A Vet's Guide To Pet Insurance
Compare ASPCA Pet Insurance
Comparison Fact SheetTo get the most from these sheets, please read the Guide to Pet Insurance first.
| Company Info | |
| Company Name | Hartville Group, Inc |
| Also Known As |
Hartville Pet Health Insurance ASPCA Pet Insurance PetsHealth Care Plan |
| Address | |
| Phone | Hartville Pet Health Insurance - 1-800-799-5852 ASPCA Pet Insurance - 1-866-861-9092 PetsHealth Care Plan - 1-800-807-6724 |
| Website | www.hartvillepetinsurance.com www.aspcapetinsurance.com www.petshealthplan.com |
| Plan Name(s) | Level 1 - Basic Accident Plan
Level 2 - Accident and Illness Plan Level 3 - Accident, Illness and Basic Wellness Care Plan Level 4 - Accident, Illness and Deluxe Wellness Care Plan Some plans are not available in all states * |
| States Covered | All 50 states, including DC |
| Underwriter and AM Best Financial Strength Rating | Insurance underwritten by United States Fire
Insurance Company which has an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of
"A" and an Outlook of "Stable" as of 2/08/10. For the most recent ratings go to: AM Best and enter the name of the underwriter in the box labeled 'Text'. |
| Year Company Started |
ASPCA - 2006 Hartville and PetsHealth - 1997 |
| Policy Basics | |
| Policy Term | 12 months |
| Effective Date | The Effective Date will be listed on the Declarations Page of your policy after you apply and are accepted. They issue pet insurance certificates on the 1st and 15th of the month, so the effective date depends on the date you apply and payment is received. |
| Enrollment Age | Dogs must be at least 8 weeks old and less
than 13 years old Cats must also be at least 8 weeks old and less than 15 years old |
| Cancellation Policy | Ask for a current copy of their insurance policy so that you may review their cancellation policy |
| Waiting Period | 30 days after the policy effective date for illness (this waiting period does not apply to all states) Routine care, if selected, and accident coverage begins as soon as your policy is effective 12 months after the policy effective date for cruciate injury |
| Waiting Period for Cruciate Injury | 12 months after the policy effective date |
| Coverage When Travel Out of State or Country? | Out of State Coverage - You WILL be covered while traveling to other states with your pet. Out of Country Coverage - You WILL be covered when traveling to Canada with your pet |
| Can the Price of the Policy Increase as my Pet Ages? | Yes, the policy premium can increase as your
pet ages.
Contact the company for more information on these increases. |
| Does Coverage Stop Due to Age? | No |
| What Happens when the Policy Renews? | Without the 'Continuing Care' add on, chronic
conditions will only be covered in the policy year they are diagnosed.
Chronic conditions will be excluded at your plan's renewal date unless
180 days have passed since cure and last treatment. |
| Can the Price of the Policy Increase if a Claim is Filed? | No |
| Choice of Vet? | You can choose any licensed veterinarian in the US and Canada, but you must live in the US permanently to purchase a policy |
| Money Back Guarantee? | If you change your mind within 30 days they will refund your money in full as long as you have not filed a claim. |
| Surcharge for Visiting a Specialist or Emergency Clinic? | No |
| Referral needed to Visit a Specialist? | No |
| Pre-certification Required? | No |
| Additional Requirements | **See actual policy or call the company for a complete list of the requirements you are expected to adhere to in order to maintain coverage. |
| Pet Insurance Policy Available for Pre-Purchase Review? | Sample policy available online |
| What's Covered | |
| Species Covered | Dogs and Cats |
| Accident/Injury - Baseline Coverage |
Accident/injury coverage is available in the Level 1 - 4 plans. Covers diagnostics and lab tests, surgery, treatments, hospitalization, prescription medications. Coverage of exam fee is not mentioned in sample policy or on website. |
| Illness Coverage - Baseline Coverage |
Illness coverage is available in the Level 2 - 4 plans. Covers diagnostics and lab tests, surgery, treatments, hospitalization, prescription medications. Coverage of exam fee is not mentioned in sample policy or on website. |
