Our Take on ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance provides comprehensive coverage at affordable rates. With no restrictions on senior enrollment or age-related benefit reductions over time, it’s our top pick for older pets. The company offers affordable premiums for multiple types of pets, making it a popular choice for pet owners in the market for financial protection against unexpected veterinary bills.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance scored well in every category we evaluated based on our provider review methodology. Its high scores in our pricing category suggest its coverage is adequate despite below-average pricing. However, the provider lost points for not offering a website chat feature or a 24/7 customer care line, a longer-than-average accident waiting period and a low maximum annual coverage limit.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is available in all 50 states and is backed by several large and highly rated underwriters, making it a financially reliable choice for pet owners across the country. Although ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is a separate entity from the ASPCA, the connection between the two organizations may offer policyholders peace of mind.
Pros and Cons
What Does ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Cover?
You can quickly apply for an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan using the provider’s online quote tool. After entering some information about your pet, the tool provides you with choices for plans, customizations and optional wellness care. A bit lower on the page, you can see clear explanations of coverage, exclusions, waiting periods and how pet insurance generally works. On the next page, you can choose monthly or annual payments and add another pet for a discount.What Does ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Cover?
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers a few plans to meet various pet needs and budgets. The company clearly explains each plan on its website. Those using the quote tool can see in real time how changing plan parameters can adjust overall costs.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Plans
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers two plan types: complete coverage (or accident and illness coverage) and accident-only. The complete coverage plan is suitable for pet owners looking for comprehensive accident and illness coverage for diagnostics and treatments relating to the following:
- Accidental injury
- Acute illness
- Chronic disease
- Hereditary conditions
- Orthopedic conditions
- Behavior problems
The accident-only offering covers accidental injuries and ongoing costs relating to those injuries.
Neither plan covers routine preventive care costs unless you specifically add coverage during enrollment. Policies also exclude costs related to breeding, cosmetic surgeries, herbal medications, maintenance diets, supplements and experimental treatments.
Here is a breakdown of how ASPCA Pet Health Insurance coverage varies by plan. For details on coverage eligibility in specific situations and a complete list of exclusions, refer to a sample policy.
| Condition or Treatment | Accident-Only* | Complete Coverage |
| Advanced imaging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alternative therapy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavior problems | ✓ | |
| Broken bones | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cancer treatments | ✓ | |
| Cruciate ligament tears | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diagnostic tests | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hereditary conditions | ✓ | |
| Hip dysplasia | ✓ | |
| Illness | ✓ | |
| Non-elective surgery | ✓ | ✓ |
| Physical exams | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pre-existing conditions | ||
| Prescription medications | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specialist visits | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tooth extractions | ✓ | ✓ |
*The accident-only plan covers listed treatments only when related to an accident, not an illness. For example, the plan would cover tooth extractions caused by accidental fractures but not treatment of periodontal disease.
Preventative Care Plans
You can add a preventive care plan to cover wellness services, such as vaccines, routine dental care and deworming. Like most other providers, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance wellness plans operate on a fee schedule, which means the plan reimburses up to a set amount for each service annually.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance has two preventive care plans: Basic and Prime. Based on quotes we obtained, the Basic Preventative Care Plan adds $10 per month and Prime adds $25.
| Service | Basic Reimbursement Amount | Prime Reimbursement Amount |
| Dental cleaning | $100 | $150 |
| Spay or neuter procedure | Not covered | $150 |
| Wellness exam | $50 | $50 |
| Deworming | $20 | $25 |
| DHLPP or FVRCP vaccine | $20 | $25 |
| Rabies, Lyme disease or FIP vaccine | $20 | $25 |
| Heartworm or FIV/FeLV test | $20 | $25 |
| FeLV vaccine | Not covered | $25 |
| Bordetella vaccine | Not covered | $25 |
| Fecal test | $20 | $25 |
| Flea or heartworm prevention | Not covered | $25 |
| Health certificate | Not covered | $25 |
| Blood test | Not covered | $25 |
| Urinalysis | Not covered | $25 |
Compare ASPCA Pet Health Insurance to the Competition
Here’s how ASPCA Pet Health Insurance compares to other top providers and policies:
*Lemonade may offer shorter waiting periods depending on where you live.
How ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Scored in Our Methodology
We rated ASPCA a 4.8 out of 5 stars for having below average costs vs the industry and variable plan options. Review ASPCA Pet Health Insurance policies and premiums to determine if it’s the best pet insurance company for you and your pet and take a look at how ASPCA measures up to top competitors in different fields below:
How Much Does ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Cost?
