By Marnie Kunz
My dog is now a senior, and Spot Insurance was on a list of the best pet insurance for older dogs. Kiyoshi, my 9-year-old Akita, has had quite a few health problems, including emergency bloat surgery, which maxed out her last pet insurance (MetLife, which is another story). So, I was in the market for a new pet insurance for my dog, and I had a hard time finding one that would accept older dogs. I decided to try Spot Pet Insurance since they have no age exclusions. This review is based on my experience using Spot Pet Insurance for my dog.
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Overview of Spot Insurance
My dog, Kiyoshi has unfortunately been to the vet many times.
Spot Pet Insurance offers customizable pet insurance plans that have no age restrictions. Unlike many pet insurance companies, Spot Insurance has no age limit, making it an excellent choice for senior pet owners. The insurance offers seven coverage options with annual limits up to $10,000 and a variety of add-ons, so you can choose the plan that works best for you.
In my case, I chose a plan that covers up to $10,000 in vet costs with a 90% reimbursement rate. As someone with a pet who seems to be accident-prone and since I live in an expensive area where vet costs can be astronomical (New York City), I opted for a high-tiered plan with a lot of coverage. My coverage includes accidents and illness, including exam fees for those situations. Spot also has coverage for behavior issues and alternative treatments like acupuncture.
I did not choose to include wellness coverage, however, as I generally have not found these add-on prices worth it for any pet insurance. I can pay for preventative care – an annual exam and vaccinations. It’s all the other stuff that gets very expensive very fast. For instance, one vet charged me $600 for a simple ear infection. Another time, Kiyoshi had a scratch on her eye and had to go to a specialist for treatment, which was about $1500.
If you want to get the most coverage possible, you can add wellness coverage to your plan, which will cover routine wellness exams. Spot’s preventive care plans can cover routine teeth cleanings and other wellness visits. If I had a puppy or young dog, I would probably add the wellness plan to do a lot of preventive care.
If you have a young, healthy dog or cat and just want insurance for accidents, you may opt for less coverage so you have a lower monthly payment.
Spot Insurance is available in the U.S. and Canada and covers puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats. They have an app and online portal that makes the claims process simple. You can choose a Spot plan and checkout on their website. The base plan that is accidents only is suitable for people on a budget or who are more concerned about accidents.
Spot also offers illness pet insurance plans, and I opted to bundle an illness and accident plan. Illness plans can cover cancer, diabetes, and other conditions that are not brought on by an accident. Accident coverage can range from treatment for torn ligaments to orthopedic injuries. Base level plans cover prescription medications prescribed by a licensed veterinarian to treat covered conditions.
Spot Pet Insurance is underwritten by either Independence American Insurance Company, A Delaware insurance company located in Scottsdale, AZ, or United States Fire Insurance Company in Morristown, NJ.
Kiyoshi after her bloat surgery. Such a terrifying experience but luckily she pulled through.
Spot Pet Insurance Review
Overall, I give Spot Pet Insurance a 4.9-star rating out of 5. I love the easy, quick claims process and accessible customer service. I also really appreciate the flexibility and coverage options of the plans and the fact that they cover senior pets. The only minor drawback for me is the cost of the coverage, which is more than some others, but I find the overall coverage and straightforward claims process well worth the price.
Coverage
Spot Insurance can cover any vet visit in the U.S. or Canada. Their plans give you the option of choosing your reimbursement rate. I picked the top reimbursement option, which is 90 percent. So they reimburse me for 90 percent of my dog’s vet bills covered under the plan (accidents and illness are covered for me; I did not add on the wellness visit plan). There is a 14-day waiting period after you sign up for the insurance before your coverage effective date begins.
So far, Spot Pet Insurance has approved every claim I have filed for my dog. We have gone to the vet for a check-up after her bloat surgery, an ear infection, and for my dog limping and having lameness in her right leg. My annual deductible was $500, which was met in two vet visits in NYC. After that, they reimbursed me at the rate of 90% for every visit, including when she had to be sedated to get X-rays of her leg (which would have been $1,000 out of pocket without insurance).