| Behavioral Therapy Coverage | [NO] |
| Alternative Therapy Coverage | [NO] |
| Pre-existing Conditions Policy |
Pre-existing conditions are not covered. According to ASPCA's website, pre-existing conditions "... are illnesses or injuries that show symptoms, which may or may not have been diagnosed or treated, prior to a plan's effective date." According to PetsHealth's website, pre-existing conditions "... are illnesses or injuries that show symptoms prior to a plan's effective or renewal date or within a waiting period. This includes conditions that have not yet been clearly diagnosed or treated with medication." **See actual policy or call the company for complete description of pre-existing conditions. |
| Hereditary & Congenital Conditions Coverage | [NO] **See actual policy or call the company for complete description of their Hereditary & Congenital Conditions Policy. |
| Continual Coverage for Chronic Conditions | [OPTIONAL] To get continual coverage for chronic conditions you must purchase the 'Continuing Care' add on. Without the 'Continuing Care' add on listed above, chronic conditions will only be covered in the policy year they are diagnosed. Chronic conditions will be excluded at your plan's renewal date unless 180 days have passed since cure and last treatment. The 'Continuing Care' addon has its own deductible, per-incident limits and lifetime limits. To purchase the 'Continuing Care' add on: dogs must be at least 8 weeks and younger than 9 years old and cats must be at least 8 weeks and younger than 11 years old. |
| Chronic Conditions Policy | Chronic conditions (the first policy year they diagnosed) are covered up to the maximum payout per incident which is based on the policy you choose. (See 'Max Payout per Incident' section below) They do not cover chronic conditions that are pre-existing or that occur during the waiting period. Without the 'Continuing Care' add on, chronic conditions will only be covered in the policy year they are diagnosed. Chronic conditions will be excluded at your plan's renewal date unless 180 days have passed since cure and last treatment. The 'Continuing Care' addon has its own deductible, per-incident limits and lifetime limits. To purchase the 'Continuing Care' add on: dogs must be at least 8 weeks and younger than 9 years old and cats must be at least 8 weeks and younger than 11 years old. **See actual policy or call the company for complete description of their Chronic Conditions Policy. |
| Cancer Coverage | [INCLUDED] Cancer conditions are covered if they are not pre-existing and have not occurred during the waiting period. Cancers that are considered hereditary are not covered. (See 'Chronic Conditions Policy' above) |
| Cancer Coverage Limits | To get continual cancer coverage you must purchase
the 'Continuing Care' add on. Without the 'Continuing Care' add on, the cancer will only be covered in the policy year it is diagnosed. The cancer will be excluded at your plan's renewal date unless 180 days have passed since cure and last treatment. They do not cover cancers that are pre-existing or that occur during the waiting period. Cancers that are considered hereditary are not covered. (See 'Continual Coverage for Chronic Conditions' and 'Chronic Conditions Policy' sections above) |
| Hip Dysplasia | [NO] (See 'Hereditary & Congenital Conditions Coverage' section above) |
| Prescription Drug Coverage | [INCLUDED] **See actual policy or call the company for full list of inclusions and exclusions |
| Pregnancy Coverage | [NO] |
| Routine/Wellness Coverage | [OPTIONAL] Basic Routine/Wellness includes:
For Deluxe Routine/Wellness Care you will need to purchase the Level 4 plan. **See actual policy or call the company for complete description of their Wellness Coverage |
| Vaccinations | [OPTIONAL] - See Routine/Wellness Coverage above for details |
| Spay/Neuter | [OPTIONAL] - See Routine/Wellness Coverage above for details |
| Dental Care (Routine) | [OPTIONAL] - See Routine/Wellness Coverage above for details |
| Dental Care (Illness/Accident) | [LIMITED COVERAGE] These companies only offer
coverage for dental extractions associated with abscessed, diseased,
or broken teeth, but not gingivitis, periodontal disease, or deciduous
teeth.
