ASPCA | Pet Insurance Review

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.

They beat around the old bush and took their time, initially, my daughter failed to give my name when she brought Sampson the cat to the vet (he had sprung a fever) they had the policy number!!!!, yet this little bit of confusion caused them WEEKS of delayI called over and over again, they also repeatedly stated they had no info from the vet (who HAD faxed them) and ALSO NEEDED PREVIOUS HISTORY FROM ANOTHER VET!! All this BS was additional excuses for delaying payment to me. THEN, they only paid 1/3 of the total cost, they advised me they had a "standard and approved " fee schedule, but that I could not have a copy of this fee schedule unless I gave them $150.00 payment for it!!! So I don't know how they came up with the settlement amount, which was of course, only 80% of this so called approved fee.

I have had three pets insured with this company since 2000. Somewhere along the line they changed their wording as they went from underwriter to underwriter. Avoid them like the plague. I now have a complaint pending with the Maine Bureau of Insurance and the Attorney General. I am also litigating this for Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices as I never got a renewal policy and had asked for the plan with the continuous coverage. I paid 120.00 a month for these plans and they lied on taped conversations on the phone (have tapes). They are the worst out there. Time to make them honest. Moderator, contact me pls for full details as I want to get the truth out there.

Just imagine that your own Blue Cross or other health insurance would pay for a condition until the annual renewal date of your policy, and then claim that your illness was a "pre-existing condition" (they claim that each year is a completely new policy!), and refuse to pay further. That is exactly what Hartville/ASPCA does with your pet insurance. In addition, they only pay 80% of the fee allowed in their own "fee schedule," which you bet your life is lower than what your vet charges you. Who would even think to ask these specific questions when enrolling? This company's advertising is misleading. They are unethical cheats. I gave the a rating of "1" only because there is no Zero option.