ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Review

About ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance plans are offered by PTZ Insurance Agency, Ltd. with the same devotion to caring for animals that has defined the efforts of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®). PTZ Insurance Agency, Ltd., markets the company’s products directly to consumers, through veterinary practices, and to employers, associations, and brokers. In 2006, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance was introduced as part of a partnership with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). In the past 20 years, through their insurance underwriters, they have insured more than 600,000 dogs and cats and processed more than 2.2 million claims.

Pros & Cons of ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

There are a few things to consider before buying pet insurance, such as coverage, limitations, cost and competitor comparisons—and we’re going to cover it all. But we think the best place to start is always a pros and cons list, so you can really get a good overview of the company’s offerings:

Pros:

• Complete Coverage Plan for cats and dogs at a competitive price
• Accident-Only Coverage Plan for those who just want a financial cushion for accidents and injuries
• Add-on Preventative Care coverage reimburses for vaccines, annual vet visits and more
• Low deductibles and a variety of annual limits—up to an unlimited amount; users just have to call to request
• App and online portal for easy access to claims and account info

Cons:

• Claims must be submitted within 270 days of service; a generous time frame, but some companies allow claims to be submitted during the entire coverage period

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Plans, Coverage & Pricing

There are two different plans to choose from with ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, plus an add-on for Preventative Care coverage. Let’s start with their main plans, Complete Coverage and Accident-Only.

The Complete Coverage Plan is ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s full-service offering and covers:

• Accidents
• Injuries
• Illnesses
• Hereditary & congenital conditions 
• Behavioral issues
• Chronic conditions
• And more

The Accident-Only Plan is more of a buffer for vet bills associated with accidents. It covers:

• Injuries and emergencies related to accidents

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Coverage & Restrictions

It’s important to understand what is and is not covered by your pet insurance policy, so that there are no surprises after you sign up.

Here’s a breakdown of what is covered under the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Complete Coverage Plan:

• • Accidents and injuries and all related treatments such as X-rays, MRI, ultrasounds, blood work, sutures, medications, hospitalization and surgery
  • Illnesses and all related treatment costs for cancer, arthritis, ear infections, digestive problems, UTIs and more
  • Hereditary and congenital conditions, such as heart disease, intervertebral disc disease, eye disorders and hip dysplasia  
  • Alternative therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic care, hydrotherapy and more
  • Behavioral issues, including the cost to diagnose and treat them
  • Chronic conditions like diabetes and cancer
  • Prescription medication 
  • Prescription food and supplements 
  • Microchip implantation

Here’s a list of what is not covered under ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s Complete Coverage Plan:

• Pre-existing conditions

• Cosmetic or elective procedures such as tail docking and claw removal 
• Breeding costs 
• Preventative care (however, this is offered as an optional add-on)

We’ve outlined the main highlights of ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s plan offerings here, but our lists aren’t all-inclusive. If you are wondering whether a particular condition is covered or not, ASPCA  Pet Insurance provides sample plans on their website for their Complete Coverage, Accident-Only and Preventative Care options.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Cost

Next we’ll review pricing options for ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. Like other pet insurance plans, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance factors in your pet’s breed, age and zip code when determining how much your plan will cost.

With ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, you can choose your annual limit, deductible amount and reimbursement rate to tailor your pet’s plan to meet your budget. Here’s how it works:

• Annual reimbursement limit:
  • The maximum dollar amount you can be paid back per policy year
  • Choose from: $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000 or $10,000* online, or call to choose a different amount, including unlimited
  • The higher your annual reimbursement limit, the more you’ll pay per month
• Annual deductible amount:
  • The fixed dollar amount you’re responsible for paying before your insurance kicks in
  • Choose from: $100, $250 or $500*
  • The lower your deductible, the more you’ll pay per month
• Reimbursement percentage:
  • The percentage of each covered vet bill you’ll be paid back after you meet your deductible
  • Choose from: 70, 80 or 90 percent*
  • The higher your reimbursement rate, the more you’ll pay per month

Like other pet insurance companies, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s cat insurance plans run cheaper than their dog insurance plans. We’ll cover these cost comparisons a little later. 

*These amounts reflect the options at the time of this review and are subject to change.

Optional Features & Inclusions

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers an optional Preventative Care package to help pet owners cover the cost of wellness treatments that you may already be paying for. There are two tiers available, Basic and Prime. Here’s what’s covered and the pricing for both options:*

Basic:

• $9.95 per month
• $250 total annual benefit (that’s an extra $130 back in your pocket if you claim the maximum benefits each year)
• Dental cleaning up to $100
• Wellness exam up to $50
• Deworming up to $20
• DHLPP vaccine up to $20
• Rabies or Lyme vaccine up to $20
• Fecal test up to $20
• Heartworm test up to $20

Prime:

• $24.95 per month
• $450 total annual benefit (that’s an extra $150 back in your pocket if you claim the maximum benefits each year)
• Dental cleaning or neutering up to $150
• Wellness exam up to $50
• Deworming up to $25
• Health certificate up to $25
• Flea and heartworm prevention up to $25 
• DHLPP vaccine up to $25
• Rabies or Lyme vaccine up to $25
• Bordetella vaccine up to $25
• Fecal test up to $25
• Heartworm test up to $25
• Blood test up to $25
• Urinalysis up to $25

*These amounts reflect the options at the time of this review and are subject to change.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Dog Insurance vs Cat Insurance

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance covers cats and dogs (and even horses!). The main difference between these plans is the price. Dogs are more expensive to insure than cats since they typically require more vet attention throughout their life.

