Pet Assure Review

Pros Explained

• Available for exotic pets: Pet insurance companies usually cover only dogs and cats. If you own exotic pets, such as reptiles or birds, you typically don’t qualify for coverage. With Pet Assure, you can use the discount card to reduce the cost of any kind of pet’s veterinary care.
• No age restrictions: Some pet insurance companies have age restrictions that make insuring senior pets a challenge. Pet Assure, however, has no age or breed limits.
• Can be used for routine or preventive care: Pet insurance is usually only for treatments related to accidents and injuries; preventive care, like vaccinations, isn’t covered. Pet Assure’s discount card can be used for almost all veterinary care, including dental cleaning, vaccines, spay or neuter procedures, and wellness visits.
• No waiting periods: With pet insurance, you usually have waiting periods before the insurance company will cover eligible accidents or injuries. With Pet Assure, you can use your card right away.

Cons Explained

• Only available through participating employers: Pet Assure cannot be purchased directly. Instead, you can enroll in the discount program only if your employer partners with Pet Assure.
• Can only be used at participating veterinary offices: Unlike pet insurance, which typically allows you to see any vet, you can use Pet Assure’s discount program only at participating veterinary offices.
• Maximum discount is capped at 25%: With the Pet Assure discount program, you can reduce your veterinary bills by 25%. However, you have to cover the remainder yourself. That is very different from pet insurance, where up to 100% of the bill could be covered after reaching your deductible.
• Does not cover medication: Although Pet Assure provides discounts on most veterinary care, it does not cover prescription medications or supplements.
  

Introduction

Pet Assure is not a pet insurance program. Instead, it is a discount program that makes veterinary care for pets more affordable. You can only sign up for Pet Assure if your employer offers it as a benefit.

Participating in Pet Assure requires paying a membership fee rather than a monthly premium. Instead of being reimbursed by an insurance company, you receive a discount on care at participating veterinarians. The discount can be as much as 25% off the cost of services. The membership fee varies depending on where you live and how many pets you are covering, and you can begin using your membership immediately after signing up online.

Company Overview

The Pet Assure Corporation was founded in 1995 and is based in Lakewood, New Jersey. Unlike traditional pet insurance companies, Pet Assure doesn’t issue insurance policies. Instead, it operates a discount plan that can reduce the cost of veterinary care for its members.

The program can’t be purchased directly; instead, it's sold through partner employers. Many major companies, including Delta Air Lines and Morgan Stanley, are partner employers offering Pet Assure as a benefit to their employees.

Pet Assure is available nationwide and can be used for discounts on veterinary care for dogs, cats, birds, potbellied pigs, lizards, and other exotic pets.

Available Plans

Pet Assure is a discount plan, not an insurance policy. By using your card at a participating veterinarian’s office, you can receive up to 25% off your pet's treatments. Pet Assure’s discount card can be used for routine care and emergency treatments.

Additional Benefits

As a Pet Assure member, you can enroll your pets for free in ThePetTag’s lost pet 24/7 recovery service. Attach the tag to your pet’s collar and if they’re ever lost, the finder can scan the tag or call ThePetTag to get your information.

Waiting Periods

Because Pet Assure is a discount program rather than a form of insurance, there is no waiting period after enrollment. You can use the card right away when you pay for your pet’s care.

Cancellation Policy

When you enroll in Pet Assure, you have 45 days to cancel your membership and get a full refund. After that, your enrollment will renew automatically unless you cancel your membership. You can cancel via email, online contact form, or phone.

Plan Exclusions

Pet Assure can be used for most veterinary services, including routine and emergency care. However, it cannot be used to pay for nonmedical services like grooming, board, outsourced bloodwork, microchipping, prescription medications, or prescription food. There is no discount for virtual vet visits.

Pre-Existing Conditions

You can use your Pet Assure discount card when you pay for treatments related to pre-existing conditions, including hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament conditions, or diabetes.

Plan Pricing

Pet Assure’s pricing is dependent on your employer and the number of pets you intend to enroll. In general, single pets can enroll for less than $10 per month.

Claims

To take advantage of the Pet Assure discount, visit a participating veterinarian and show your discount card. There are no claim forms to submit, and you’ll receive the discount at the time of treatment; you don’t have to wait for reimbursement.

You can find a participating veterinarian by using the Pet Assure mobile app or searching Pet Assure’s database.

Customer Service

Pet Assure’s customer support is available via phone or secure message. To contact customer service, call (888) 789-7387 Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.–6 p.m. EST.

Third-Party Ratings

Because Pet Assure isn’t an insurance company, it isn’t evaluated by credit rating agencies like AM Best or Demotech. 

Alternative Choices

If you aren’t sure if Pet Assure is right for you, or you’re wondering if you should enroll your pet in a traditional accident and illness insurance policy, there are some things to consider:

• Pet’s age: The older your pet, the more difficult—and expensive—it is to get pet insurance. If you have a senior pet that is ineligible for insurance coverage, Pet Assure could be a useful alternative.
• Pre-existing conditions: With pet insurance, coverage for pre-existing conditions is excluded. If your pet has a history of joint issues, cataracts, or other common ailments, any future treatments for those problems won’t be covered. With Pet Assure, you can get a discount on those treatments.
• Participating veterinarians: Before enrolling your pet in Pet Assure, make sure there are participating veterinarians near you. If your usual veterinarian is not one of Pet Assure’s partners, you can’t use the discount program unless you visit another vet.
• Reimbursement: Pet Assure provides you with a discount at the time of treatment. By contrast, pet insurance usually works via reimbursement; you pay for your pet’s care upfront, and then you submit a claim and wait for reimbursement.

Competition

Final Verdict

For those who own exotic pets, senior dogs or cats, or animals with pre-existing conditions, Pet Assure can be a cost-effective alternative to pet insurance. You can use the Pet Assure discount card to get up to 25% off eligible veterinary services, and there are no age, breed, or pre-existing condition restrictions.

However, Pet Assure isn’t available to everyone. You can enroll your pet only if you work for a participating employer, and you can use the card only at participating veterinary offices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pet Assure Work Everywhere?

Pet Assure does not work everywhere. It can be used at participating veterinarians in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. If a veterinary practice does not participate in Pet Assure, you cannot receive a discount there.

What Is the Discount With Pet Assure?

The Pet Assure discount card gives policyholders up to 25% off services at participating veterinarians. It can be used in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.

How Do I Cancel Pet Assure?

You can cancel your Pet Assure membership via phone or email. You can also send a message through the Pet Assure website. If you cancel within 45 days of the day you enroll, you can also request a refund. You are limited to one refund per household, member, or address.

What Does Pet Assure Cover?

Pet Assure covers all in-house veterinary services, including routine care, parasite screenings, dental cleanings, and wellness visits. It cannot be used on boarding, grooming, medication, food, or services that are processed outside the veterinary practice, such as tests sent to a separate lab or specialist.

Methodology

Investopedia is dedicated to providing consumers with unbiased, comprehensive reviews of pet insurance companies. We rated 25 providers and collected more than 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.