ASPCA Pet Insurance Review (2023)

by | 03/15/2023

ASPCA Pet Insurance Review

Are you considering ASPCA Pet Insurance as a pet insurance provider option for your pet? Before choosing a pet insurance provider, it’s crucial that you learn about the company thoroughly before signing your pet up for a plan. To help you out, we’ve created a detailed ASPCA Pet Insurance review to give you a look at how ASPCA operates, its many plan options, pros and cons, and more. 

In this guide, we’ll cover the following topics on ASPCA Pet Insurance:

  • Our Review for ASPCA Pet Insurance
  • Pros and Cons of ASPCA Pet Insurance
  • ASPCA Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage
  • Plans and Costs
  • Deductibles
  • Preventative Care Limits
  • Coverage Exclusions
  • Plan Customizations
  • Discounts
  • ASPCA State Availability
  • ASPCA Pet Insurance Reviews

Our Review for ASPCA Pet Insurance 

Every pet insurance provider has pros and cons. Regardless of which plan you choose, there will always be shortcomings. However, it’s vital to assess these benefits and negatives before committing to a plan. This is especially important because any conditions your pet develops while on another pet insurance plan will be considered pre-existing if you choose to switch to another pet insurance provider. 

So, where does ASPCA pet insurance shine, and where does this provider fall short? Here’s our breakdown of ASPCA’s standout pros and cons. 

Pros and Cons of ASPCA Pet Insurance 

Pros

  • Includes microchip coverage
  • Partner of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
  • Coverage for congenital and hereditary diseases
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 10% multi-pet discount

Cons

  • Poor customer reviews
  • Annual coverage limits never exceed $10,000
  • Transaction fee if you choose to pay monthly instead of annually

ASPCA Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage 

ASPCA offers several types of plans, including its complete coverage plan, which is a highly comprehensive plan that covers a massive range of accidents, illnesses, and other health issues. It also offers a more affordable option in its accident-only pet insurance plans and wellness care through its preventative care add-ons. Let’s break down the differences in these plans now. 

Accident-Only Coverage for Dogs and Cats

ASPCA offers a very affordable accident-only pet insurance plan for pet owners who want a worst-case scenario pet insurance plan in place for injuries and accident-related emergencies. Examples of accidents covered by this plan include broken bones, toxic ingestions, bite wounds, torn ligaments, snake bites, cuts, and more. This plan will reimburse you for the cost of vet bills related to the treatment, diagnosis, and procedures needed to treat your pet’s accident. 

Complete Coverage Plan for Dogs and Cats

If you’re looking for a highly comprehensive option, ASPCA’s complete coverage plan will be the best choice from this provider for you. Not only will a complete coverage plan cover everything the accident-only plan covers, but it will also cover illnesses, hereditary conditions, and other health issues such as hip dysplasia, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, a urinary tract infection, digestive problems, etc. The complete coverage plan works by reimbursing you for these types of costs after you’ve hit your annual deductible. Once you’ve hit your deductible, your plan will reimburse you for the percentage of the vet bill agreed upon in your ASPCA pet insurance policy. For ASPCA, this will be 70, 80, or 90% of the vet bill reimbursed to you. 

Preventive Care Plans for Dogs and Cats

Preventive care plans are an add-on to your pet insurance plan that provides your pet with coverage for everyday routine veterinary costs, such as deworming, dental cleanings, regular vet appointments, and more. 

Currently, ASPCA offers two types of preventive care plans: 

  • Preventative Basic Add-On ($9.95 per month): This plan gives you $250 total annual coverage and covers dental cleaning, wellness exams, deworming, certain vaccinations, a fecal test, and a heartworm test. 
  • Preventative Prime Add-On ($24.95 per month): This plan gives you $450 worth of total annual coverage and covers everything in the basic plan. It also includes coverage for a health certificate, heartworm or flea prevention, additional vaccines, blood work, and urinalysis. 

Samples of Prices for Four Species/Breeds

Please keep in mind that the following numbers are estimates and will vary significantly based on your pet’s age, location, health, and more. For our table, the following sample prices are estimates based on 4-year-old pets located in Pennsylvania. 