**See actual policy or call the company for full list of inclusions and exclusions. |
| Bilateral Conditions Policy | If your pet develops a Bilateral Condition before
your policy effective date or during the waiting period, it will not
be covered and if your pet develops the same condition on the opposite
side after the waiting period it will not be covered. For example
if a dog has been diagnosed with a cruciate tear in this left knee
before the effective date or during the waiting period, a cruciate
tear in the right leg will not be covered. Even if it happens after
the waiting period. Bilateral Conditions are considered one incident for purposes of the maximum payout per incident. For example: Let's say your dog gets a cruciate injury on left leg after enrolled and after waiting period. If your dog gets a cruciate injury on the right leg in the future, treatment for the right leg will only be covered up to the maximum payout per incident which must be shared with the left leg. **See actual policy or call the company for a list of medical conditions that are considered bilateral and for a complete description of their Bilateral Conditions Policy. |
| Coverage - Overview (please read policy for full coverage details) |
Diagnostics and treatments due to illness and accidents [Included] Cancer, Prescription Medications, Dental Illness/Accident. (Refer to each category's section for limitations) [Optional] Continual Chronic Conditions Coverage (available with certain plans), Routine/Wellness Care (available with certain plans), Routine Dental Care (available with certain plans) (Refer to each category's section for limitations) **See actual policy or call the company for full list of inclusions, exclusions, limitations and conditions. |
| What's not Covered - Overview (partial listing, please read policy for full details) |
|
| How The Policy Works | |
| Co-pay | 20% |
| Deductible | Annual deductible of $100 The 'Continual Care' add on has it's own deductible in addition to the deductible for the base plan. |
| Flat Deductible vs % Deductible | Flat |
| Deductible Per Incident vs Annual Deductible | Annual Deductible |
| How is Reimbursement Determined | CUSTOMER REP: If they feel the fees are high
compared to what is being charged in your area, they will use UCR.
Otherwise reimbursement is based on the actual veterinary bill.
IN POLICY: UCR |
| Max Payout Annually | Level 2 - Annual limit
$8,000 Level 3 - Annual limit $11,000 Level 4 - Annual limit $13,000 |
| Max Lifetime Payout | The base plans do not have a lifetime maximum payout. The 'Continuing Care' addon does have lifetime limits. |
| Max Payout per Incident | Level 2 - Per Incident
limit $1,500 Level 3 - Per Incident limit $3,500 Level 4 - Per Incident limit $5,000 If you add the 'Continuing Care' addon to eligible plans, it will have its own deductible, per-incident limits and lifetime limits. |
| Max Payout Based on Body System | These companies do not have a maximum payout based on body system |
| Client Reimbursed or Vet Paid Directly | You pay the veterinarian and then you are reimbursed
after you file the claim. You can check a box on the claim form to have the reimbursement sent to your veterinarian but you still must pay your veterinarian in full at time of visit. |
| Pricing | |
| Approximate Monthly Costs | Approximately $7.50 - $67.00 depending on plan, species, age, breed, location, etc. |
| Additional Info | |
| My Review | ASPCA Review |
| What are Customers Saying? | PetInsuranceReview.com |
| Better Business Bureau | bbb.org |
| American Animal Hospital Association Seal of Acceptance | No |
| Additional Info | |
*The information in the above charts does not apply Accident Only coverage. Please contact the company for details about their Accident Only Policy.
**Disclaimer: These charts are created based on my research. While I do my best to stay current, information can change quickly. Also, terms and conditions can vary from state to state. Before buying a pet insurance plan, confirm all information by calling the company or reading the most current policy. We will not be held liable for errors or omissions. If you see something that is incorrect or needs clarifying, please let me know.
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