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ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

Michael of Baltimore, MD July 30, 2009

I enrolled in a Level 3 ASPCA plan effective June 15 2009. I selected the Level 3 plan because it covered puppy boosters for our 3 month old puppy. In late June we took our dog to the Vet for a round of puppy shots and subsequently submitted a claim form to ASPCA for reimbursement. The claim took 11 days to process and it came back with only 43 of the 140.76 being covered. This bill included 5 shots and a 15 service fee. ASPCA covered the professional service of 15 and only one of the shots (DAP). I was charged 45 for the DAP shot and ASPCA covered only 28 of this expense sighting that this charge was 17 above the reasonable limit.

The rest of the boosters were considered preventative (even though they were recommended by our Vet) and so they would not be covered – Including the Bordetella shot which was required by our dog daycare kennel. I submitted one other expense for 79 a few weeks later when our dog fell sick with a stomach illness. This expense was rejected in full and considered a Preexisting condition because the dog had been seen 1.5 months prior, when we had just got him, because he vomited and we took him to the vet (he had made a full recovery since then).

My general impression of ASPCA is that they go out of their way not to accept any charges. They would not provide me with a list of Reasonable Costs for my area, and so they have the ability to call pretty much everything and anything beyond reasonable cost. I downgraded my service, at which time they force you to forfeit what little money was applied against my deductable, and am considering dropping the service all together because I can’t seem myself ever being able to get my money’s worth out of any ASPCA coverage. Good luck if you choose this pet insurance.

Dean of New York, NY March 6, 2009

I took out an ASPCA Premium policy for both my dogs. I chose the Premium Plan because it covered an annual dental cleaning for my our dogs. The premium is 75/month/dog. Under this plan, after an annual 100 deductable is met, ASPCA claims it will cover 80% of reasonable claims. I took the insurance out in December of 2008. In late February I had one of my dog's teeth cleaned. No extractions were required. The bill was 575. The claim was submitted. ASPCA reiumbursed me 113. The reason given for this low reiumbursement is that 240 is in their view what is reasonable for my geographical area.

They then took 100 off the 240 and THEN reiumbursed 80% of the remaining 140. I called to complain about the low reimbursement and was told I needed to find a less expensive vet. I then called 5 other Manhattan veterinarians and received quotes ranging from 750 to 500. The bottom line is ASPCA's idea of reasonable charges are far below reality. They promise to cover 80% of a claim but fail to tell you that their definition of what reasonable is, is far below the actual going rates.

Mariano of Ontario, CA December 3, 2007

Signed up for Aspca pet insurance in Sept. 2007. Plan was not effective for 30 days and on day it took effect, my pet was taken in to clinic for treatment. The claims later submitted for partial reimbursement (which was earlier advised would be processed) were denied. No advisement or paperwork was received prior, stating the claims would be denied.

Monies paid by myself were not partially reimbursed nor were any funds applied toward the annual deductible as was earlier advised on this policy; the paperwork of policy was finally received in Nov. 2007, 2 months AFTER policy was originated.

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