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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
- The insurance advice, products, and links below are intended for and only available in the states where Rover Pet Insurance Services, LLC is licensed as an insurance producer.Insurance advice, products, and links contained in this article are currently intended for and only available in the states where Rover Pet Insurance Services, LLC is currently licensed as an insurance producer. As we expand our licensing to other states we will update our websites and links. If you are located in a state in which we are not currently licensed, but would like to learn more about pet insurance products available in your state, you may contact a licensed insurance agent or broker in your state. The information provided below is offered for educational and informational purposes only. If you have questions regarding particular plans, you should reach out to your insurance company for more information.
With its solid coverage options—including plans for horses—and its partnership with its dependable namesake animal welfare organization, the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program is one of the sturdiest and most reliable pet insurance providers.
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program covers many of the bases and then some, including a 24/7 vet helpline provided by The Vet Connection and an option for unlimited annual limit—all wrapped in a name brand that many pet parents have come to know and trust.
Although this program has many offerings pet parents may love, it’s probably not the best option for those on a tighten-the-purse-strings kind of budget—it has fewer annual deductible options (more available if you call), slower claims processing times, and fewer discounts than some other providers.
ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program Review: Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
Covers horses, in addition to dogs and cats | Poor app experience |
24/7 vet helpline provided by The Vet Connection | Few annual deductible options |
Unlimited annual limit option | Claims processing is longer than other providers |
Standard plans cover alternative therapies and behavioral conditions for covered conditions | Fewer discounts offered than some competitors |
No lengthy waiting periods for orthopedic conditions | Waiting period of 14 days for accidents and illnesses (longer than some competitors) |
Who is ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program best for?
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program may be best for pet parents looking for a trusted name and especially broad coverage. The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program has decades of experience—it’s been around since 1997, which makes it one of the oldest pet insurance companies in the nation.
It’s also one of the only providers of insurance coverage for horses, making it a compelling choice for pet parents with both big and small animals to look after.
Which pet owners may want to look elsewhere?
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program may not be well-suited for those on a strict budget, since its annual deductible options are all relatively low. The lower your annual deductible, the higher your premiums are likely to be—which can make it hard for pet parents hoping to trade a high annual deductible for lower monthly costs.
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program also has a slower claims processing time than some other providers. Most pet insurance companies require pet parents to pay up front and reimburse them later for eligible vet bills. A longer claims processing time means it’ll take longer for you to receive your money.
ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program: A Brief Overview
Annual Deductible Options | $100, $250, $500 (call for more options) |
Reimbursement Rate Options | 70%, 80%, 90% |
Annual Limit | $2500 to unlimited |
TrustPilot Rating | 4.1/5 |
Founded | 2006 |
Phone Number | 1-866-294-6764 |
Waiting Periods | 14 days for accidents, illnesses, and eligible orthopedic conditions |
Sample Policy | https://d3544la1u8djza.cloudfront.net/SamplePlans/v43/Sample_4-3_Policy_AccidentIllness.pdf |
Headquarters | Akron, Ohio |
App | Yes |
Telehealth | Yes – Provided by The Vet Connection |
Claim Reimbursement Timeline | 30 day money-back guarantee |
State Availability | 50 states and Washington, D.C. (plans for horses have more limited availability) |
Types of Coverage Available
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program offers a standard accident and illness plan—known as the Complete Coverage℠ plan—along with an accident-only plan and two preventative plans (generally known as wellness add-ons).
What does the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program cover?
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program’s Complete Coverage℠ plan for dogs and cats may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Cancer treatment
- Exams, hospitalization, and surgery for injuries and illnesses
- Diabetes treatment
- Microchip implantation
- Prescription food and medication (for covered treatments)*
- MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays
- Alternative treatments like chiropractic care and stem-cell therapy
- End-of-life expenses
- Bloodwork
- Congenital and hereditary conditions
- Behavioral issues like fur pulling, destructive chewing, and excessive licking
For horses, the program offers a comparable plan that includes illnesses, accidents, and colic or abdominal pain.
What isn’t covered under the Complete Coverage℠ Plan?
Under its standard and accidents-only plan, the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program doesn’t cover any of the following:
- Cosmetic procedures
- Boarding costs
- Experimental treatments
- Dental procedures not related to an accident or illness
- Breeding costs
- Pre-existing conditions
For a complete list of exclusions please review your sample policy.
An accident-only plan for those who want catastrophic insurance
An accident-only plan is catastrophic insurance that may be best for pet parents who don’t want to spend as much money on an accident and illness coverage plan but still want some of the benefits of insurance for their pets.
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program’s accident-only plan can cover expenses related to treatment of injuries from an accident. Eligible expenses typically include:
- IV fluids and medications
- Medical supplies (bandages, casts, etc.)
- MRIs, CT scans, X-rays
- Prescription medication
- Surgery and hospitalization
- Tooth extractions
Two optional wellness add-ons for preventative care
As for wellness add-ons, they can vary slightly depending on the provider, but they often cover preventative care you can plan for, such as dental cleanings, annual wellness exams, vaccinations, and more.
