ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Review

Pros Explained

• Covers cats, dogs, and horses: In contrast to many other pet health insurance companies, which only cover cats and dogs, ASPCA covers horses as well. Veterinary care for horses can be quite costly, so this is a great choice for pet parents with a horse in the family.
• Trusted name with years of experience: Not new to the field of pet health insurance, ASPCA Pet Insurance (which formerly went by the name of Hartville Pet Insurance) has been offering plans since 1997. This inspires trust in the company and assures pet owners that their coverage will be there when they need it.
• No maximum pet enrollment age: Many other companies will not offer coverage to older pets, but ASPCA Pet Insurance has no maximum age for enrollment. This insurer would be a great choice for owners with senior pets.

Cons Explained

• No standalone wellness plan offered: If you want to have your pet’s routine veterinary care covered by ASPCA Pet Insurance, you will first have to purchase an accident/illness plan.
• Online enrollment limited to $10,000 annual limit: If your pet has a serious illness or accident, even $10,000 may not be enough to cover expenses. If you want a higher annual limit you’ll need to call the company to ask while enrolling.
• No diminishing deductible: Unlike some pet insurance companies, ASPCA won’t lower your deductible if you go a certain time period without filing a claim.

Introduction

ASPCA Pet Insurance offers accident/illness coverage starting with a base plan termed “Complete Coverage.” The plan is customizable with different annual limits, annual deductibles, and reimbursement percentages, including a wellness add-on.

Company Overview

Hartville Pet Insurance Group was founded in 1997 and was one of the first organizations to offer pet health insurance. In 2006 the company partnered with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and now goes under the name of ASPCA Pet Insurance. Since its inception, the company has insured over 600,000 dogs and cats (it also provides insurance for horses).

There are no state restrictions on ASPCA insurance plans, and you can use any vet in the U.S. and Canada. Policies are administered by Crum and Forster, an insurance company founded in 1822. ASPCA policies are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company.

Available Plans

ASPCA Pet Insurance starts with a base plan, Complete Coverage, which can be customized with different deductibles, annual limits, and reimbursement levels. There’s also an Accident-Only plan, a lower-cost option that only covers veterinary care that is needed after an accident.

Two levels of add-on wellness coverage are offered (Basic and Prime) to help you manage the costs of preventative care services that keep your pet healthy.

Available Riders/Add-Ons

• Wellness Plans: A wellness plan is available in two levels, Basic and Prime, which differ in the types of treatments they cover and reimbursement levels. There is no deductible or co-insurance for the wellness plans. 

Waiting Periods

The Complete Care plan and the Accident-Only plan each have a uniform waiting period of 14 days after enrollment for all covered services. The wellness plans have no coverage waiting period.

Cancellation Policy

If you wish to cancel your pet’s coverage you must provide written notice, either by email, phone, or mail. 

If the cancellation occurs within 30 days from the first effective date of your policy, the company will refund your premium if you have yet to make a claim that was fulfilled. Past the initial 30 days, ASPCA will refund any premium that you already paid for any period after your last date of coverage.

Plan Exclusions

The Companion Care plan has some standard exclusions for the industry, such as:

• Pre-existing conditions
• Cosmetic procedures
• Dental cleanings, root canals, crowns
• Breeding-related costs
• Boarding
• Anal sac (gland) expression and/or resection
• After-life care
• Intentional injuries
• Prescription food and vitamins used for preventive/general health purposes

ASPCA Pet Insurance will also not cover any expenses when the veterinarian conducting or supervising the treatment is you, a co-owner on your account, or an immediate family member. This is important to note for employees in the veterinary industry who want the veterinary employee discount.

Pre-Existing Conditions

As with other pet insurance plans, pre-existing conditions are not covered. For ASPCA, conditions are considered pre-existing if the pet has shown symptoms on or before the enrollment date, or during the waiting period.

ASPCA will consider a condition to be cured if the pet has been free from treatment and symptoms for a period of 180 days. After this time, the condition is considered a new occurrence. The only exceptions to this are ligament and knee conditions, which will still be considered pre-existing.

Plan Pricing

ASPCA Pet Insurance policies come with different deductibles, annual limits, and reimbursement levels. Plans with unlimited coverage amounts are available, but you must call the company for pricing. A quote can be obtained online or by calling the company. The available options for online enrollment are as follows:

Annual limits:

• $3,000
• $4,000
• $5,000
• $7,000
• $10,000

Annual deductible options:

• $100
• $250
• $500

Reimbursement options:

• 70%
• 80%
• 90%

Many factors can affect the cost of pet health insurance premiums, including:

• Pet age
• Breed
• Location
• Increases in veterinary costs
• Other undisclosed factors

Claims

ASPCA offers several convenient ways to file claims. Claims may be entered online through the customer portal, as well as through the ASPCA app, which is compatible with both iPhone and Android. The app allows pet owners to keep tabs on the status of their claim as it is being processed. 

Pet owners may also fill out a claim form and send it in by email, fax, or postal mail.

Reimbursement is available via mailed checks or direct deposit into the customer’s account.

Customer Service

There are several ways to get in touch with ASPCA regarding your pet insurance policy. 

The company may be reached at (866) 204-6764, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. 

You can send an email to cservice@aspcapetinsurance.com, or use the contact form in the ASPCA app.

Third-Party Ratings

In our independent survey of pet owners, ASPCA Pet Insurance garnered both positive and negative comments. Some users voiced concerns over the length of time required for a claim to be processed, while others were happy with the processing time. People decided to renew because they liked the service; one respondent said it was due to “Good coverage and fair pricing.”

United States Fire Insurance Company (USFIC), which underwrites ASPCA’s pet insurance, received A (Excellent) ratings for Financial Strength and Long-Term Issuer Credit from AM Best. These ratings indicate the company is able to pay out claims and take care of its customers. AM Best has had ratings on file for USFIC since 1906. 

Alternative Choices

Purchasing health insurance for your pets is a big decision. We recommend that you shop around and compare many plans to find a policy that meets your and your pet’s needs. 

It’s important to read and review the terms and agreements section of each policy and compare the services and treatments that are covered. Knowing all about the exclusions will serve you well, too. Take note of deductibles, reimbursement amounts, and premiums, and keep in mind that the most affordable options may not cover certain treatments or conditions and can leave your pet vulnerable. 

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Our Methodology: How We Review Pet Insurance Carriers

Investopedia is dedicated to providing consumers with unbiased, comprehensive reviews of pet insurance companies. We rated 25 providers and collected over 2,000 data points, including information about plan options, company features, and fees and limits, to ensure that our reviews help users make informed decisions for their pet insurance needs. 

Our full pet insurance methodology, including our data collection process and weighted data points, is available for review.