurring curable condition.

A Worked Scenario: The Curable Pre-Existing Lookback in Practice

To see how the curable pre-existing condition lookback affects your wallet at the veterinary checkout counter, consider this timeline for a cat named Luna who experiences recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs):

  • January 15: Luna is taken to the vet for frequent urination and is diagnosed with a UTI. She is prescribed antibiotics and recovers fully. The total vet bill is $250.
  • March 1: The owner purchases a new pet insurance policy. The policy becomes effective on March 15 after the 14-day waiting period.
  • September 10 (approx. 238 days after the first UTI): Luna develops another UTI. The vet treats her, resulting in a new bill of $300.
  • December 5 (approx. 324 days after the first UTI): Luna develops a third UTI, resulting in a bill of $280.

If Luna's owner bought a policy from Spot or Pumpkin:

  • The September 10 UTI is covered. Because Luna was symptom- and treatment-free for more than 180 days (from January 15 to September 10 is 238 days), the pre-existing condition exclusion is lifted for this curable issue. The policy reimburses the owner (subject to deductible and co-insurance).
  • The December 5 UTI is also covered.

If Luna's owner bought a policy from Figo:

  • The September 10 UTI is excluded as pre-existing. Figo requires a full 12 consecutive months (365 days) symptom- and treatment-free. Because only 238 days had elapsed since the January 15 infection, the condition is deemed pre-existing, and the claim is denied. The owner must pay the entire $300 bill out of pocket.
  • The December 5 UTI is also excluded. The September occurrence reset the 12-month clock, meaning Luna must now go until September 10 of the following year without symptoms to get UTI coverage.

Does any of the three pay my veterinarian directly?

Traditional pet insurance operates on a reimbursement model: the owner pays the veterinary clinic in full at checkout, submits the invoice and medical records to the insurer, and waits for a reimbursement check or direct deposit.

For major emergencies (like a $6,000 foreign body surgery or a $10,000 cancer protocol), this model requires the owner to have a credit card or cash available to pay the clinic immediately.

  • Trupanion Comparison: Trupanion is famous for its "Vet Direct Pay" software, which integrates directly with veterinary PIMS (like ezyVet or Cornerstone). At checkout, the vet submits the invoice directly to Trupanion, and the insurer pays the clinic its share within minutes. The owner only pays their co-insurance and deductible at the desk.
  • Spot, Pumpkin, and Figo: None of these three brands offers direct integration with vet PIMS for vet-direct checkout. You must pay the vet in full first.

The Pumpkin Exception: PumpkinNow

Pumpkin has introduced a fast-reimbursement workflow called PumpkinNow:

  • It is not vet-direct-pay. The owner still pays the clinic first.
  • However, for qualifying claims of $500 or more, if the owner submits the claim through the Pumpkin app immediately, Pumpkin uses automated processing to review and approve the claim, depositing the reimbursement into the owner's bank account in as little as 15 minutes.
  • This is designed to help owners pay off high-limit credit cards (or veterinary financing like CareCredit) before the interest accumulates, though it is not a substitute for vet-direct checkout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for an older pet, Spot, Pumpkin, or Figo, given none has an age cap?

None of the three brands imposes an upper age limit for new enrollments, making them all options for senior dogs and cats. However:

  • Spot or Figo is often better for older pets if you want to lower your premium by choosing a lower reimbursement tier (70%) or a higher deductible ($750 or $1,000).
  • Pumpkin forces an 80% or 90% reimbursement rate, which makes senior pet premiums expensive. However, Pumpkin's built-in exam fee coverage is valuable for older pets who require frequent clinic visits for chronic disease monitoring.

Does Figo cover exam fees, and does Spot pay the vet directly?

Figo does not cover exam fees in its base plan; you must purchase the Vet Exam Fees Powerup rider to get them covered. Spot does not pay the vet directly; you must pay the clinic at checkout and submit a claim for reimbursement.

If they are all owned by the same parent, why do the policies differ?

When JAB/IPG acquired these brands, they acquired separate corporate entities with distinct state-filed policy forms and historical contracts. Filing new, unified insurance policies in all 50 states is a slow, complex regulatory process. Maintaining different brands allows IPG to target different consumer segments (e.g., Figo for tech-focused owners wanting customizable riders; Pumpkin for owners seeking comprehensive, high-reimbursement base plans; Spot for middle-of-the-road customization).

Sources

Topics
Pet Insurance & Claims
Related Articles