What is the Best Pet Insurance Company? If you're a pet owner, chances are you've thought about how to care for your furry friend in the event of an emergency. Veterinary bills can add up quickly, especially if your pet needs surgery or treatment for a chronic illness. Pet insurance can help cover these unexpected costs, making it easier to provide the best care for your pet without breaking the bank.
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ASPCA Pet Insurance has been providing coverage for cats and dogs since 1997 through PTZ Insurance Agency. They do not have upper age limits for new enrollments, and you can visit any licensed vet, specialist, or emergency clinic in the US or Canada. Their annual limit options range from $2.5k to $10k, while reimbursement options are set at 70%, 80%, and 90%. Your annual deductible options are $500, $250, or $100.
Accident and illness coverage includes hereditary and congenital conditions
With ASPCA's Complete Coverage plan, your pet will be covered for the following:
Accident coverage available separately
Our research indicates that ASPCA plans start at $16 a month for young cats and dogs. For an 8-year-old large mixed-breed dog in Illinois, the Complete Coverage plan would cost us $98.89 per month. (When possible, the quotes in our review use a $5,000 annual limit, 80% reimbursement, and $500 annual deductible.) If we only wanted Accident Coverage, we could purchase it separately for $26.25. In addition to Complete Coverage and Accident Coverage, ASPCA offers add-ons for preventive care.
Two preventive care add-on plans available
Responsible pet owners are proactive about the health of their pets, but costs for preventive care (dental cleaning, spaying and neutering, vaccines, and flea and heartworm prevention) can add up quickly. If you've run the numbers and balked at your results, you might want to consider ASPCA's Basic Preventive Care add-on ($9.95/month, annual coverage up to $250) or their Prime Preventive Care add-on ($24.95/month, annual coverage up to $450). There is no deductible or waiting period for either of these plans. Be sure to make sure the benefits schedule works for you - each type of care is only covered up to a certain amount, and unused amounts cannot be rolled over from other types of care.
14-day waiting period, no medical history required to enroll
ASPCA Pet Insurance goes into effect 14 days after enrollment for all conditions, which is great. They say you do not need to provide proof of your pet's past exams or other medical history to enroll. You can get a 10% discount for enrolling multiple pets, whether they're cats or dogs.
30 days for claims to be reimbursed
ASPCA's claims process can be completed right from the vet's office. Just open the app, answer a few questions about the reason for your visit, upload a photo of your invoice, and hit "submit". If you're a bit of a Luddite, don't despair - you can also complete this process by filling out a claim form and sending it with email, fax, or paper mail. Unfortunately, getting your claim reimbursed takes a bit longer than submitting it - you'll be waiting up to 30 days before the money hits your account.
Rates will increase
As with every pet insurance company, your premium will increase as your pet ages. ASPCA says they will not increase your premium based on your claims, which is something. The earlier you enroll your pet, the lower your prices will stay.
Most customers have no issues
ASPCA Pet Insurance has a 4-star average on Trustpilot from over 6,000 reviews. For the most part, people are happy with payment turnaround time, helpful customer service, and comprehensive coverage. As with any pet insurance provider, we encountered a few complaints about claims being denied. Also, despite not needing to provide your pet's medical history to enroll, you will need to in order to be reimbursed.
Exam fees are covered with Complete Coverage
Why should you choose ASPCA's pet insurance over another provider's? According to them, what makes them stand out is that they offer coverage of exam fees for covered conditions with Complete Coverage, which can save you money on regular check-ups. There's no age limit for pets to join, so even older pets can get coverage. ASPCA also offers extra support as an add-on for when a pet passes away, which can be helpful during such a tough time.
May require notice to cancel
Before you commit to ASPCA Pet Insurance, you should know that they may consider bilateral conditions pre-existing if they affected one side of your pet's body before being insured (like a ligament tear in one knee). It also seems as though ASPCA requires 60 days notice for policy cancellations, which could be hard to budget for if you don't plan in advance. We did find a few reports from customers that canceling was difficult. Despite emailing and calling, they couldn't get in touch with anyone.
A decent choice
ASPCA's pricing is comparable to their competitors, with no significant gaps in the coverage they offer. We do recommend them, with the caveat that you may have difficulty canceling your policy if you're not happy with it.
Continued from above...
If you're a pet owner, chances are you've thought about how to care for your furry friend in the event of an emergency. Veterinary bills can add up quickly, especially if your pet needs surgery or treatment for a chronic illness. Pet insurance can help cover these unexpected costs, making it easier to provide the best care for your pet without breaking the bank.
