ASPCA Dog Insurance Review

Taking care of pets can get expensive. You must buy them food and water, toys, and a place to sleep. The costs can skyrocket if there’s an accident or illness. Veterinarian bills are a big part of your pet’s overall care, and they can quickly spiral out of control.

Choosing pet insurance can help keep your costs down and help you make sense of your pet’s care without having to consider the financial part so much. ASPCA offers pet care and advocates for animals. It could help you cover your pets’ needs, so let’s make sure it’s the right one.

ASPCA Pet Insurance Overview

The ASPCA is a long-time advocate of the kind treatment of animals. THey’ve put a lot of work into building relationships with organizations and people who could advance their understanding and mission of having better treatment for all living things.

The ASPCA began offering insurance in 2006 when Crum and Forster announced a partnership. Now, Crum and Forster offers pet parents the chance to build their safety net with plans designed to reimburse expenses and provide clear terms when signing up.

Crum and Forster has been in business since the 1800s and has an A-plus rating from the Better Business Bureau. It’s a large company that offered some of the first instances of pet insurance in the United States and provided a variety of plans.

2024 ASPCA Pet Insurance Review

Many people trust the ASPCA to help them take care of their pets, and insurance is something they appreciate from the company.

Pros:

• No upper age limits
• Comprehensive policies
• Wellness option

Cons:

• Only covers cats and dogs
• Changes require writing new plans
• Average policy costs (not a lot of savings)

What do customers like about ASPCA?

Customers like the affiliation with the ASPCA. They have prompt customer service and a responsive team.

“I used the app to submit my claims. I can’t believe how easy it was. The responses were quick. I’m really happy with my ASPCA insurance.” Keva

“I have 3 cats and 2 dogs. I have been a member of ASPCA PET Insurance for 10 years. They are awesome. They pay really quick and always respond to my inquiries immediately. They have saved me sooo much in vet bills.” Dyanna P.

“Just wondering how you got so many personable, caring and professional folks in one company.” Jean P.

What do customers dislike about ASPCA?

Some people seem to have trouble getting some of their claims approved. Be sure to read the fine details of your particular plan.

“I have been faithfully trying to keep my dog alive and happy since his terminal adrenal gland cancer diagnosis last fall. The vet visits and chemo prescriptions are very expensive, and the ASPCA $3,000 per incident coverage limit, while helpful, only covers a portion of the costs. We have been paying into our policy for nearly 9 years, ever since we rescued our pup. Now I have just been told that his coverage will go DOWN for his “ongoing condition” once the year re-sets on September 1.” Matthew T.

“My dog has been on the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance for ten years. I have made monthly payments by automatic deduction from my bank account. Recently, he was diagnosed with discoid lupus and the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance refuses to pay claims for treatments which could be life long.” Thomas S.

How Does ASPCA Pet Insurance Work?

The ASPCA’s plans offer a variety of options for balancing your premium needs with the coverage. You’ve got choices and an opportunity for wellness.

The Details

If you have a budget or you need a wide variety of coverage for your pet. Their comprehensive plans cover both accidents and illnesses, so you have to choose a few different components.

First, choose your deductible. Their deductibles are handled annually and have $100, $250, and $500. From there, you must decide on your copayment. Your bills could be reimbursed at 70%, 80%, 90%. The more you’re reimbursed, the higher your monthly premium is.

You’ll also have to decide on annual limits, which range from $2500 to $20,000 with an option for unlimited options. Again, as you make your decisions, you can bring your premiums up or down as you can afford them.

The Plan

Comprehensive plans offer coverage for accidents and illnesses that come up. For accidents, things like emergency visits, X-rays, and prescription medications are covered. Illnesses include chronic and hereditary illnesses provided they weren’t considered pre-existing.

The plan doesn’t have accident only, but it doesn’t have an age limit at all. You can enroll even your senior pet and receive full coverage for anything that isn’t a pre-existing condition. It covers all nonroutine services through your reimbursement parameters.

Wellness and Preventative Care

The company does offer an optional wellness rider to handle costs associated with preventative care. It allows you to get reimbursements in set amounts outside your deductible or copay for routine care such as veterinarian visits, vaccinations, and dental cleanings.

