ASPCA Pet Insurance (formally ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance) is a popular pet insurance program that helps dog and cat owners manage unexpected vet bills. It offers customizable accident-and-illness coverage with optional preventive care, backed by a well-known animal-welfare brand. Overall, ASPCA Pet Insurance is a solid, mid-tier option for owners seeking broad coverage and flexibility. However, it’s not always the most affordable, and some limits are lower than those offered by top competitors.

At a Glance

Product type: Pet insurance (accident & illness plans with optional accident-only and preventive care add-ons)

Best for:

Pet parents who want broad accident-and-illness coverage with flexible reimbursement and deductible options
Owners who value coverage for things some competitors exclude (like exam fees, behavioral issues, dental illness, and alternative therapies)
People who prefer a well-known, animal-focused brand with long-standing market presence

Key benefits:

Customizable plans: multiple reimbursement levels, deductibles and annual coverage limits
Comprehensive “Complete Coverage℠” accident-and-illness plan, with optional preventive care packages
Covers hereditary and congenital conditions, cancer, and many chronic issues if not pre-existing
Shorter waiting period structure than some competitors, and no extra orthopedic waiting period in many cases

Key drawbacks:

Annual coverage limits can be lower than those from some rivals, which offer very high or unlimited caps
Mixed customer reviews and mid-pack rankings for overall value and claims experience
Like most providers, does not cover most pre-existing conditions (only some curable issues after a symptom-free period)
Premiums can be higher than bare-bones accident-only competitors, especially for older pets or richer benefits

What Is ASPCA Pet Insurance Review?

In this ASPCA Pet Insurance Review, we’re looking at the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance program, which partners with a licensed insurer to sell pet insurance for dogs and cats (and in some states, horses).

At its core, ASPCA Pet Insurance helps pay for unexpected vet costs when your pet gets hurt or sick. You pay a monthly premium, and when you have a covered expense - like an emergency surgery or cancer treatment - you submit a claim. After you meet your annual deductible, the plan reimburses a percentage of the eligible bill, up to your chosen annual coverage limit.

ASPCA offers:

A Complete Coverage℠ plan for accidents and illnesses
An accident-only option for budget-conscious owners
Optional preventive care add-ons that help cover routine services like vaccines and wellness exams (on a fixed schedule of benefits)

The goal is to smooth out unpredictable vet costs so a major injury or illness is less likely to derail your finances—or force painful choices about care.

Key Features & Benefits

Comprehensive Accident-and-Illness Coverage

The flagship Complete Coverage℠ plan is designed to handle a wide range of unexpected health issues. Typical covered categories include:

Accidents and injuries (e.g., broken bones, foreign body ingestion)
Illnesses (infections, digestive issues, diabetes, heart disease, and more)
Cancer diagnostics and treatment
Hereditary and congenital conditions
Chronic conditions, as long as they’re not pre-existing and within benefit limits

This makes ASPCA Pet Insurance more robust than bare-bones accident-only plans and competitive with many whole accident-and-illness policies on the market.

Optional Preventive Care Add-Ons

You can add preventive care options to help cover routine visits and services like exams, vaccines, and certain tests. These benefits are paid according to a set schedule (for example, up to a fixed dollar amount per service), rather than as a simple percentage of your invoice.

That structure can help offset routine costs, but may not always cover everything, so it’s worth comparing the scheduled benefits to your vet’s typical prices.

Flexible Reimbursement, Deductible and Limit Options

ASPCA Pet Insurance lets you tailor your plan by adjusting three main levers:

Reimbursement rate: Common options include 70%, 80% or 90% of eligible vet costs after your deductible. Higher percentages give you more back per claim but generally mean higher premiums.
Annual deductible: Typical choices include lower, mid-range and higher deductibles (for example, around $100, $250 or $500 annually), letting you trade upfront claim cost for a lower monthly price.
Annual coverage limit: Plans usually offer several maximum payout options per year. Some competitors offer higher or unlimited caps, but ASPCA’s limits will be sufficient for many pets.

Coverage for Extras Some Competitors Exclude

Several third-party reviews highlight that ASPCA Pet Insurance includes areas of coverage that some rivals treat as add-ons, such as:

Exam fees for covered accidents and illnesses
Behavioral therapy
Dental illnesses (not just accidents to teeth)
Alternative therapies like acupuncture or chiropractic care (depending on your state and policy)

If you’re specifically worried about behavioral issues or dental disease, this broader base plan can be a meaningful differentiator.

Curable Pre-Existing Condition Flexibility

Like virtually all pet insurers, ASPCA does not cover most pre-existing conditions. However, it will consider some curable pre-existing conditions covered again if they’ve been symptom-free and treatment-free for a set period (typically about six months), excluding knee and ligament conditions.