I have been very pleased with Spot’s coverage and simple claims process. Unlike my last pet insurance, Spot Insurance has approved all my claims without hassle. (My previous pet insurance seemed to have a default answer of “No,” and I would have to do a lengthy appeals process, which would still be rejected about half the time.)
One caveat is that, as with almost every other pet insurance I’ve seen, Spot Insurance does not cover a pre-existing condition. My dog has EPI, a pancreatic condition that requires enzymes to digest her food, and this is not covered. However, based on my research, I did not expect this to be covered by any insurance. Also, Spot Pet Insurance does cover conditions that have been symptom-free for 180 days, so if your pet has occasional bouts of an illness, it can still be covered.
Kiyoshi when she had a scratch on her cornea.
Claims Process
Spot Pet Insurance processes claims quickly and does not ask for a million documents. They did the most thorough screening at the beginning when I had to upload my dog’s past records. After that, whenever I have an itemized vet invoice that I paid, I upload it to the app, and the claim is processed with no problem.
They also process claims much faster than my last insurance, which took up to a month to process. Spot usually processes claims within 1 or 2 business days, making it very convenient and accessible.
According to Spot, preventive care reimbursements are based on a schedule. Accident and Illness coverage reimbursements are based on your vet invoices.
Cost
Your location, coverage choices, and pet’s age and breed can influence your total cost for Spot Insurance. The deductible options for Spot Pet Insurance are $100, $250, $500, $750, and $1,000 per year. You can choose how much coverage you want and the limit for reimbursements, up to $10,000.
On average, the monthly premium for Spot Pet Insurance is in the $40 to $55 range. A lot depends on your pet’s age and the cost of vet care in your area.
I chose one of the top-tier plans, knowing my dog is a frequent vet client. I have a $500 deductible with a 90 percent reimbursement and a $10,000 coverage limit for my 9-year-old Akita. This made my plan more expensive than most since we are in a costly city, my dog is a senior, and a large breed. I pay $158 a month for my coverage. This is well above what most pet wonders will pay, but be aware that as your pet gets older, your premiums will go up.
Spot’s accident coverage is good for owners on a budget or those with young, healthy pets. The accident-only plan costs less than full coverage and still gives you peace of mind from knowing your pet will be covered in the event of an accident.
Although my dog’s insurance isn’t cheap, it has already saved me a lot of vet costs and given me peace of mind that she can get the vet care she needs in her senior years. After her terrifying bloat incident and emergency hospitalization, I realized my dog needed great health insurance coverage, especially as she gets older. The little extra cost is worth the peace of mind, and we have extensive treatment options under Spot Insurance.
Customer Service
I have not had to use Spot Customer Service much since I haven’t had any problems with them. I have called the hotline once and the customer service agent was friendly and prompt. Spot Pet Insurance services also include a 24-7 pet telehealth hotline with veterinary professionals available to answer health-related questions and concerns.
Other perks include pet care and supply discounts available to customers.
My Final Thoughts
Spot Pet Insurance offers extensive coverage for pet parents and is especially helpful for senior pets. Since they have no upper age limit and customizable plans, Spot is an excellent option for pet insurance. They also offer discounts of 10% for each additional pet you add to your plan. The Spot mobile app is easy to use and a convenient way to file claims.
Whether you want preventative care plans, accident-only insurance, or coverage for accidents and illness, Spot Pet Insurance has a wide range of options. You can choose your benefit limits to customize your plan to your budget and needs. After enrollment, there is a 14-day waiting period before you can use the insurance.
Although they may be priced slightly higher than the average pet insurance, Spot Pet Insurance plans are well worth the cost in my experience. A quick and easy claims process and super customer service are the reasons I love Spot Insurance. Also, you can get a multi-pet discount if you have more than one pet that needs coverage. Whether you have a pet who needs preventive coverage at a young age or a senior pet, Spot Pet Insurance has excellent options.
You can get a free quote from Spot Pet Insurance. Your pet will thank you for it.