With the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program, pet parents can opt for one of two different wellness plans, Basic and Prime for a little extra each month. These are wellness plans for dogs and cats.
- Basic: Offers some reimbursement for items like dental cleanings, annual exams, flea prevention, deworming, and more. It starts at $9.95 a month.
- Prime: Includes the offerings in the Basic plan at a slightly higher reimbursement rate, along with some reimbursement for spaying and neutering. It starts at $24.95 a month.
Does pet insurance cover spaying and neutering?
Like nearly all pet insurance plans, the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program’s standard accident and illness plan doesn’t cover spaying or neutering. However, the preventative care coverage Prime plan offers spaying or neutering coverage up to $150 for the procedure.
Customizations: Annual Deductibles, Reimbursement Rates, and Coverage Annual Limits
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program doesn’t offer many annual deductible options, but pet parents may find what they’re looking for with the program’s array of coverage limits, as displayed below.
Annual Deductible Options | Reimbursement Rate Amounts | Coverage Annual Limits |
$100 | 70% | $2,500 |
$250 | 80% | $4,000 |
$500 | 90% | $5,000 |
$7,000 | ||
$10,000 | ||
Unlimited |
Pre-Existing Conditions and Congenital Illnesses
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program considers a pre-existing condition to be any condition, injury, or change to your pet’s health that first occurs or displays symptoms before your coverage starts (or during the initial waiting period). Like all pet insurance providers, the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions.
However, the pet insurance provider may cover a “curable” pre-existing condition—in this case, it’s one that is curable and cured and shows no symptoms and requires no treatment for six months (180 days). This doesn’t apply to orthopedic conditions, such as hip dysplasia or cruciate ligament injuries.
Their “curable” timetable is great when compared to other providers that have longer periods of 12 or even 18 months.
Eligible hereditary and congenital conditions (i.e., ones that are passed down genetically or are evident at birth) are covered as long as no symptoms are present before the start of a policy.
Waiting Periods
There’s a 14-day waiting period—beginning on the first effective date of your policy—for coverage for diagnosis, treatment, or surgery related to accidents, illnesses, and orthopedic conditions. Any illness or condition that begins during this waiting period is also considered a pre-existing condition.
This waiting period also includes common orthopedic conditions among dogs, like ACL injuries and hip dysplasia. Like Spot’s coverage, the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program is one of a few pet insurance providers to have a short waiting period for these expensive issues. Other providers ask that pet parents to wait much longer, anywhere from 6 to 12 months. This could be an important consideration to pet parents with large breeds who are prone to orthopedic problems.
It’s worth noting, however, that the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program’s waiting period for accidents is also a little long at 14 days, when some other providers offer 2 or 3 day waiting periods.
Examination Coverage
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program policy covers exam fees for covered accidents and injuries. An annual wellness exam is not covered under a Complete Coverage℠ plan, but you may be reimbursed up to $50 for an annual exam under either preventative plan.
Age Limits and Breed Restrictions
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance program requires that your dog or cat be at least 8 weeks of age to be eligible for a plan, but there is no upper age limit. Horses must be at least 6 months old, and once they hit a certain age, may only be eligible for an accident-only plan.
The program also offers coverage for every dog and cat breed with no restrictions.
Dental Coverage
The ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Program covers tooth extractions for dental accidents in its standard accident and illness plan. It will also cover the following:
- Periodontal disease
- Gingivitis
- Tooth abscesses
- Tumors and cancerous growths
- Dental X-rays
- Dental scans
- Prescription medicine for dental disease
It will not cover dental procedures such as caps, crowns, and root canals.
The program’s accident-only plan covers tooth extractions for injured teeth only. Coverage for routine oral care—such as dental cleanings—is only included if you opt for a wellness add-on and is limited to your wellness add-on’s cap.
Coverage for Holistic and Behavioral Therapies
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance program offers comprehensive holistic and behavioral therapies that aren’t available with all providers. With its Complete Coverage plan, pet parents can be reimbursed for therapies used to treat an eligible condition. Covered treatments may include acupuncture, hydrotherapy, rehabilitative therapy, and chiropractic care, among other courses of treatment.
Some pets experience behavioral issues that can be expensive and difficult to deal with and curb on your own. The program’s standard plan can cover the costs of diagnosing and treating common behavioral issues, such as harmful chewing, pacing, separation anxiety, excessive licking, and more.
Discounts
There are two available discounts if you sign up for a plan with the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance program: a 10% multi-pet discount for each additional pet and a 10% discount for veterinary professionals**.
Other Features
The ASPCA® Pet Health Program is unique in that it’s one of the only pet insurance providers to offer coverage for horses. Similar to its coverage for cats and dogs, there’s a standard accident and illness plan, an accident-only plan, and some preventative care coverage options.