That’s more generous than providers that permanently exclude any condition that predates the policy.

Rates, Fees & Fine Print

Premiums

Premiums depend on factors like your pet’s species, breed, age, location, and the specific combination of reimbursement rate, deductible, and annual limit you choose. Independent analyses suggest ASPCA’s accident-and-illness plans often land in the mid-range of the market, with higher prices for older pets or richer benefit structures.

Because pricing is so individualized, it’s best to get a personalized quote and compare it with a few competitors before committing.

Deductibles and Reimbursement

ASPCA generally uses an annual deductible, meaning you pay covered costs up to that amount once per policy year, not per condition.
After the deductible, ASPCA reimburses your chosen percentage (e.g., 70%–90%) of eligible costs up to your annual limit.

Waiting Periods

According to ASPCA and independent reviewers:

Accidents: Coverage typically begins after a relatively short waiting period.
Illnesses: Illness coverage usually starts after a standard 14-day waiting period.
Knee/orthopedic conditions: ASPCA does not impose the extra months-long wait that some competitors require, although prior knee or ligament issues are usually excluded as pre-existing.

Exclusions & Limitations

As with any pet insurance, there are important exclusions:

Pre-existing conditions (with limited exceptions for curable issues after a symptom-free period)
Cosmetic procedures, breeding costs and some elective treatments
Conditions that fall outside your policy’s terms or annual coverage limits
Routine care, unless you add a preventive care rider

Always review the sample policy for your state to understand the full list of exclusions and coverage details.

Important: Products, discounts, coverage, and rates can change. Check the ASPCA Pet Insurance website and your state’s sample policy for the latest terms before you enroll

Who ASPCA Pet Insurance Review Is Best For

ASPCA Pet Insurance tends to be a good fit for:

Pet owners who want broad medical coverage, not just accidents. The Complete Coverage℠ plan is designed for both accidents and illnesses, including many chronic and hereditary issues.
People who value flexibility in designing their plan. Multiple deductible, reimbursement, and limit options make it easier to tailor coverage to your budget.
Owners looking for extras like behavioral, dental and alternative therapy coverage without stacking multiple riders.
Those who prefer a recognizable, animal-focused brand with a long history in animal welfare and pet-owner education.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

You may want to compare other insurers if:

You need very high or unlimited annual coverage limits, especially for a pet with potential for extremely costly care.
Your top priority is the absolute lowest premium and you’d be comfortable with a bare-bones accident-only plan or lower coverage.
Your pet already has serious pre-existing conditions (particularly orthopedic or chronic issues), which may be excluded under ASPCA’s rules and many competitors.

How ASPCA Pet Insurance Compares to Alternatives

In independent rankings, ASPCA Pet Insurance typically lands in the middle of the pack for overall coverage and customer experience—solid, but not always best-in-class on any single metric.

Compared with other accident-and-illness plans:

Coverage: ASPCA’s breadth of coverage (including behavioral, dental illness and alternative therapies) is a standout compared with some basic competitors, but similar to other premium insurers.
Waiting periods: Its accident and illness waiting periods are competitive, and the lack of a special long orthopedic waiting period is a plus against some rivals.
Limits: Annual coverage caps can be more modest than plans that offer very high or unlimited annual limits. That’s fine for many pets, but heavy users may want bigger caps elsewhere.
Price: ASPCA often falls into a “middle” pricing tier—sometimes less expensive than premium competitors with unlimited coverage, but not as cheap as minimalist accident-only providers.

If you’re shopping widely, you might compare ASPCA to other major pet insurers that emphasize unlimited coverage, ultra-low pricing, or special perks (like direct vet payment) to see which trade-offs you prefer.

How to Apply for ASPCA Pet Insurance

Signing up typically looks like this:

Get a quote online. Visit ASPCA’s pet insurance website and enter your pet’s basic info (species, breed, age, location).
Choose a coverage type. Decide between Complete Coverage℠ (accident & illness) and accident-only, then consider adding preventive care if you want help with routine costs.
Customize your plan. Pick your reimbursement percentage, annual deductible, and annual coverage limit. You’ll usually see how each choice affects your monthly premium in real time.
Review exclusions and waiting periods. Before you finalize, read your quote summary and sample policy for your state to understand what’s covered and what’s not.
Enroll and set up payment. If everything looks good, you can enroll, choose a start date (subject to waiting periods), and set up automatic monthly payments with a card or bank account.
Use the app or online portal. Once enrolled, you can typically submit claims, upload invoices, and track reimbursement status through ASPCA’s mobile app or website portal.

Eligibility generally requires that your pet be within accepted age ranges, up-to-date on key information (like medical records), and located in a state where ASPCA Pet Insurance is offered. Specific criteria vary by state and plan.

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