ASPCA | Pet Insurance Review

I have been very satisfied with the coverage that I have for my two dogs and one cat. I feel that the coverage that I had was reasonably priced, unfortunately I did have to cancel due to rising economic costs in other areas. Any time that I have contacted customer service I have received a prompt and curteous reply. I know that when I am looking to re-establish coverage for my pets I will return to being a Hartville customer.

Sam and Sally (7-year-old beagles) have had three claims so far this year, our first with the policy. First was wellness exams, second and third were for illnesses. The claims were handled promptly and the statements were clear.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is the third pet insurance plan we've tried over the past 20 years. Their coverage is average, their "fine print" is average, and the speed of their claims handling is average. The biggest and most heinous issue with this company is their adherence to reimbursements based on a totally out-of-touch, unreasonable and almost fraudulent set of "average local charges" as published by some pro-insurance-company (and perhaps owned by them) rates researcher. Generally, ASPCA has reimbursed our claims at an average of 40 to 45% of what we've had to pay the veterinarians, regardless of the illness, medical procedures, or other costs. For a $350 procedure, they "allowed" $151. For a $260 procedure, they "allowed" $127. This is not including deductables. When we asked them to provide the name of a single veterinatian within 25 miles who charged what they were "allowing," they claimed to only go by this published book and could not provide names. When I asked for the name of the publisher of the book, they refused to provide it. Needless to say, the book, whatever it is and whoever publishes it, has no relationship to the real world and merely serves to accommodate their unreasonable payouts. Think twice about any pet insurance company. In hindsight, we've realized that it would have been more cost-effective to self-insure by setting up a savings account and paying the "premiums" to that account.

I have two dogs and three cats insured by Petshealth and amlooking for new carrier. Their pre-existing condition clause is a deal-breaker; moreover, they refuse to cover dental disease of any type . My greyhound had severe dental disease and, only after the ASPCA liaison intervened,was I able to get reimbursed. Now, a calico cat I rescued was diagnosed with gingivitis and this claim, too, was denied. I guess that petshealth would rather pay for the heart and kidney failure that dental disease causes than correct the problem before it becomes life-threatening.

Filed our first claim on 6/26/2008, it is now 7/21/2008...the status only shows "received", not even "processing". The brochure claims payments in 14 days! We called and they claim they are behind and are bringing in more people to assist. Also, our second claim filed on 7/16 that I emailed in so I would have a record, has not even been acknowledged yet. I resent today.