From puppies prone to accidents to older cats with ongoing health needs, pet insurance can be a valuable tool to help you manage costs while giving your pet the treatment they deserve.Pet insurance comes in a few different types, which vary based on the coverage they offer. For instance, some plans only cover accidents, such as a broken leg from a fall, while others offer more comprehensive coverage that includes illnesses, wellness checkups, and vaccinations.
Basic accident-only plans tend to be more affordable, but they won't help if your pet develops a long-term health condition. Comprehensive plans may include preventive care as well, though they often come with higher monthly premiums. Other policies cover hereditary or congenital conditions, which can be particularly important if your pet is a breed known for specific health issues.
The cost of pet insurance depends on factors like your pet's age, breed, and health history, as well as the type of coverage you choose. Monthly premiums can range from under $10 to over $100, so understanding the differences among plans can save you money in the long run. Additionally, different insurance companies have various reimbursement models and payout limits. Some plans reimburse a percentage of each vet bill, while others have annual limits, meaning you'll want to consider how much you're likely to spend on your pet's healthcare each year.
It's important to choose the right pet insurance plan the first time. If you decide to switch to another provider later, any health issues your pet has developed in the meantime will be considered pre-existing conditions by the new provider and not covered. You should also be aware that "upgrading" to a better policy from the same provider can technically be considered canceling your old policy, meaning the conditions your pet is currently covered for may become considered pre-existing.
Here are some key factors to keep in mind when shopping for pet insurance:
Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best pet insurance companies available. We hope this review helps you find the best service for your pet, so you can feel confident they're covered, no matter what life brings.
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How Pet Insurance Can Save You Money
If you asked every pet lover you encountered in a day how they feel about their pets, they'd likely tell you they view them as family members, not pets. As such, most pet owners want their furry family members to live long and healthy lives.
One of the best ways to make sure that happens is by investing in a pet insurance policy.
Like their human counterparts, animals can get sick or be involved in accidents which can cause severe injury. They also need routine preventative healthcare in order to stay healthy - all of which can cost a pretty penny. Pet insurance plans are designed to help shoulder the burden of these costs, helping pet owners to have the choice in caring for their pet, versus euthanasia due to insufficient funding to pay for necessary medical procedures.
Currently, only one percent of the U.S. pet population - just under 3 million animals - is insured. However, industry trends indicate that pet health insurance policies are growing in popularity in the U.S., with an anticipated increase of up to 10 percent within the next five years.
The first official pet healthcare policy was sold in Britain in 1947. Britain trails only Sweden in the number of pet owners who provide insurance for their pets. Dogs are the most-insured pet, followed by cats and small exotic animals. While it is sold under the name "healthcare insurance," pet health insurance is actually under the insurance umbrella for property. According to insurance laws, pets are seen as property, so the insurance policy which covers them is similar to that for any other property owned by an individual.
Most pet owners understand that cost for care, as well as the likelihood that the pet will suffer from certain diseases and conditions, significantly increases as the pet ages. However, not many pet owners have stopped to ask themselves what they would do if their pet suffered a serious or unexpected injury. Average cost for mending a broken leg, for instance, can run between $2,000 and $5,000 without insurance coverage. Dogs, which are known for eating and swallowing items which can be harmful, may need emergency surgery to remove the item and repair any internal damage that may have been caused. That kind of procedure can cost up to $3,000. Many pet owners cannot afford such high up-front costs and most veterinarians require payment in full at the time of the procedure. That leaves many pet owners struggling with what to do for their pet when they can't afford the procedure that could help them.
Other conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, are on the rise in the pet population. One out of every 400 dogs and cats will be diagnosed with diabetes at some point in their lives. With the advent of medical procedures and interventions not previously available to our pets, many are living longer, which increases their chances of developing age-related conditions and injuries. Take for instance, a pet which develops diabetes. That animal would require insulin injections, much as its human counterpart diagnosed with the same condition would need. Monthly costs between insulin and the syringes needed to administer it can cost a couple hundred dollars. Then there is the glucose monitoring system required to keep track of your pet's insulin levels. Animal-specific monitors such as AlphaTrak can cost $200 by the time you purchase the monitor, the lancets and the testing strips.
Most pet policies cover these issues and many more, making them a good investment for pet owners. With a variety of plans from which to choose, pet owners can find one that is not only affordable to them, but which also covers their pet's annual medical needs.
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