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ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

Laura of South San Francisco, CA February 18, 2010

My Dog has been continually enrolled in the ASPCA Pet health insurance since 12/18/2008. I had no claims until Jan of 2010. I had taken my dog for a rabies vac and check her skin. He rec. a Vet Dermatology specialist, which I took her too the next day. A couple of days later the vet wanted to do another test for Thyroid. It came back low so more medication was rx'd. ASPCA denied the clam stating it was a "pre-existing" condition. Apparently they have quite a scam going there...every time they renew your yearly policy anything that happen previous is now a "pre-exiting" condition. So they deny paying the claim...

Kathy of Budd Lake, NJ February 2, 2010

I applied for the ASPCA Pet Insurance after being referred by a friend. I felt that I could trust the name since it is well known organization that I felt was a good one. You must wait for 30 days after applying before any claims can be submitted. That was fine. No problem. After 6 months in the plan, my boxer dog was diagnosed with a torn ACL. When I applied for the plan, I was told that with the Plan 2 coverage I got, everything was covered with the exception of well care, office visits, food and vitamins. Any injury, surgery, illness or diagnostic needs would be covered. It sounded great for 365.00 (which included extended coverage) in case the dog got sick and needed care the next year.) Nothing was said about not covering ACL injuries until I called about the surgery.

It was then stated that the ASPCA would not cover this type of injury if it took place within the 12 months after signing with them. The plan is for 12 months and after that would be considered a preexisting condition so would NEVER be covered nor would any diagnostic means having to do with the condition. This plan is totally worthless. I have read numerous complaints about denials of services that had been previously promised. Forget this company; they are not in business to help animal owners; they are in it strictly for profit. Do your research and don't sign up for any plan without having the contract in writing before you deal with them. I would never recommend them to anyone. I am notifying everyone I know who is considering dealing with the ASPCA not to do so when it comes to insurance. My vets office was as surprised as I am about this. They will not be putting out pamphlets for their customers any more.

Thomas of New York, NY February 1, 2010

My dog was injured in a fall and ruptured a disc in her back.I spent about 6,500 dollars on a MRI and on surgery.They do not want to pay the 3,500 limit they owe on the plan because they say that it is a genetic problem and I have info from my doctor and my surgeon that states other wise.So I am taking them to court.

Ralph of Brooklyn, NY December 30, 2009

This regards my dog who is 1 year and 6 months old and has been an ASPCA PET INSURANCE plan member since she was 3 months old. For over a year my dog is being treated for a urinary disorder. Mainly an xray and medication was given to find the problem but it was not definatively detected. The plan renews yearly. In October the plan renewed for 2010.

Last month the condition for my dog got worse and now that she is older my Vet advised getting a sonogram done on her. The procedure was 690.00. The claim (the first for the year) was submitted. I was aware of a 100.00 deductible but expected a portion back for the procedure as I am paying 35.00 a month for my dog to be on the plan (420.00 a year).

The claim was denied with reason being I sought treatment for my dogs condition in the new plan period and I cannot treat the same condition from the previous plan period in the new plan period unless 180 days passes. Meaning do nothing for 6 months and if your dogs condition worsens and she dies so be it. If you decide to continue treatment before 6 months they wont pay but you just keep paying a policy monthly for nothing bascially including necessary treatments on a terrible condition my dog has and got after I enrolled in the plan. It was not a pre existing condition.

My dog was only 3 months old..she had no pre existing conditions. I want the money due me for this claim. If not I want a full refund for my plan since the new policy began (they paid nothing out to me since the policy began anyway so why should I have paid a premium?) In addition I need to know who can thoroughly investiaget this issue. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS IT IS ANIMAL CRUELTY!

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

Dean of New York NY (03/06/09)
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

Mariano of Ontario CA (12/03/07)
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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