It costs just a bit extra per month and isn’t available as a stand-alone plan. Once you have chosen your insurance plan, you can choose to add the wellness rider. Reimbursements are set amounts for specific procedures, so be sure you read all the fine print.

Reimbursement

The good thing about the ASPCA is you don’t have to change your veterinarian, and you don’t need to find out if your chosen place of care takes insurance. Instead, you submit claims to be reimbursed for bills you’ve already paid.

Once your pet has received care, you can go through their convenient app to submit paperwork. You can choose a direct deposit or paper check. Reimbursements happen according to the details of your particular plan, and the ASPCA is good about providing reimbursements fairly quickly once approved.

Cat Insurance

The company also offers insurance to cat owners. It’s similar to the terms for dog insurance. You choose your preferred reimbursement percentage, deductible options, and yearly reimbursement caps. From there, simply submit your paid veterinarian bills and receive reimbursements based on your yearly plan.

You can also add a wellness rider for your cat to cover routine and preventative care. These procedures are reimbursed set amounts per event and fall outside your insurance plan’s terms. They’re also straightforward to submit, and payment happens fairly quickly once things are approved.

Renewals and Plan Changes

The plans are available to help you balance your monthly premium cost with your coverage. Keep in mind that if you decide to change your plan terms, your pet may lose coverage for certain conditions because the change requires writing a new plan. All diagnosed conditions will become pre-existing conditions.

The best thing you can do is get the most coverage you can afford so that you’re covered later if the need arises. An agent can help you balance your needs, and an online quote can give you an idea of your premium details as you choose different types of coverage.

ASPCA Pricing Details

The plans are designed to help you balance your budgetary needs with getting the coverage your pet needs. Let’s take a look at what it might cost you plus a few things to keep in mind as you’re choosing the right plan.

How much does it cost per month for their best plan?

The best plans have the lowest deductibles and highest reimbursements. You can choose an unlimited yearly reimbursement and add on the wellness rider for complete coverage that never stops. This type of plan could cost you over $100 per month potentially, depending on factors such as the age of your pet and your location.

Are there any coupons, deals, or incentives to sign up?

It doesn’t have any coupons at the moment, but there could be incentives for signing up more than one pet at the same time. Talk to your agent or check out the quote feature for more details.

What’s the deductible? Is it annual or per visit?

The deductible is annual, and you have three different choices: $100, $250, or $500. Your choices affect your monthly premium and can help you find a premium you can afford.

Do you have to pay a copay, or are claims covered 100%?

Once you’ve met your deductible, your copay is determined based on your plan details. ASPCA will reimburse you a percentage of your bill after your deductible, 70%, 80%, or 90%. Keep in mind that your yearly reimbursement cap will also factor into how much you can be reimbursed yearly.

Will the rates go up over time?

The rates will be more expensive for older pets, and they may go up if you change your plan details later. You’ll be notified of plan changes so you can make decisions about continuing your plan.

ASPCA Coverage Details

Here’s what to keep in mind about the plan itself. You have quite a few choices you can make, and the policy potentially covers a wide range of procedures and emergencies.

Does it cover regular vet office visits and routine checkups or only unexpected emergencies?

If you add the optional wellness rider to the plan, you’ll receive reimbursements for preventative and routine care procedures. The standard insurance policy only covers nonroutine and emergency procedures. If you have it in your budget, it can be worth the extra cost per month.

Does it cover dental and teeth cleaning?

The insurance policy itself only covers non-routine dental issues such as extractions or periodontal disease. The wellness rider will reimburse you for routine dental cleanings.

Does it cover hip dysplasia?

The comprehensive plan covers hereditary and chronic conditions such as hip dysplasia, but they cannot be considered pre-existing conditions. Keep in mind if you decide to change your policy after your pet receives a hip dysplasia diagnosis, that condition won’t be covered anymore.

Does it cover spaying and neutering?

The wellness rider does cover spaying and neutering. Standard insurance policies won’t cover it because the procedure is considered part of your pet’s routine care.

Does it cover pre-existing conditions?