Both its standard plan and its accident-only plan provide coverage for colic, a common but unpredictable gastrointestinal condition in horses. Because colic is typically unpreventable, it may be a priority for horse owners seeking pet insurance to have a policy in place that covers this condition.
Here’s a little bit more about what kind of coverage horse owners can expect with the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program:
Accident-only covers:
- Colic
- Accidents, such as cuts, hoof abscesses, injuries from trailer accidents, foreign ingestions, and more
- Euthanasia
- Microchip implantation
- Tooth extractions
Accident-only does not cover:
- Cosmetic procedures
- Illnesses
- Breeding costs
Accident and illness covers:
- Colic
- Accidents (same as above)
- Illnesses like cancer, hereditary problems, Cushing’s Disease, and more
This plan also does not cover cosmetic procedures or breeding costs. Please review a sample policy for a full list of exclusions.
Customer Experience
Choosing a pet insurance provider with solid customer service is important for many pet parents, especially since navigating insurance claims can be tricky.
How to get in touch
There are a few different ways you can get in touch with the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program, depending on your needs.
To contact the sales department, pet parents can call 1-888-716-1203 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET or email sales@aspcapetinsurance.com.
To get in touch with customer service, including canceling a policy, pet parents can call 1-866-204-6764 at the same hours as the sales team. You can also email cservice@aspcapetinsurance.com.
How to submit a claim
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program offers a few different ways you can submit a claim. The fastest way is through the app or website, but pet parents can also download a claim form and email, fax, or mail it by following instructions online.
Members will need to fill out the claim information and add a photo of their invoice. After you submit your claim, you’ll be able to track the status of your claim through the app or member center. Customer service will also shoot you an email when they get your claim, when your claim is complete, and if they need anything else to help them process it.
How to receive your reimbursement for vet bills.
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program says they’ll typically process claims within 30 days. Pet parents can choose whether to be reimbursed via direct deposit or physical check in the mail. Those who opt for direct deposit will likely receive their payment a little faster than a check.
How to cancel a policy
Pet parents can cancel their policy via email at cservice@aspcapetinsurance.com, via telephone at 1-866-204-6764, or via physical mail at:
Customer Satisfaction Department
1208 Massillon Road
Suite G 200
Akron, OH 44306
Policyholders will be refunded any premium that they’ve already paid for any period after their last date of coverage.
ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance program rankings and reviews
The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program is rated a 4.1/5 on TrustPilot, and it’s been given an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a 1.8/5 customer review score. Happy users expressed satisfaction with customer service and communication, while dissatisfied customers lamented the claims process and processing times.
How We Reviewed
When reviewing pet insurance coverage, Rover takes many factors important to pet parents into consideration, including breadth of coverage, customizability, waiting period convenience, customer service experience, and more. We take a close look at customer satisfaction scores on TrustPilot and Better Business Bureau, while acknowledging that each pet parent has their own experience that may not apply to every consumer. The above information is provided in cooperation with the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program. If you have specific questions about their policies, please reach out to the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program (see section “How to get in touch”).
Further Reading
- Is Pet Insurance Worth It? How To Know If It’s a Good Deal for Your Pet
- What Does Pet Insurance Cover, and How Does It Work? A Beginner’s Guide
- How Does a Pre-Existing Condition Affect Pet Insurance Coverage?
- The Best Pet Insurance Wellness Plans: How Preventive Care Add-Ons Work
- How To Choose the Right Insurance for Your Pet
- How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
- What To Know About Waiting Periods and Pet Insurance
- What Are Pet Insurance Deductibles, and How Do You Pick One?
- When Should You Get Pet Insurance?
- Savings Account Versus Pet Insurance: Which Is Better?
Disclaimers
Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits and exclusions may apply. For all terms and conditions visit www.aspcapetinsurance.com/terms. Preventive Care coverage reimbursements are based on a schedule. Complete Coverage℠ reimbursements are based on the invoice. Products, schedules, and rates may vary and are subject to change. Discounts may vary and are subject to change. More information available at checkout.
Insurance products are underwritten by either Independence American Insurance Company (NAIC #26581. A Delaware insurance company located at 11333 N. Scottsdale Rd, Ste. 160, Scottsdale, AZ 85254), or United States Fire Insurance Company (NAIC #21113. Morristown, NJ). Please refer to your policy forms to determine the underwriter for your policy. Insurance is produced by PTZ Insurance Agency, Ltd. (NPN: 5328528. Domiciled in Illinois with offices at 1208 Massillon Road, Suite G200, Akron, Ohio 44306). (California residents only: PTZ Insurance Agency, Ltd., d.b.a PIA Insurance Agency, Ltd. CA license #0E36937).
The ASPCA® is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance. Through a licensing agreement, the ASPCA receives a royalty fee that is in exchange for use of the ASPCA’s marks and is not a charitable contribution.
*Prescription food & supplements are covered if they are prescribed to treat an eligible accident or illness. Prescription food & supplements are not covered if they are used for weight management or general health maintenance.
**Employee discount may vary and is not available in all states