ASPCA Health Insurance Review

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a non-profit organization working to prevent malice to animals. As part of its initiative to protect the greater well-being of animals, the ASPCA offers pet insurance that’s underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Co.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers “Complete Coverage,” which is its comprehensive plan that covers accidents and illnesses. This plan covers expenses such as:

• Injuries such as broken bones, torn ligaments and toxic ingestion
• Illnesses such as hypothyroidism, digestive issues, ear infections and urinary tract infections (UTI)
• Medical services such as ultrasounds, MRIs and bloodwork
• Hereditary and congenital conditions such as intervertebral disc disease
• (IVDD), eye disorders, heart disease and hip dysplasia
• Alternative therapies such as rehabilitative therapy and chiropractic care
• Chronic conditions such as cancer and diabetes
• Behavioral issues such as excessive licking, pacing, destructive chewing and fur pulling
• Prescription medications
• Microchip implantation

You also have the option to add wellness coverage to an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan to help pay for preventive care such as vaccinations, flea and tick medications and dental cleanings.

Generally, pet insurance excludes certain problems from coverage. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance policies do not cover:

• Pre-existing conditions that occur before coverage begins
• Cosmetic procedures such as ear cropping, tail docking and claw removal
• Breeding costs

While ASPCA pet insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions, your policy may cover an illness or injury that is cured and free of treatment and symptoms for 180 days, excluding knee and ligament conditions.

It’s easy to assume that your coverage begins right away once you purchase a pet insurance policy. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Pet insurance companies have a set amount of time you must wait before your coverage kicks in after purchase, otherwise known as the waiting period.

In addition, some insurers have different waiting periods for accidents, illnesses and other chronic conditions.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance has a 14-day accident and illness waiting period. While illness waiting periods generally average around 14 days for other pet insurers, you can find an insurer with a two- or three-day waiting periods for accidents such as Pets Best and Embrace.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance doesn’t have extended waiting periods for special conditions such as a cruciate ligament condition. If your pet’s breed is more susceptible to such problems, a longer waiting period can pose a concern. In this case, pet insurance from ASPCA is worth considering.

From vaccinations to annual check-ups to flea and tick medication, preventive pet care costs can quickly add up. To help offset some of these expenses, some pet insurers offer routine care or wellness plans. ASPCA offers this type of coverage as an add-on to their pet insurance policy.

Here’s how it works: You will select a preventive care coverage package (plans start at $9.95 per month). Each plan covers certain services and has a maximum annual benefit amount. For example, your plan might have a $50 annual maximum reimbursement amount for wellness exams. After you pay your vet bill, you will submit a claim for reimbursement.

Depending on the plan you select, you can be reimbursed for expenses such as:

• Wellness exams
• Dental cleanings
• Heartworm/flea prevention
• Blood screenings
• Spay/neuter
• Vaccinations
• Fecal screen
• Urinalysis

Maximum annual limit options

An annual coverage limit is a cap on the pet insurance benefits your insurer will pay in the plan year. Once you reach your coverage limit, you are responsible for health-related costs for your pet during the remainder of the year. ASPCA’s annual limit choices are:

• $3,000
• $4,000
• $5,000
• $7,000
• $10,000

Deductible options

Before your insurance provider reimburses you for any vet bills, you must pay a set amount of vet costs, known as the deductible.

• $100
• $250
• $500

Reimbursement options

The reimbursement percentage is the portion of qualifying expenses that the plan will pay.

• 70%
• 80%
• 90%

There are two ways to save money on ASPCA pet Insurance:

• 10% multipet discount for insuring more than one pet
• 10% for ASPCA employees on the base plan premium

Pets Best has a three-day accident waiting period, while ASPCA’s plan has a 14-day waiting period for accidents and illness. Since accidents can occur at any time, a shorter waiting period for accidents is often a better option. But ASPCA Pet Health Insurance doesn’t have a special waiting period for cruciate ligament issues as does Pets Best, which has a six-month waiting period for cruciate ligament conditions.

Pets Best offers the option to pay your vet directly if the vet agrees to it. Paying the vet directly means you won’t have to front the funds to pay the bill and then get reimbursed. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance doesn’t have this option; they only reimburse you for vet costs after you pay the vet and submit your bill with your claim.