The plans don’t cover pre-existing conditions (no policies will from any company). However, if the condition is considered “curable,” your pet may be eligible for coverage once symptom-free for a determined amount of time.

Also, keep in mind that changing your policy can cause some conditions to become pre-existing even if they were covered under the old policy because you’re writing a new policy.

Does it cover cancer?

It will cover costs associated with cancer, but if it’s a pre-existing condition, your pet won’t receive reimbursements for that condition. Your pet won’t be denied a policy with a pre-existing cancer diagnosis, but anything associated with the condition will be excluded from coverage.

Does it cover prescription medications?

It does cover prescriptions for nonroutine care, but if you add on the wellness rider, you may be eligible for reimbursements for routine prescriptions such as flea and tick treatments.

What else does it cover?

• Accidents
• Illness
• Diagnostics
• Chronic conditions
• Non Routine blood work
• Emergency care
• Prescriptions
• Behavioral therapies
• Alternative treatments
• Cancer

What else does it NOT cover?

• Preventative care (without wellness rider)
• Breeding
• Pregnancy and whelping
• Pre-existing conditions
• Elective and cosmetic procedures
• Herbs
• Boarding

Are there any restrictions on breed-specific conditions or age?

There are no breed restrictions, and as long as your pet is at least eight weeks, you can sign up for a new coverage plan. Signing up older pets can be more expensive, and pre-existing conditions are not covered, but you are eligible for coverage for seniors.

Is there a waiting period? How soon can I start using the insurance after I sign up?

Once you’ve signed up for a plan, you must have a current vet checkup to determine any pre-existing conditions or symptoms. The plans have a 14 day waiting period for all components of the plan, including accident and illness as well as chronic conditions such as hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament events. If your pet shows symptoms during the waiting period, the condition is excluded.

Is it easy to cancel if I change my mind?

The plans have a 30 day “free look” period. If you decide within that 30 days to cancel your plan, you’re eligible for a refund of your premium. If you’ve already made a claim, some exclusions or changes to your refund may apply. You can always call customer service to talk through your needs if you aren’t sure. You’ll need to supply cancellation ultimately in writing.

How does ASPCA Insurance compare to other pet insurance companies?

The policies are very similar to comprehensive plans from other companies. They offer both dog and cat options and have a range of choices available to help you get the coverage you need at a price you can afford each month. The reimbursements are simple to apply for and clear.

Keep in mind that, like many pet insurance companies, if you decide to change your policy, it requires writing a new one. Certain conditions may become pre-existing and will be excluded from the new policy.

Would you recommend this pet insurance company for dogs?

It offers excellent choices for covering emergencies and illnesses with your dog. It provides affordable and comprehensive plans and can help you plan the financial aspects of caring for your pet. It’s comprehensive and underwritten by a large group dedicated to pet insurance coverage.

What about coverage for other animals?

ASPCA plans are only for dogs and cats at this time. If you need coverage for another animal, you currently have to move to another company for that kind of care.

Do they offer coverage for cats?

They offer coverage for cats in much the same way they do for dogs. You choose your reimbursement and copay levels, plus decide on your yearly reimbursements. You can also add a wellness rider to your plan to cover preventative care.

Cats can contract a lot of chronic conditions as well as injuries. Your cat’s health needs can quickly cause a financial burden, so it’s crucial to get all the information you need to make sure you can handle the cost of handling your cat’s long term health needs. 

Do they offer coverage for horses, birds, reptiles, and other exotic animals?

They do not offer coverage for animals other than dogs or cats. You’ll have to look elsewhere.

Making sure your pet is covered, and that finances don’t figure into your healthcare decisions is an essential part of being a pet parent. Pet insurance can help reduce the financial pressure of caring for your pet so that you can make better decisions.

The ASPCA policy is comprehensive, with room to pick and choose to help you get a plan that’s affordable for you. The reimbursement plan allows you to continue to work with your preferred vet and hospital to receive care.

Make sure you’ve considered the costs of your pet’s healthcare and what you’re getting into. The last thing you want is to make decisions based solely on money. Pet insurance from the ASPCA could help relieve that tension and ensure you’re able to make the best decisions you can.