ASPCA Pet Insurance Review

ASPCA Pet Insurance Ratings at a Glance

The joys of owning a pet are too many to count, but along with all the benefits come some downsides - like veterinary bills. And most pet owners know firsthand just how expensive veterinary bills can be. But did you know that a pet insurance plan can help you lessen what you pay at the vet’s office — and can keep your furry friend feeling in tip-top condition?

It's true. When shopping for pet insurance, you will likely come across ASPCA. Benzinga did the research for you to determine the pros and cons of this pet insurance company. Let’s take a look at ASPCA pet insurance and what it can offer you and your pet. 

What is Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is a type of coverage that compensates you for veterinary bills. Pet insurance is similar to home insurance in that you pay for your care first and your insurance company reimburses you later.

Pet insurance plans include both a deductible and a maximum benefit limit. A deductible is the amount of money that you must spend before your insurance kicks in and starts to cover your bills. 

Let’s say your plan has a $500 deductible. It means that you need to spend $500 on your pet’s veterinary bills in 1 year before you see your insurance benefits. Your insurance covers a percentage of your bill that’s laid out in your insurance agreement after you meet your deductible. Your insurance will continue to pay out until you reach your annual maximum benefit limit, which is an upper cap on the amount of money you can get from your insurer in that year.

You pay your insurance provider a monthly premium in exchange for coverage. Your deductible, coverage limits, pet’s breed and location all affect how much you’ll pay in a premium. The higher your deductible, the lower your monthly premium will generally be. 

States that Offer ASPCA Pet Insurance

ASPCA pet insurance is available in all 50 states. 

What Pets Does ASPCA Cover? 

ASPCA only offers coverage for dogs and cats. If you have another type of pet you want to cover (like a reptile or bird), you’ll need to choose another insurance provider. 

What Coverage Options Does ASPCA Provide?

ASPCA offers 2 major plans for both dogs and cats: Complete Coverage^SM and Accidents-Only.

Complete Coverage

ASPCA’s Complete Coverage plan is its most comprehensive option. Complete Coverage plans from ASPCA include coverage for all exam fees, diagnostics and treatments for the following treatment areas:

• Accidents. Covers the costs associated with veterinary care after an accident. Includes coverage for accidents that need immediate care, such as torn ligaments, bite wounds, broken bones and toxic ingestions.
• Illnesses. Covers the costs you’ll pay when your pet gets sick from an illness that isn’t immediately life-threatening. Some of the covered conditions include urinary tract infections, cancer, arthritis and allergies.
• Hereditary and congenital conditions. This coverage compensates you for what you pay treating hereditary and genetic conditions. Some examples include heart disease, eye disease and intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). ASPCA includes coverage for hip dysplasia, a common and very serious arthritis of the hips seen in many breeds of dog and which is excluded from coverage with most other pet insurance companies.
• Behavioral issues. This policy option covers the cost of treatment and services for concerning behaviors related to anxiety or compulsions. Some examples include excessive licking, destruction of the home and fur pulling.

ASPCA’s Complete Coverage plan includes a surprising number of treatments, ranging from basic services to stem cell therapy and even acupuncture. There are a few areas of coverage that both the Complete Coverage and the accident-only plan exclude, including the following:

• Preexisting conditions. ASPCA coverage doesn’t extend to any conditions that your dog or cat already has when you sign up for a plan. ASPCA classifies any condition or illness that your pet contracts before you enroll in your plan or during your waiting period as a preexisting condition. Let’s say your pet contracts an illness that’s cured or treated and doesn’t show symptoms for at least 180 days. ASPCA will still offer coverage.
• Cosmetic procedures. Purely cosmetic procedures aren’t covered by either ASPCA insurance plan. Some examples of cosmetic procedures include declawing, ear cropping and tail docking.
• Breeding expenses. ASPCA plans don’t include coverage for expenses related to breeding and pregnancy.
• Preventive care. Routine wellness visits (including vaccines, exams and screenings) are not covered. You can add a preventive care package to both the Complete Coverage plan and the Accidents-Only plan if you want coverage for preventive care.

The Complete Coverage plan has a number of specific exclusions, like vitamins, house-call fees and training fees. Check the complete list of restrictions after you enter a few details on your pet. 

Accidents-Only Coverage

Looking for more affordable coverage? ASPCA also offers an Accidents-Only plan. As the name suggests, the Accidents-Only plan only offers coverage for immediate, life-threatening accidents and emergencies. Some examples of emergencies that are covered include torn ligaments, bites, cuts, toxic ingestions and lodged foreign objects. This plan covers exams, screening and treatment costs for anything that’s considered an emergency. 

Both Accident-Only Coverage and Complete Coverage plans give you a wide amount of freedom to choose how much coverage you’d like. You can choose between 70%, 80% and 90% reimbursement for both plans. You can also choose your deductible from 3 options: $500, $250 and $100 annually.

You can also choose your coverage limit — plans are available with as little as $5,000 of coverage up to unlimited coverage. Each of these factors influences how much you pay per month which makes it easy to customize a plan to fit your budget. 

ASPCA Pet Insurance Rates 

Let’s take a look at what you can expect to pay for a few different coverage choices from ASPCA.

ASPCA Pet Insurance Claims

ASPCA’s claims process is easy to understand. You’ll first pay for your pet’s treatments out of pocket with your vet. Then, you’ll file a claim online, over the phone or via fax with ASPCA’s underwriting team. A team member will take a look at your policy and refund you a percentage of what you spent for treatment, depending on your plan choice — less your deductible.

ASPCA claims to service most claims in less than 16 days. You can choose to get your reimbursement directly deposited into your bank account or through a mailed check. 

ASPCA Pet Insurance Customer Service

You’ll need to contact ASPCA’s customer service team by phone, email or fax. You can reach a team member by calling 888-716-1203 between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. EST. You can also send a message to sales@aspcapetinsurance.com or fax customer service at 866-888-2497.

You can contact ASPCA’s customer service team if you already have an account and track your claims through your Member Center profile. You can quickly file a claim, upload any bills or documentation you need and track the status of your claim in the Member Center.

Trustpilot and Consumer Affairs reviews for ASPCA’s customer service team and insurance choices are largely positive. Verified reviewers describe the claims process as “fast” and “efficient” and laud ASPCA’s customer service team as “responsive” and “helpful.” ASPCA pet insurance might be right for you if knowledgeable customer service is at the top of your list.  

Does the ASPCA Offer Good Pet Insurance?

ASPCA pet insurance is good. Its Complete Coverage covers the things you expect and then some. And its team of sales agents and claims staff are dedicated to helping you when you need them the most.

Protect Your Pet With ASPCA Pet Insurance

Does ASPCA have the best pet insurance for you? The answer depends on your unique situation. ASPCA might be your choice if you’re looking for a pet insurance provider that offers great customer service and a wide comprehensive plan. However, you’ll want to choose another plan if you’re looking for a plan for a pet other than a dog or cat.