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ASPCA Review

Wednesday, June 7th

2023 Pet Insurance Company Reviews

ASPCA Review 4 Star Rating

ASPCA

4 Star Rating
  • Coverage for dogs, cats, and horses
  • Covers accidents and illnesses
  • Covers behavioral issues and hereditary conditions
  • Visit any vet, specialist, or emergency clinic
  • Submit claims online, by mail, or by fax

We've all shed a tear and sung along with the ASPCA ads to please save a pet as we see the sad faces of lonely animals in need of adoption. This most-trusted humane society has been saving and caring for animals since 1886. Since 1997, ASPCA has offered pet insurance through Crum and Forster. They have good coverage, and you can choose the Accident-Only plan or the Complete Coverage plan, adding preventative care if you like. ASPCA even offers chiropractic care if medically necessary. They have it all - but only for dogs and cats, with a separate plan for horses.

Complete coverage for dogs and cats

If you only own a dog or cat, consider ASPCA as they can offer minimal coverage or complete coverage for your accident-prone or ailing pet that may have hereditary conditions, or require alternative therapies, behavioral therapies, and more. They show their humane-society side in covering microchipping and they don't stop coverage for elderly pets. They don't cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, preventive care, or breeding/pregnancy costs.

Totally customizable

You can pay as much or as little as you want with ASPCA, with as much or as little coverage as you need. It's a give and take. If you don't think you need much coverage, you won't need to pay as much in premiums. If your fur baby is high-maintenance health-wise, get more coverage and pay the higher premium.

  • Choose a high or low deductible - $250, $500, or $1,000. A $250 deductible means that you pay $250 before the insurance company pays anything. This low deductible means you'll pay higher insurance premiums for it. If you choose a $1,000 deductible, your premiums, or payments, will be lower.
  • Choose a high or low reimbursement percentage - 70%, 80%, or 90%. Once you meet your deductible, how much money do you want reimbursed from the insurance company? The more money you want from the appointment fee, the more you'll pay in premiums, and vice-versa.
  • Annual coverage limit - $3,000 up to $15,000. If you are concerned about health issues with your pet requiring expensive surgeries or other procedures, you can choose the higher annual coverage limit. You'll be reimbursed for up to $15,000, but again, it will cost you in premiums.

Preventative care is an add-on

Neither the Accident-Only nor the Complete Coverage plan offers preventative care. However, you can choose it as an option for $9.95 per month. You'll get $250 to use for wellness exams, rabies vaccines, or deworming. For $119.40 per year, you can get $250 for preventative care - up to you to decide if you think the math on that works out.

Costs

  • Dogs starting at $20 per month (for a one-year-old mixed breed)
  • Cats starting at $11 per month (for a one-year-old American short hair)

It's so easy to submit a claim

Unlike human health insurance, the vet doesn't submit claims - you do. But ASPCA makes it easy. Even before you leave the vet's office, you can jump on their app to submit a claim. You can make a claim via mail, fax, or the app. If you use the app, you can even submit the receipt right there at the vet's office. You can expect reimbursement in about 30 days regardless how you submit. If you need to contact their office, they're open during regular business hours Eastern Time, and you can also contact them through email.

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App greatly simplifies things

You can even make your payments through the app, track claims, find nearby veterinarians, and review your coverage details. This can be quite handy in the vet's office to have what's covered at your fingertips so you can choose the next steps for your pet.

Discounts on multiple pets

There's a 10% multiple-pet discount, and if you pay the year's premium up front, you can save the $2 per month transaction fee. The least expensive plan for a dog can be $14 per month if you choose the accidents-only plan and also choose the higher deductibles.

14-day waiting period

From the time you subscribe to the program, there's a 14-day waiting period before you can make a claim.

Positive customer feedback

Most reviewers seem to appreciate ASPCA's pet insurance, saying it delivers what it says it will and that it's easy to submit a claim. Those who are unhappy were disappointed that the rates went up as the pet got older and the site isn't user friendly. Others said that the time to get the reimbursement took too long as the company itself says it can take a month. The time to hear from Customer Service can take a long time as well.

Pet care is great, but they're lacking in human care

We love that your dog or cat can get comprehensive care, including chiropractic or other alternative care. We also love that you can customize your ASPCA plan. We've heard complaints about customer service - but they're great once you get a hold of them. Their app could use updating and their website isn't user friendly. A common complaint is that reimbursement can take 30 days, and there's a $2 transaction fee unless you pay the full year up front. But, if you can tolerate some of the frustrating aspects of this pet insurance option, ASPCA still does a great job of covering your pet's healthcare needs.

Which Pet Insurance is the Best?

We love our fur babies and want to help them live as long and as healthy as possible. Pets take daily care, and they also require vet visits, whether for wellness, to update vaccinations, if they are ill or in an accident. Veterinarian bills can be expensive, so many owners have chosen pet insurance.

Pet insurance has only been around since 1982, so if you don't know much about it, that's understandable. Pet insurance can be similar to human health insurance where you can see a provider for wellness visits, illness, or accidents. There are in-office visits, telehealth, and 24/7 availability for answering questions.