Besides cost, there are minimal differences in ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s plans. Cat owners can choose from the same annual limits, deductibles and reimbursement rates, and cats will enjoy the same plan options for Complete Coverage, Accident-Only and Preventative Care as dogs. 

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Discounts

For pet owners with more than one furry friend in the house, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers a multi-pet discount of 10 percent for each additional pet enrolled in an insurance plan.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Compared to Other Top Companies

Now that we’ve taken a closer look at what ASPCA Pet Health Insurance has to offer, let’s compare it to some of the other top providers in the industry: Trupanion, Healthy Paws and Pets Best.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance vs Trupanion

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance and Trupanion are leading providers of pet insurance. Both companies offer great options for comprehensive coverage, but there are key some differences to consider as well:

• ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers multiple reimbursement percentage rate options for pricing flexibility, while Trupanion is fixed at 90 percent.
• Due to their more robust coverage options, Trupanion’s plans are a bit more expensive than ASPCA Pet Health Insurance.
• Trupanion does not offer accident-only or preventative care plans like ASPCA Pet Health Insurance does.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance vs Healthy Paws

Like ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Healthy Paws provides full-coverage pet insurance. After a review of both companies’ offerings, we found a few differences to consider when shopping for a pet insurance plan:

• Because of this, Healthy Paws’ plans are a bit more expensive than ASPCA Pet Health Insurance.
• Healthy Paws does not offer a preventative wellness plan or accident-only plan like ASPCA Pet Health Insurance does.
• Healthy Paws has a 12-month waiting period for illnesses related to hip dysplasia; ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s waiting period is 14 days. 

Pets Best vs ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

Pets Best and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance are reputable pet insurance providers with robust coverage options. Here’s where the two companies differ:

• Both companies offer comprehensive plans, accident-only plans and preventative care add-ons, but Pets Best’s preventative care is more expensive (though they do have a higher annual benefit).
• Pets Best offers fewer options for annual payout limits, although one of those options is unlimited, which ASPCA Pet Health Insurance does not offer.

Our Verdict

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers full coverage and accident-only plans, along with a preventative care package—a selection of coverage options that most companies just can’t beat. Competitive pricing, solid customer reviews and a 30-day money-back guarantee are the icing on top that makes ASPCA Pet Health Insurance a great option.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance FAQ

What does ASPCA stand for?

ASPCA stands for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. ASPCA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals. Based in New York City since its inception in 1866, the organization’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The company paired with Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group to start offering pet insurance in 2006.

How does ASPCA Pet Health Insurance work?

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance covers your pet from accidents, illnesses and injuries. After you enroll your pet in a pet insurance plan, you’ll pay a monthly premium and submit claims to ASPCA Pet Health Insurance for reimbursement of covered medical expenses.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers a Complete Coverage plan, Accident-Only Plan and Preventative Care add-on, so you can get the right amount of coverage for your pet’s needs. 

Another great perk of ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is that there are no networks; you can see any licensed vet professional and it will be covered for reimbursement, as long as the condition is covered.

How much does ASPCA Pet Health Insurance cost?

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plans vary in cost based on breed, age and location. Our quotes for a three-year old, mixed-breed male dog in Atlanta on ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s Complete Coverage plan range between $22.51 and $73.80 per month, depending on the coverage options selected.

What does ASPCA Pet Health Insurance cover?

The Complete Coverage plan is ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s full-coverage plan that reimburses medical expenses for your pet related to:

• Accidents
• Injuries
• Illnesses
• Hereditary & congenital conditions 
• Behavioral issues
• Chronic conditions
• And more

Does ASPCA Pet Health Insurance cover neutering or spaying?

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is one of the few companies that does provide reimbursement for spaying and neutering under the Prime level of their Preventative Care package. Pet owners can file a claim for reimbursement up to $150 for this service.*

*These amounts reflect the options at the time of this review and are subject to change.

Disclosure

Pre-existing conditions are not covered. For all terms and conditions visit www.aspcapetinsurance.com/terms. Products, schedules, and rates may vary and are subject to change. Discounts may vary and are subject to change.

The ASPCA® is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance. Insurance products are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company (NAIC #26581. A Delaware insurance company headquartered located at 11333 N. Scottsdale Rd, Ste. 160, Scottsdale, AZ 85254). Insurance is produced by PTZ Insurance Agency, Ltd. (NPN: 5328528. Domiciled in Illinois with offices at 1208 Massillon Road, Suite G200, Akron, Ohio 44306). (California residents only: PTZ Insurance Agency, Ltd., d.b.a PIA Insurance Agency, Ltd. CA license #0E36937).