ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Review

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

Pros Explained

• Covers cats, dogs, and horses: In contrast to many other pet health insurance companies that 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: PTZ Insurance Agency Ltd. has been in business since 1997 and partner with the ASPCA since 2006. In addition to the lengthy time in business, the ASPCA name is well respected in the animal world. This combination garners trust and confidence from customers.
• No maximum pet enrollment age: Many other companies won't 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: You'll first have to purchase an accident/illness plan if you want to have your pet’s routine veterinary care covered by ASPCA Pet Insurance.
• Online enrollment is limited to a $10,000 annual limit: Even $10,000 may not be enough to cover expenses if your pet has a serious illness or accident. You’ll have to call the company to ask while you're enrolling if you want a higher annual limit.
• No diminishing deductible: Unlike some pet insurance companies, ASPCA won’t lower your deductible if you go a certain period of time without making a claim.

Available Plans

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

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

Available Riders and Add-Ons

A wellness plan is available in two levels, Basic and Prime, which differ in the types of treatments they cover and reimbursement levels. There's no deductible or coinsurance 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

You must contact the company, either by email, phone, or mail, if you want to cancel your pet's coverage.

The company will refund your premium if the cancellation occurs within 30 days from the first effective date of your policy and you have yet to make a claim that was fulfilled. After 30 days, ASPCA will refund the part of your premiums for the current period after your last coverage date.

Plan Exclusions

The Companion Care plan comes with some exclusions that are standard for the industry.

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

ASPCA Pet Insurance won't cover any expenses if 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 to claim the veterinary employee discount.

Pre-Existing Conditions

As with other pet insurance plans, pre-existing conditions aren't covered. ASPCA considers conditions to be 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. The condition is considered a new occurrence after this time. 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:

• $2,500
• $4,000
• $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. They can be entered online through the customer portal, as well as through the ASPCA app that's compatible with both iPhone and Android. The app allows pet owners to keep tabs on the status of their claims as they're being processed.

Pet owners can 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

You can get in touch with ASPCA regarding your pet insurance policy in several ways. 

The company can 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

ASPCA Pet Insurance garnered both positive and negative comments in our independent survey of pet owners. Some users voiced concerns over the length of time required for a claim to be processed, although 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) underwrites ASPCA’s pet insurance. It received A (Excellent) ratings for Financial Strength and Long-Term Issuer Credit from AM Best. These ratings indicate that 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 needs and your pet’s needs. 

It’s important to read and review the terms and agreements section of each policy. 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.

Competition

Final Verdict

ASPCA Pet Insurance is a strong player in the pet health insurance market. It offers competitive pricing with multiple ways to customize plans by deductible amounts, annual limits, and reimbursement percentages. Add-on wellness plans can be a great option for pet parents that want to ensure that their pets get the preventive care they need without cost being a concern.

ASPCA Pet insurance is also an appealing option for those who own horses because it's one of the few providers that offer coverage for pets other than cats and dogs.

FAQs

Does ASPCA Pet Insurance have a money-back guarantee?

You can get your premium back if you haven't yet made a claim that's been paid out and if you cancel within 30 days. ASPCA will also refund any premium that you paid in advance for the period of time after the first 30 days.

How long does ASPCA Insurance claim processing take?

ASPCA indicates that it "generally" pays claims within 30 days. You can track your claim at the ASPCA Member Center, and you should receive email updates about its progress.

What percentage of ASPCA goes to animals?

ASPCA states that it's not an insurer itself and that it's not engaged in the business of insurance. It does receive a royalty fee in exchange for the use of its brand from the insurance company. By purchasing this insurance, you are simply buying insurance from an insurer that pays to use the ASPCA brand, and is in a sense endorsed by them. Purchasing this insurance is not a charitable contribution.

However, as an organization, 77 cents out of every dollar the ASPCA spends is dedicated to life-saving animal services and programs.

Can ASPCA Pet Insurance be used anywhere?

ASPCA Insurance says that "your insurance can be used for treatment at any licensed veterinary clinic in the U.S. or Canada, including treatment from specialists and emergency care facilities."

Methodology

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.