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance costs vary by your location, chosen coverage, and your pet’s age, breed and species. Like other providers, it typically costs more to insure dogs than cats, and purebreds and seniors also cost more to insure. Premiums may increase as pets get older.
Based on our research, the average monthly cost of an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance accident and illness plan is $44 for dogs and $18 for cats. You can also get a 10% discount if you add multiple pets to your policy.
| Plan | Complete Coverage Plan | Accident-Only Plan | Basic Preventive Care Add-on | Prime Preventive Care Add-on |
| Average cost* | $31 | $22 | $10 | $25 |
| Coverage summary | Covers costs related to accidents and illnesses | Covers costs related to accidents but excludes illnesses | Provides reimbursement for a portion of basic wellness care | Provides reimbursement for more wellness care services |
*We determined costs by obtaining sample quotes across each state in which this provider operates. Sample pets included a 5-year-old medium, mixed-breed dog, a 2-year-old golden retriever, a 5-year-old mixed-breed cat and a 2-year-old Siamese cat.
ASPCA Pet Insurance provides comprehensive coverage at an affordable rate. This provider is a solid option for low-cost, high-value pet insurance compared to other reputable companies.
Use the chart below to compare ASPCA Pet Health Insurance policy costs to competing providers:
Customizable Coverage Options
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plans allow pet owners to choose from three deductibles, three reimbursement rates and four annual coverage limits. The number of customization options available is average compared to other providers. However, these options are available regardless of your pet’s age, which is not always the case — some competitors limit coverage customization as a pet gets older.
Deductible Options
A deductible is the amount you pay at the beginning of each term before the insurer pays any benefits. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers deductible options of $100, $250, and $500. Choosing the lowest deductible allows you to receive reimbursement faster, but it will also increase your monthly premium.
Reimbursement Rates
Your reimbursement rate is the percentage of a covered bill the company will reimburse after the deductible has been met. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance options of 70% to 90% are on par with most other providers. Lower reimbursement rates can help you save money, while the highest rate will increase your monthly costs.
Annual Limit Options
Your annual limit determines how much the plan will pay in a given term. Customers can choose a limit of $2,500, $5,000, $7,000 or $10,000. Some other providers have significantly higher limits, such as Healthy Paws, which offers an unlimited option. However, lower annual limits can help keep monthly costs low but still help cover your pet’s vet bills.
Sign-up, Claims Filing and Payout Processes
Signing up for an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan takes only a few minutes. Its online quote tool is easy to use and clearly explains the available options. Here is a general overview of the steps involved in signing up:
Step 1: Enter your pet’s name, species, breed, age and ZIP code into the quote tool.
Step 2: Choose the complete coverage or accident-only plan.
Step 3: Customize your deductible, reimbursement rate and annual limit.
Step 4: Choose or decline a preventive care plan.
Step 5: Review your plan, enter payment information and start the waiting period.
If you have questions about the plans or how pet insurance works, the company displays links on the sign-up screen to read more about plan inclusions and exclusions. You can also read a full sample policy. However, the sample policy may not display state-specific details.
Claims Filing and Payouts
After your pet’s enrollment, you can use the company’s mobile app to manage your account, file claims and see payout statuses. To file a claim, open the app, choose the “submit a claim” option, answer a few questions, snap a photo of your invoice or upload a digital version, and hit “submit.” Alternatively, you can download a claim form and submit it via email, fax or mail with your invoice.
Although claims submission is fast and easy, our analysis of customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot revealed that processing times could take up to 30 days or more. To receive reimbursements, you must pay your veterinarian at the time of service, file a claim and wait for processing. Long wait times can create financial strain for those on a tight budget. Additionally, some customers cited denied claims and protracted processing that resulted from the company losing documents or requesting duplicates.
That said, many customers praised the reimbursement process, stating they received the right amount according to their policy. The company will calculate reimbursement first by excluding non-eligible expenses, subtracting the deductible and then applying the reimbursement rate to the remaining amount. You can receive reimbursements via direct deposit or paper check.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions
Pet insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions or injuries or illnesses that began before the policy’s start date. Insurers enforce waiting periods to prevent fraudulent claims. Some plans have separate waiting periods for accidents, illnesses and orthopedic conditions. However, the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan imposes a 14-day waiting period for all conditions.