Species/Breed Sample Price for Medium Mixed Breed Dog Sample Price for Golden Retriever (Dog) Sample Price for Domestic Shorthair Cat Sample Price for Domestic Mediumhair Cat
Accident and Illness Plan $37 per month $45 per month $16 per month $19 per month
Accident and Illness Plan With Preventative Care $47 to $62 per month, depending on the wellness plan $55 to $70 per month, depending on the wellness plan $26 to $41 per month, depending on the wellness plan $29 to $44 per month, depending on the wellness plan

Deductibles 

Your deductible is the amount of money you must pay toward your pet’s veterinary bills before your pet insurance company begins reimbursing you. For example, your pet insurance plan may have a deductible of $200. At the beginning of the year, this deductible resets, and you must pay $200 of your pet’s veterinary bills before your pet insurance company begins reimbursing you based on your plan’s reimbursement percentage. 

Currently, ASPCA offers many deductible options ranging from $100 to $500, which allows you to customize your plan. In general, if you have a lower deductible, you’ll probably have a higher monthly payment. In contrast, if you choose a plan with a higher deductible, you’ll likely have a lower monthly payment. Depending on your budget and how much care you anticipate your pet needing, a high or low deductible can help you end up with a comfortable monthly payment that fits you and your pet’s needs best. 

Preventative Care Limits 

Are you interested in ASPCA’s preventative care plan? Currently, ASPCA offers two preventative coverage plans: its basic preventive care and prime preventive care plan. 

ASPCA’s basic preventive care plan costs $9.95 per month, while its prime plan is $24.95 per month. The biggest benefit of the prime plan is its higher annual benefit and the more significant number of benefits. For example, the basic plan does not currently include a health certificate, flea/heartworm prevention, bordetella vaccine, blood work, or urinalysis as part of its benefits. With the prime plan, you’ll be covered for all of those. 

The other benefit of ASPCA’s preventative care plans is that they help protect your pet from getting sick, saving you money and heartache later on from expensive and scary illnesses. You also don’t need to hit a deductible before being reimbursed from ASPCA’s preventative care plan, and there is no waiting period, unlike typical accident and illness plans. 

Covered Item Annual Limit
Wellness Exam $50
Heartworm Test $20 to $25 depending on the plan
Internal Parasite or Fecal Test $20 to $25 depending on the plan
Blood work $25
Three Vaccines $75
Total  $250 (basic) or $450 (prime)

Coverage Exclusions 

Like most pet insurance providers, ASPCA Pet Insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions, which are defined as any condition, disease, or illness that your pet had before its pet insurance plan with ASPCA became active. ASPCA also won’t cover cosmetic procedures, whelping, or breeding-related costs. 

While ASPCA does cover dental care, our team did note that it’s significantly less extensive than other pet insurance providers that offer dental coverage, so we wanted to point that out to any pet parents looking for dental coverage. We also noted that most of its plans do not cover training for behavioral issues or obedience training and puppy classes. While this may not concern many pet parents with older or already trained dogs, this is something to note if you have a young pet. Another key coverage exclusion is its lack of third-party liability coverage. Third-party liability coverage helps cover the cost of damages and legal defense regarding your pet. For example, if your dog bites someone or destroys a neighbor’s fence, third-party liability coverage would help with the costs for healthcare for the bite victim and repair or replacement costs for the fence. It would also help with the cost of your legal defense if you were sued for these damages. 

Plan Customizations 

ASPCA has many coverage options, and we’ve previously named it one of the “Most Customizable” pet insurance providers, thanks to its many personalizable options. We like that ASPCA offers a wide variety of annual limits, reimbursement rates, and deductibles. Currently, ASPCA offers annual limits ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 and deductible options of $100 to $500. Its reimbursement rate options include 70, 80, and 90%, giving pet parents many choices when choosing a pet insurance plan. 

In terms of coverage types, ASPCA offers accident-only, accident and illness, and preventive care plans, offering pet partners many comprehensive plan options. We like that ASPCA offers accident-only plans because it’s a more affordable option for pet parents looking for a safety net and coverage for the worst-case scenario. ASPCA’s accident-only coverage will provide your pet with coverage for accident-related emergencies and new injuries. With ASPCA, you can change your dog or cat insurance policy at the start of a new policy period, but keep in mind this will make any conditions that your pet has pre-existing. 

