AKC Pet Insurance Review

AKC Pet Insurance Ratings at a Glance

Wondering how pet insurance works? You’re not alone. AKC Pet Insurance offers two CompanionCare plans — Basic and Custom. The Basic plan has preset limits that you can’t change. A basic plan has a $100 deductible, 20% coinsurance, $500 incident limit and an unlimited annual limit.

The other option is to create a Custom plan. This option allows you to select the deductible, coinsurance and annual limit amounts that you want. The options are:

• Deductible: $100 - $1,000
• Coinsurance: 10% - 30%
• Annual limit: $2,500 - Unlimited

No matter which option you choose, the comprehensive coverage remains the same. These pet insurance plans cover accidents and illnesses, including:

• Allergies
• Broken bones
• Diagnostics
• Toxic ingestion
• Foreign body ingestion
• Prescription medication
• Physical therapy
• Surgery
• Hospitalization

AKC Pet Insurance plans also include Alternative Plus coverage for alternative and holistic care, including chiropractic treatment, acupuncture and herbal supplements.

Additionally, AKC Pet Insurance offers upgrades at an additional cost:

• ExamPlus: This benefit covers the cost of exam fees for accident or illness visits to your veterinarian, specialty clinics or emergency rooms.
• BreedingCoverage: For intact dogs, this coverage can cover the costs for accidents, illnesses and complications related to breeding, pregnancy, whelping or nursing. 
• SupportPlus: Designed to cover expenses incurred when you have to say goodbye to your pet, this benefit pays for burial and euthanasia.
• Defender and DefenderPlus: This benefit provides reimbursement for some routine and preventative care expenses, such as spay/neuter, wellness exams, preventatives and dental cleanings.

Though it does not always offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, AKC Pet Insurance plans offer coverage for some pre-existing conditions after a 12-month waiting period. This feature includes coverage for allergies, urinary tract infections, chronic ear infections and gastrointestinal issues.

You will want to be aware of some exclusions with each AKC Pet Insurance plan. The plans do not cover more than one illness or injury from a specific type of incident. For example, if your dog has to undergo surgery because it ate something it shouldn’t, you’ll receive coverage the first time it happens. If it happens again, your pet insurance will not cover it, and this exclusion lasts for the rest of your pet's life. Experimental and investigational treatments are also not covered, nor are diagnostics or treatment for parasites such as giardia and heartworms.  

AKC Pet Insurance offers customer support by phone and email. You can also contact the company and submit claims by mailing to its physical address in North Carolina. 

The claims process involves filling out and submitting a claim form by email, postal mail or fax. You’ll also need to provide an itemized invoice from the vet visit that you are submitting a claim for. Claims are assigned to agents within two business days of receipt of the submission. Typically, as long as the claim doesn’t need any further review, it will be finalized within a day of being assigned to an agent. If the agent has all of the documents that they need, payment can be initiated as soon as 1 business day after the agent receives the claim. Otherwise, it can take up to 30 days if the agent needs to acquire additional vet records or other documentation. Reimbursements are distributed in check form and will be mailed to the mailing address on file with your account. 

As far as pet insurance cost goes, AKC Pet Insurance pricing varies based on a number of factors, including your pet’s breed and age as well as your location. The amount of coverage, deductibles and coinsurance that you choose can also impact your monthly premiums. 

You can get a quote for your pet in just a few steps. All you need to do is input your pet’s name, age and location to get started. Here are a few sample quotes that Benzinga put together:

Additionally, you can add upgrades to your premium. With the Basic plan for a two-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, those costs were:

• ExamPlus: $2.01/mo
• BreedingCoverage: $9.22/mo
• SupportPlus: $2.00/mo
• DefenderPlus: $28.00/mo
• Defender: $15.00/mo

For a two-year-old Domestic Longhair cat, for additional upgrades, if added to the Basic plan, the costs are:

• ExamPlus: $1.42/mo
• BreedingCoverage: $6.52/mo
• SupportPlus: $2.00/mo
• DefenderPlus: $23.00/mo
• Defender: $11.00/mo

Payments can be made via all major credit cards if you’re making monthly payments. If you elect to pay the annual premium in full, you can pay by check or credit card. AKC Pet Insurance charges a $3 per month service fee, but this charge can be waived if you pay the annual premium in full.

In 2020, the average premiums for pet insurance were $49.51 per month for dogs and $28.48 per month for cats. When compared to the quotes received from AKC Pet Insurance, you can see that the Basic plan is considerably less expensive than the average. However, it’s important to keep in mind that costs can vary widely depending on the types and amount of coverage that you choose. If you customize your plan and add on upgrades, you may end up paying more than the average premiums. 

Applying for an AKC Pet Insurance plan is simple. After you get your free quote, you can select the coverage that you want and add it to your cart. You can also enroll additional pets and receive a 5% discount before you check out. You don’t need to submit your pet’s medical records at the time of enrollment, but AKC Pet Insurance will need to review your pet’s medical records when you make your first claim.

Once you’re set up with a policy, you can use AKC’s customer portal to view your policy documents, coverage details and claims status. The portal can be used to change your contact and payment information and to submit claims from either a computer or mobile device.

AKC Pet Insurance vs. Competitors

AKC Pet Insurance has a few things that make it stand out. First, its customizable coverage sets it apart from many of its competitors. AKC Pet Insurance also offers a 30-day free look period, which will reimburse you 100% of your premium if you’re not satisfied with your policy within the first 30 days of coverage.

AKC Pet Insurance is a good option for most pet parents whether your pet is purebred or not. The name is highly recognizable, and its reputation does not disappoint. The pricing options for the company’s pet insurance policies are hard to beat whether you’re looking for a budget plan or something that offers every optional coverage. The 30-day free look period also makes it easy for pet parents to give it a try before deciding whether to stick with their pet insurance policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. North American Pet Health Insurance Association. “Average Annual Premium Year Over Year (U.S.).” Accessed January 20, 2022.