While a 14-day waiting period for orthopedic injuries compares favorably to competitors’ six-month waiting periods, 14 days is longer than average for accidents. Lemonade, for example, only has a two-day accident waiting period. Wellness plans do not have waiting periods, so you can use your preventive care benefits right away.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance does not deny or change coverage for pets based on age — a bonus for senior pet owners. However, premiums can still increase each year because insurance is based on probability and risk. The older your pet becomes, the more likely it is to require costly veterinary care, which results in higher premiums.
What Customers Think About ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
To get a sense of what customers think of ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, we reviewed reviews on Trustpilot and compiled a general list of what customers like and dislike about the company.
What Customers Like
- Sign-up process: According to customers, the website sign-up process is simple and fast.
- Cost: Customers said they found prices more affordable than competitors offering similar coverage.
- Transparency: Customers noted their appreciation of ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s straightforward coverage and exclusion lists available on sign-up.
- Association: Customers said they like the insurance company’s association with the ASPCA organization.
- Time-saving app: Customers like using the app to submit claims, which saves them considerable time.
What Customers Don’t Like
- Claims processing times: Reviewers complained that processing can take up to 30 days or more.
- Communication: Many customers feel they did not receive adequate communications or updates regarding their claims.
- Lost documents: Several customers expressed frustration that documents from their veterinarian were never received to support the claims process.
- Denied claims: Some customers were confused about why their claims were denied.
- Customer service: Although customer service representatives were helpful and friendly, customers reported difficulty reaching an agent with long hold times and multiple attempted calls.
When we asked ASPCA to provide a comment on the negative reviews included in this article, we received the following response:
“Providing high-quality customer service is always our top priority, and we strive to exceed our customers’ expectations,” said Anna Clarke, the company’s senior director of brand marketing. “We have increased our claims processing and customer service capacity and improved average claims processing time to three-and-a-half days. We will continue to evolve our offerings and service to best serve our customers and their pets.”
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance vs. Spot Pet Insurance
Spot pet insurance and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offer very similar coverage. Each provider allows pet owners to choose from accident-only and accident and illness policies with wellness plans available as an add-on.
The providers differ by cost and customizations. Spot tends to cost more but offers more customization options, including an unlimited annual limit. It also offers higher deductible options, which can help customers lower premiums. Industry experience is also a differentiator. Spot started in 2017, while ASPCA Pet Health Insurance began in 1997 (at times under a different name).
Here’s how ASPCA Pet Health Insurance and Spot stack up against one another:
| ASPCA Pet Health Insurance | Spot Pet Insurance | |
| Reimbursements | 70%, 80% or 90% | 70%, 80% or 90% |
| Deductibles | $100, $250 or $500 | $100–$1,000 |
| Annual limits | $2,500–$10,000 | $2,500–unlimited |
| Average cost for dogs | $44 per month | $75 per month |
| Average cost for cats | $18 per month | $34 per month |
Read our Spot Pet Insurance review to learn more.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance vs. Trupanion
Trupanion and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offer similar coverage with a few major differences. The most glaring difference between the two is cost: Trupanion is more than double the cost of ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. Trupanion provides unlimited coverage and 90% reimbursement on all plans, which increases monthly costs. However, Trupanion is the only provider to offer direct vet payment at checkout and that covers breeding and whelping costs for intact pets.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance covers exam fees and offers preventive care, neither of which Trupanion includes. It also covers alternative and complementary care, which costs extra with Trupanion. Customers looking for financial value may appreciate ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s affordable plan, while those looking for comprehensive coverage may prefer Trupanion.
| ASPCA Pet Health Insurance | Trupanion | |
| Reimbursements | 70%, 80% or 90% | 90% |
| Deductibles | $100, $250 or $500 | $0–$1,000 |
| Annual limits | $2,500–$10,000 | Unlimited |
| Average cost for dogs | $44 per month | $123 per month |
| Average cost for cats | $18 per month | $53 per month |
Read our Trupanion Pet Insurance Review to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions About ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
Yes, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance lets pet owners choose any veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada.
You can cancel your ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan at any time. If you cancel within the first 30 days and have not yet filed a claim, you can get a refund for any premiums paid.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance covers surgeries necessary to treat a covered illness or condition. The company’s standard plan does not cover elective surgeries and those related to pre-existing conditions. Policyholders with the Prime Preventive Care Plan can receive up to $150 in reimbursements for spay and neuter surgeries.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance will refund any premiums paid if you cancel in the first 30 days of your policy.
Exam fee coverage is included in ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plans. The company only covers wellness exam fees if you add a preventive care plan to your base coverage.
Methodology: Our System for Ranking Pet Insurance Companies
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