ASPCA Pet Health Insurance (Complete Coverage) review 2027
Covers exam fees, dental illness, behavioural treatment and microchipping, insures horses too, and re-covers curable conditions after a clear year
Is the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Worth It?
Best broad coverage at a mid price. No long orthopaedic wait and broad inclusions make this an easy policy to understand and use. The $10,000 ceiling is low for a serious cancer or orthopaedic year.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Pros & Cons
- Exam fees, dental disease, behavioural therapy and microchipping in the base policy
- No upper age limit; horses insurable too
- Single 14-day waiting period with no long orthopaedic exclusion
- Curable pre-existing conditions covered again after 12 months
- Annual limits top out at $10,000
- A percentage of premiums supports the ASPCA, which is a licensing deal rather than the charity underwriting it
- Claims handling slower than Lemonade or Healthy Paws
What problem does ASPCA Pet Health Insurance solve?
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is built for owners who want wide cover without long waits. The policy includes exam fees, dental disease, behavioural therapy and microchipping in the base plan, and it applies a single 14-day waiting period to all conditions rather than holding orthopaedic claims back for months. There is no upper age limit, and horses are insurable too. Curable pre-existing conditions can be covered again after 12 months. The trade-off is stated plainly in the verdict: the $10,000 ceiling is low for a serious cancer or orthopaedic year.
How did it score 8.3?
The score comes from five weighted criteria. What is covered earned 26 out of 30, measuring accidents, illness, hereditary and congenital conditions, dental disease, behavioural therapy, prescription food and exam fees, read from the policy rather than the marketing page. Limits & exclusions earned 18 out of 20 for annual or per-condition payout caps, age limits, waiting periods, how a pre-existing condition is defined and whether curable ones can be reinstated. Price earned 15 out of 20, based on the monthly premium for four test pets at 80% reimbursement with a $500 deductible and how much the premium rises with age. Claims & payout earned 15 out of 20, covering how claims are filed, published processing times, direct payment to the vet and complaint volume in state insurance filings. Wellness & extras earned 9 out of 10 for optional wellness plans, 24/7 vet lines, multi-pet discounts and a deductible that shrinks in claim-free years.
What are the standout strengths?
The inclusions list is unusually broad for the price. Exam fees, dental disease, behavioural therapy and microchipping sit in the base policy rather than behind an add-on. There is no upper age limit, so an older dog or cat can still be insured, and horses are insurable too. The waiting structure is the clearest advantage: a single 14-day waiting period with no long orthopaedic exclusion, where several rivals hold orthopaedic or cruciate claims for six months. Curable pre-existing conditions are covered again after 12 months, which matters for owners whose pet had a one-off issue that has since cleared.
What is in the policy, and what are the limits?
Our quote for a 2-year-old Labrador is 45 USD/mo, and for a 3-year-old domestic cat it is 23 USD/mo. Reimbursement options run 70–90%, with deductibles from $100–$500. There is no unlimited annual payout: the cap runs $3k–$10k annual. Waiting periods are 14 days all conditions. Exam fees are covered, dental illness is covered, and there is a Preventive Care wellness add-on. Direct vet payment is not offered. There is no upper age limit.
How does it compare with the rivals we tested?
Against Embrace (8.7, $47), ASPCA is cheaper on the Labrador quote and matches it on exam fees and dental illness, but Embrace shrinks the deductible $50 for every claim-free year and offers $5k–$30k annual payouts, while ASPCA stops at $10k. Embrace also carries a six-month orthopaedic wait, waivable, where ASPCA has none.
Against Healthy Paws (8.6, $43), ASPCA is slightly dearer on the dog quote but covers exam fees, which Healthy Paws does not, and covers dental illness including extractions, where Healthy Paws covers illness only. Healthy Paws has no annual, lifetime or per-condition payout limit, so it does not run out when the bill is large; ASPCA does.
Pets Best offers an unlimited option on its Elite tier, exam fees and dental illness on Plus and Elite, and direct deposit with direct vet payment available at some vets. ASPCA includes exam fees and dental illness in the base policy but caps payouts.
| ASPCA Pet Health Insurance | Healthy Paws | Embrace | Pets Best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.3 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 8.3 |
| Our quote: 2-year-old Labrador | 45 USD/mo | 43 USD/mo | 47 USD/mo | 38 USD/mo |
| Our quote: 3-year-old domestic cat | 23 USD/mo | 22 USD/mo | 24 USD/mo | 19 USD/mo |
| Reimbursement options | 70–90% | 50–80% | 70–90% | 70–90% |
| Deductible options | $100–$500 | $250–$1,000 | $200–$1,000, shrinking | $50–$1,000 |
| Unlimited annual payout | No ($3k–$10k annual) | Yes | No ($5k–$30k annual) | Yes, on Elite tier |
| Waiting periods | 14 days all conditions | 15 days accident and illness; 12 months hip dysplasia | 2 days accident, 14 days illness, 6 months orthopaedic (waivable) | 3 days accident, 14 days illness, 6 months cruciate |
| Exam fees covered | Yes | No | Yes | Plus and Elite tiers |
| Dental illness | Yes | Illness only, not cleaning | Yes, illness and extractions to $1,000 | Plus and Elite |
Where does it fall short?
The annual cap is the main weakness. Limits top out at $10,000, which is low for a serious cancer or orthopaedic year, and there is no unlimited option. Claims handling is slower than Lemonade or Healthy Paws. A percentage of premiums supports the ASPCA, which is a licensing deal rather than the charity underwriting the policies, so the brand name does not mean the charity stands behind the claims.
What does it cost, and is it good value?
The price summary is $45. Our quote for a 2-year-old Labrador is 45 USD/mo and for a 3-year-old domestic cat is 23 USD/mo. That sits above Pets Best at $38 and $19, close to Healthy Paws at $43 and $22, below Embrace at $47 and $24, and well below Trupanion at $68 and $38. For the money you get exam fees, dental illness, behavioural therapy and microchipping in the base policy, no upper age limit and a single 14-day wait, but you accept a $10,000 ceiling.
Who should buy ASPCA Pet Health Insurance?
It remains right for owners who want wide cover without long waits. If your priority is getting exam fees, dental illness and behavioural treatment included from day one, insuring an older pet with no age limit, or avoiding a six-month orthopaedic exclusion, this policy fits. If you need an unlimited payout for a worst-case year, Healthy Paws or Pets Best Elite is the better match.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance at a Glance
Rubric v1: What is covered 30 · Limits & exclusions 20 · Price 20 · Claims & payout 20 · Wellness & extras 10. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.
Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance specifications
Where it loses
Annual cap.
Still the right pick for
Owners who want wide cover without long waits.
What owners say
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