Discounts 

ASPCA offers a 10% multi-pet discount, which is a significant benefit for any pet parents with multiple pets they want to insure. ASPCA also provides a 10% staff discount for veterinary practice employees offered ASPCA pet insurance through their employer. In addition, the staff discount is on top of the multi-pet discount. Currently, ASPCA does not offer military or healthy pet discounts, which some of its competitors offer. 

ASPCA State Availability 

ASPCA is currently available in all 50 states in the United States. Regardless of where you live in the United States, you can receive coverage for your cat or dog. 

ASPCA Pet Insurance Reviews

There will always be positive and negative reviews no matter which pet insurance company you look at. In this section, we’re going to share some positive and negative reviews of ASPCA so that you can see what both sides are saying about ASPCA’s pet insurance coverage and customer service. 

 “ASPCA has been consistently excellent. Claims processing time is quick and payments soon thereafter. The staff are friendly, available and provide speedy online or telephone assistance. I recommend them to all pet owners.” —Jeffrey S., TrustPilot

“Site easy to use, price for coverage lower than other insurance carriers and recommended by the vet.” —Paul D., TrustPilot

“For several reasons, I am unhappy with this service, one being a claims experience, the others being unable to speak to a representative without unimaginable hold times, and being redirected to follow up via online, and then disconnected by a voice prompt, yes, during normal business hours as indicated by the voice prompt. The app that I had downloaded is useless, not to mention unable to upload to submit a claim, as I have attempted several times now and after receiving several errors, I have to give up. I have this service payroll deducted and signed up through my employer, but am so very disappointed in this service I am looking elsewhere for coverage for my 7 members of my family. Hearing the words of “we are experiencing an unusually high volume of calls right now”, is not an answer or a solution.” —Esther, TrustPilot

“ASPCA offered everything I needed regarding insurance for my dogs. They offered more options than the other pet insurance companies out there. As my dogs are young puppies this insurance will help them for their lifetime. Many of my other dogs lived between 12 and 17 years depending on the breed. Thank you for making it so easy to sign up and find the exact plan I needed” —Dian, TrustPilot

Final Thoughts 

We hope our ASPCA pet insurance review helps you decide if ASPCA pet insurance is the right provider for you and your pet. Overall, we like that ASPCA has highly customizable plans, comprehensive coverage, including coverage for congenital and hereditary conditions, and a strong partnership with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Our strongest dislike of ASPCA pet insurance is its smaller annual limit of $10,000, monthly payment transaction fee, and slightly more expensive than average price point. However, if you’re looking for an accident-only plan, ASPCA does offer a very affordable option that comes highly recommended.

As a whole, ASPCA provides pet owners with a variety of great options when it comes to insuring their dog or cat. As always, we recommend gathering several free quotes from multiple pet insurance companies to see what the cost of insuring your pet for similar plans would be. 

ASPCA Pet Insurance vs. Competitors

So, how does ASPCA weigh up against the competition? Here is our breakdown of ASPCA’s average cost, waiting periods, discounts, and more, and how it stacks up against other pet insurance companies.

Factors ASPCA Spot Lemonade Embrace Healthy Paws
Quote Visit Site Visit Site Visit Site Visit Site Visit Site
Our Score 4.5/5 4.9/5 4.8/5 4.7/5 4.6/5
Average Monthly Cost for Dogs $49 $40 $37 $35 $39
Average Monthly Cost for Cats $29 $22 $15 $18 $12
Waiting Period 15 days 14 days* 48 hours for accidents, 14 days for illnesses* 48 hours for accidents, 14 days for illnesses* 15 days*
Multi-pet Discount  10% 10% 5% 10% No
Mobile App  Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Wellness Add-on Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Online Chat No Yes Yes (with wellness package) Yes No
BBB Rating N/A A F A+ A-

*Certain conditions, such as cruciate ligaments or orthopedic conditions, may have longer waiting period times, usually six months to a year. This is common among many pet insurance providers, but most illnesses will be covered after the waiting period listed above. 