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Pet Insurance Company FAQ

Generally speaking, all ages are welcome when it comes to providing your pet with pet insurance. As the pet gets older rates may be more expensive than if you would have gotten coverage at a younger age. Please keep in mind some companies have age restrictions for when they can accept a dog or cat into their insurance plan. Typical restrictions are around 12+ years of age.
No one can forecast when your dog or cat is going to digest something they shouldn't have or have an accident related injury. Luckily, pet insurance helps to protect the pet owner against unexpected veterinary bills that can reach into the $1,000s.
It is recommended to get pet insurance before winter or summer seasons. During those seasons, there are more dangerous elements that are exposing your pet to potential illness and accidents. As far as age goes for the puppy, insurance companies recommend getting your pet insurance when your new best friend arrives home.
Typically, insurance companies only insure cats and dogs. But some companies will insure dogs, horses, other large animals, cats, other small animals, rodents, reptiles, and birds.
Depending on the company, a pet insurance claim can be sent via several different methods. Methods can include email, fax, or regular mail. When completing a claim make sure to include all of your paid vet bill invoices, and any other required documents. When the claim is processed it will either be accepted with a reimbursement, more information needed (i.e. incomplete claim form), or denial (i.e. due to non-coverable services)
Of course, your pet insurance travels with you, wherever you go. Some insurance companies may have restrictions when it comes to international travel. Make sure to check with your pet insurance company if you plan on taking your furry friend across the border.
It depends greatly on which company and plan you decide to go with. Most pet insurance companies cover accidents and illnesses after a waiting period. If the illness is a preexisting condition, you're likely not to receive any coverage. It's important you understand the fine print of any plan you may decide to go with.
In general, veterinarians do not handle pet insurance claims. Veterinarians and the owner make choices for the pet's medical care and overall health. If the care is covered by the insurance, the insurance company will reimburse the owner a percentage of the bill (depending on the chosen insurance plan's coverage) after the care and service has been performed.
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Continued from above...

However, you should be aware of some essential differences between human health insurance and pet insurance. The vet doesn't file a claim, like your own provider would. You pay the vet bill, submit the claim online or on your phone, and then you're reimbursed by the insurance company - the vet doesn't get involved. Wellness care can be an add-on rider to cover a routine exam, vaccinations, spay/neuter, teeth cleaning, and so on.

Although accidents are the most common to be covered, many companies don't cover illnesses such as diabetes, allergies, or infections. Younger pets may cost less to insure, but that will greatly increase as they age; and when they are elderly, the company may even drop the coverage, so be sure to ask about aging pets, even when your pet is young. You can choose your deductible, copay, max annual reimbursement, and optional add-ons. Find out what coverage they recommend for your breed, and ask about multiple-pet or other discounts.

More dogs have pet insurance than any other animal, and the rate for cats is about half that of dogs. Owners of indoor cats might think they don't need pet insurance, but older felines can have chronic or recurring conditions which might require costly care or frequent vet visits.

While you might not expect your pet to become ill or have an accident, those vet bills can be quite costly, especially if a procedure, surgery, or ongoing care is needed. Unless you're budgeting in anticipation of these, pet insurance could be quite the relief for when you need it. If you have an older pet or pet prone to certain conditions, prices can vary greatly between companies, so we suggest getting quotes from a couple of your favorite companies before you make your final decision. In addition, even if you are getting a puppy or kitten, ask about coverage and premiums as if they were older so you get a look into the future.

When choosing which pet insurance provider is right for you, here are a few things to consider:

  • Your pets and their age(s). You may have a cat or dog now, but if there's a possibility of someday adding a hamster, bird, or turtle, will your pet insurance cover the exotic pet? Is there a multiple-pet discount? As your pet ages, he might be prone to diabetes, accidents, and more-frequent office visits, so be sure to ask if coverage lessens, gets more expensive, or even stops with these conditions.
  • Reimbursement. If you have a pet that might require a lot of medical bills, you should consider a plan with up to 100% covered on the vet bills.
  • Choice of vet. Similar to a human's health insurance, your pet's health insurance company may have in-network vets and others that are out-of-network that they won't cover fully or at all.
  • In-office or at home. Typical plans will offer in-office visits. You should consider telemedicine, in-home care, or availability in other countries if you plan on traveling.
  • Pre-existing conditions. See if your potential pet insurer will look at your pet's medical record to find out upfront if there are any pre-existing conditions that wouldn't be covered, so there are no costly surprises. Do this even before you purchase.
  • Type of plan. You might want your insurance to cover more than just routine vet visits. Consider accidents, wellness care, routine care, preventative care, behavioral treatment, and alternative therapies. Your pet could have better health coverage than you!
  • Discounts and rewards. Some companies will give a multiple-pet discount, and others offer rewards for wellness and routine care.
  • Helpline. Whether you're new to owning a pet, have a different breed than you're accustomed to, or just worry about your pet, some insurance companies are available 24/7 for help or even for telehealth visits.

TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed the best pet insurance companies available today. We hope this information helps you to get the best pet insurance for your fur baby so they can be well cared for in a long, happy, and healthy life!

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