Aspca Pet Insurance Senior Review

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is a good option for seniors who take the humane treatment of animals seriously and who are seeking to manage the healthcare costs of a dog or cat.

While on the expensive side, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers a variety of accident, illness and wellness plans for cats and dogs that can cover a vast majority of eligible veterinarian costs. Visits to all veterinarians, including specialists and emergency clinics, are eligible for coverage. All pets are eligible regardless of health status. Enrollees have a host of options including coverage for injuries, illnesses, congenital care, hereditary conditions, alternative therapies and behavioral issues. In line with ASPCA’s philosophy, inhumane procedures such as declawing are not included, and spaying and neutering are included in the coverage plan.

Grandfolk Scoring

Price 8/10

Reimbursement 7/10

Deductible 8/10

Illness waiting period 7/10

Accident waiting period 10/10

Warranty 10/10

Age limits 10/10

Eligibility 10/10

Accident coverage 10/10

Preventive coverage 7/10

Multiple pet discount 8/10

Price Monthly cost	$15-58
Reimbursement Amount reimbursed?	90%, 80% or 70% of covered vet costs.
Deductible Type of deductible?	Annual only
Illness waiting period Delay before coverage?	14 days
Accident waiting period Delay before coverage?	None
Warranty Risk-free period?	30-day money-back guarantee
Age limits Age limits for enrollment?	No
Eligibility Are all pets eligible?	Yes
Accident coverage Is it available?	Yes
Preventive coverage Is it available?	Yes, as add-on.
Multiple pet discount Is it available?	10% for each extra pet

Age Score:

50-64 Years

65-74 Years

75-84 Years

85-Older

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance exists to provide health coverage for a pet, so the senior’s advancing age has no real impact on the service as long as the senior can continue to take the pet to checkup and medically necessary appointments. The variety of options offered on this plan may be attractive to seniors who have an older cat that may have some health conditions.

Health Score:

Poor Health

Fair Health

Good Health

Great Health

The senior’s health has little impact on the value of ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. Seniors who suffer from serious health conditions may find that decreased mobility and increased hospitalizations can prevent them from being able to keep a pet in their home and providing regular care. If that is the case, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is of no use. However, ASPCA does allow the policy to be transferred to a new owner, so at least continued care is possible.

Pros:

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance covers a significant portion, at least 70%, of qualifying costs, making this a good choice for seniors who must spend a lot on a sick pet. (However, note that this is not 70% of the total bill, but 70% of the costs that ASPCA covers.)
ASPCA makes it easy to submit a claim through e-mail, fax or postal mail.
Covered services at all veterinarians, including specialists and emergency clinics, are eligible for coverage.
ASPCA offers preventive and accident coverage. Preventive coverage includes vaccinations, deworming, spaying and neutering.
ASPCA offers a health care plan which is consistent with their philosophy of promoting the humane treatment of animals. Therefore, cruel treatments such as declawing are not covered, making this a good choice for seniors seeking a plan that promotes an ethical standard of animal treatment.

Cons:

Only cats and dogs can be covered with the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan. Therefore, a senior who has other animals would have to consider a different insurance service for all of their pets.
ASPCA pet coverage has certain exclusions, including pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures and costs associated with breeding or pregnancy.
Some online comments have voiced concern with ASPCA’s claims process, the policy renewal process and the fact that pre-existing conditions are not covered by these plans.
Coverage for illnesses, ligament issues and knee conditions starts two weeks after the policy rather than the day the policy is effective. Any conditions that develop before then could be counted as a pre-existing condition.

Bottom Line:

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers three tiers of health plans that can cover 70-90% of qualifying services and costs for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. Eligible services include ongoing conditions and accidents, and can include illnesses, hereditary and congenital problems, and alternative and behavioral therapies, depending on the level of care chosen. A wellness care package to cover regular vaccines, spaying, neutering, disease prevention and selected treatments can be added for an extra fee. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is a licensing arrangement with the ASPCA, the world’s foremost organization dedicated to the humane treatment of animals. For seniors worried about a pet’s health or needing to spay or neuter a new pet, ASPCA is a great and affordable option.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How does the deductible work, and how will I receive my reimbursements? After a visit to any licensed veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada, the veterinarian is paid directly for services. Then, a claim form is submitted with an itemized invoice to settle the claim. The claim form can be emailed, faxed or sent by mail. After-deductible reimbursements can be sent by check, or the customer can sign up for direct deposit.
Can I have more than one pet on my account? Yes, additional pets can be added to the plan at a 10% discount on the monthly premium for each new pet.
Where is my insurance accepted? ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is accepted at any licensed veterinarian’s office in the United States and Canada. ASPCA Pet Insurance coverage includes specialists and emergency clinics.

More Information:

Product Details

Overview: There are three plans offered by ASPCA for a monthly fee, all of which include injury insurance. Two types of wellness are available as add-ons to any plan. All plans offered by ASPCA cover veterinary exam fees, diagnostic procedures, prescription medications, lab tests, emergency visits and hospitalizations.

Package Details: Level 1 only offers injury insurance; Level 2 covers both injuries and illnesses; and Level 3 includes injuries, illnesses and advanced care such as hereditary and congenital conditions, alternative therapies and behavioral issues.

Level 1 insurance includes “critical coverage for the unexpected,” such as broken bones, cuts, swallowed objects and bite wounds. All dogs and cats above eight months of age are eligible for this coverage.

Level 2 insurance includes all of the coverage in Level 1, plus coverage for illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and urinary tract infections.
Level 3 insurance includes all of the accident and injury coverage in Level 1 and 2, plus congenital and hereditary conditions, alternative therapies and behavioral issues.

Optional Accessories or Add-on Services: ASPCA offers two wellness coverage packages which are available as add-ons to any policy. For an additional $10/month fee, Routine Wellness reimburses some costs associated with annual veterinarian exams, vaccines and screenings, spay/neuter, microchip and urinalysis. For an additional $25/month fee, Advanced Wellness covers everything that Routine Wellness does, as well as annual dental cleanings and flea and heartworm medication.

Additional Company Details

Contract Details: To cancel ASPCA insurance coverage, contact the customer service department by phone or email. Additional steps may be required for cancellation and to receive a refund for unused, prepaid fees.

Warranty: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Accreditations: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance does not have a formal rating from the Better Business Bureau, but Crum and Forster Pet Insurance, the company that manages the ASPCA insurance plan, has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, is formally accredited with the BBB and is rated A (Excellent) by AM Best Company as of 2016.

Company Details: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance was founded by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in 2006. The program is administered by Crum and Forster Insurance Group in Akron, OH, and underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company. The ASPCA, which itself was founded in 1866, works to fight animal cruelty and ensure humane treatment of animals. In alignment with ASPCA’s philosophy, the plans have an add-on preventive coverage plan that includes spaying and neutering pets. The ASPCA plan does not cover inhumane treatments such as ear cropping or declawing

Contact

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
1208 Massillon Rd. Suite G 200
Akron, OH 44306
Phone: 1 (866) 716-1203
Website: https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/
Email: cservice@aspcapetinsurance.com

Sheeva Azma - Senior Advisor

Sheeva is senior researcher with Grandfolk® providing in-depth product and service reviews to empower senior buying decisions.