About ASPCA Pet Insurance 

ASPCA Pet Insurance is provided through Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group, which was founded in 1997. Crum & Forster is the original pet insurance provider to the United States and entered into a partnership with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in 2006 to offer excellent pet insurance options to pet owners. 

ASPCA was the very first humane society founded in North America, and it continues to be an industry leader for the betterment of animals and animal welfare. Currently, it has over one million supporters in the United States alone. One of its biggest goals is to help pet owners care for their pets in the best way possible. After realizing the importance of pet insurance, ASPCA partnered with Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group to offer pet insurance to many pet parents while being backed by a group with extensive knowledge of the pet insurance industry. 

ASPCA also provides other valuable services, such as its Animal Poison Control Center, which provides pet owners with critical information if they consume something toxic. It has also established many mobile spay/neuter clinics, pet loss support services, the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center, and Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital to work towards its greater goal of helping pet owners care for their pets holistically. ASPCA’s community partner program also works diligently to stop the euthanasia of adoptable pets and rescue victims of animal cruelty. To do this, it works on state and national levels to pass laws protecting animals.  

As a whole, ASPCA uses its partnership with Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group to help fulfill another part of its mission: providing pet owners with a way to have a financial safety net so that they never have to say no to necessary treatment for their pets. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of ASPCA‘s pet insurance? 

ASPCA Pet Insurance has many advantages. Some of our favorite features include that microchipping is included in its plan, there is no maximum age limit for enrollment, and it has a shorter waiting period than many for illnesses. We also like that ASPCA offers extensive coverage, including coverage for hereditary diseases, congenital diseases, and stem cell therapy. Its accident-only plan also provides a more affordable option for pet parents looking to have a financial cushion in case of injury.

How do I file a claim with ASPCA

You can file a claim with ASPCA in a few different ways. The easiest way is probably submitting a claim through its “My Pet Insurance App.” Simply open the app, select claims, and tell it about the incident. Then add a picture of your invoice and submit it. 

You can also submit a claim online through its member center. Like the app, you’ll need to include a photo of your invoice. Lastly, ASPCA still offers the option to use email, fax, or mail to send in your claim. Just know that this last option will take significantly longer to process than the other two options. 

Does ASPCA offer exotic pet insurance? 

No, ASPCA only offers coverage for dogs and cats currently. 

Where is ASPCA Pet Insurance accepted?

Pet insurance is accepted at any licensed veterinary clinic, including specialists and emergency care facilities. Instead of needing to use an “in-network” provider, simply take your pet to a licensed veterinarian and submit the claim directly to ASPCA. As long as the claim is covered under your pet insurance policy, you’ll be reimbursed based on your policy’s specific rate. Currently, ASPCA pet insurance can be used at any licensed vet in the United States. 

Does ASPCA Pet Insurance have a mobile app?

Yes, it has an app called the My Pet Insurance App. You can download it at the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. With it, you can easily access the Member Center and submit and track claims, locate vet clinics, sign up for direct deposit, and more. 

What is ASPCA Pet Insurance’s waiting period?

The waiting period for its plans is 14 days long. So your plan’s base coverage will begin on the 15th day after the policy effective date. Coverage for a preventative care plan through ASPCA will start the day after the policy effective date. We recommend looking at your specific policy closer for more details. 

Our Methodology

To determine the best pet insurance providers, we conduct a detailed analysis of 38 different pet insurance companies operating in the United States and Canada. We put data from each provider through the same rigorous test, examining how each company performs in key areas that are relevant to pet owners. Our seven criteria are then weighted to produce a total score.

  • Price: 20%
  • Coverage: 20%
  • Customer service: 15%
  • Reliability: 15%
  • Choice: 10%
  • Plan features: 10%
  • Transparency: 10% 

The best pet insurance providers offer coverage for a wide range of conditions at an affordable price. They also feature flexible customer service, a long reputation of excellence, transparent policies and the ability to customize your pet insurance plan to your individual needs. You can read more details about our ratings and review methodology here.