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Spot Pet Insurance Review
By Cassidy Horton MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
While bringing a furry friend into your life can be a wonderful experience, it also comes with some significant costs. On average, dog owners spend $1,391 per year on vet bills while cat owners spend about $1,149. Further, if heaven forbid your pet breaks a bone, ingests a foreign object, or gets cancer, you could be looking at a bill from $2,000 to $4,000 or more. Companies like Spot Pet Insurance help you cover these costs. But what kind of coverage do they offer and is their pet insurance worth it? Here’s what you should know.
Table of contents
Spot pet insurance vs. the competition
Spot pet insurance overview
Spot Pet Services LLC is an insurance company that sells pet insurance policies under the brand name Spot Pet Insurance. Founded in 2019, it’s headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, and offers policies nationwide. While the company is just a few years old, all Spot Pet Insurance policies are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company which has been in business since 1822.
Spot’s services
Spot Pet Insurance helps pet owners cover some of the costs that come with caring for their dogs and cats. The company has a few different options with varying levels of coverage.
Service offerings
Spot offers two base pet insurance plans including accident-only policies and accident and illness policies. Here’s a closer look at what’s included.
What’s covered?
Pet owners can be reimbursed for a percentage of the following expenses:
- Veterinary treatments such as consultations, exams, and lab tests
- Tooth extractions
- Surgeries and hospitalizations
- Supplements to treat covered conditions
- FDA-approved prescription medications
- Poison control consult fees
- MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans
- Medical supplies
- Intravenous fluids and medications
- End-of-life expenses (euthanasia, burial, and cremation)
- Alternative therapies performed by a veterinarian
- Microchip implantations
- Cancer treatments
- Treatment for behavioral problems performed by a veterinarian
The accident-only plan by Spot provides coverage for all of the above, except behavioral and cancer treatments, as long as they result from a qualifying accident.
The accident and illness plan includes coverage for all of the above if they result from a qualifying accident or covered illness.
What’s not covered?
Now that you know what Spot Pet Insurance covers, here’s a look at what’s not covered in the base plans:
- Dental services
- Anal sac services that aren’t tied to an infection
- Pet boarding
- Breeding or pregnancy
- Pre-existing conditions or those that occur during the waiting period
- Experimental or investigative treatment or medication
- Funeral services, urns, caskets, burial plots
- Grooming
- Herbal and food products
- House calls
- Illnesses or injuries that result from gross negligence
- Non-medical supplies that prevent illness and injury
- Transplants of organs or hearts
- Non-veterinary service-related charges
- Prescription pet food
- Supplements used for preventative care
- Treatment when the policyholder is a veterinarian involved with the care
- Expenses that result from racing, personal protection, organized fighting, guarding, or coursing
- Treatment stemming from pandemics, avian influenza, war, and a list of other emergency situations
What can you add?
Spot also offers two preventive care endorsement options you can add to your base policy. These can cover the following up to an annual maximum limit.
- Spaying and neutering
- Routine wellness exams
- Routine dental cleanings
- Flea and heartworm prevention
- Deworming
- Health certificates
- Blood, fecal, and urinalysis tests
- Canine heartworm tests
- Feline FELV tests
- Various vaccinations
Depending on the level of coverage you want, you can choose the Gold or Platinum Preventative Care endorsement. Coverage items and amounts vary between the two.
Spot Pet Insurance cost
The cost of pet insurance with Spot includes a premium you can pay on a monthly or annual schedule. Each policy has an annual deductible that ranges from $100 up to $1,000. You have to pay your deductible in full each policy period before reimbursements will begin.
Speaking of reimbursements, Spot’s policies have reimbursement percentages that determine the portion of your costs that will be covered. When you sign up, you’ll select the percentage that works best for you: 70%, 80%, or 90%.
The amount of coverage you get will depend on whether you opt for an unlimited policy or one with an annual limit on payouts. The annual limit options range from $2,500 up to $10,000.
So how do these all fit together?
The cost for one of Spot’s base plans varies based on factors such as your pet’s breed, age, and location, along with the plan, deductible, reimbursement rate, and annual limit you choose. We looked into the pricing for a 4-year-old mixed breed medium-sized dog. Accident and illness coverage ranged from $12.31 to $97.55 per month.
Details:
- The $12.31 per month premium was for the smallest annual limit of $2,500, the lowest reimbursement rate of 70%, and the highest deductible of $1,000.
- The $97.55 per month premium included unlimited coverage, the highest reimbursement rate of 90%, and the lowest deductible of $100.
As for the preventive care add-on endorsements, the Gold plan costs $9.95 per month while the Platinum plan costs $24.95 per month.
You can get a free quote online very easily that’s specific to your pet and plan preferences.
Spot pet insurance waiting periods
Once you sign up for base coverage with Spot Pet Insurance, a 14-day waiting period will begin. You won’t be able to get reimbursed for any expenses incurred during this period. Additionally, if a condition occurs during the waiting period, it’ll be considered pre-existing and won’t be eligible for coverage even after the waiting period. However, if you opt for a preventive care endorsement, coverage will become active right away—there’s no waiting period.
Spot pet insurance 30-day money-back guarantee
Spot Pet Insurance offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with the coverage during the first 30 days, you can get a full refund.
Spot 24/7 VetAccess Tele-health helpline
Spot customers also gain access to a free 24/7 telehealth helpline known as VetAccess. It allows you to speak with a veterinary expert at any time through the company’s pet telehealth app. While the vets can’t diagnose issues or provide treatment plans, they can offer guidance and support.
Spot’s credentials
Spot Pet Insurance policies are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company. Here’s a closer look at its credentials.
Licenses and registrations
The United States Fire Insurance Company is registered with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) under code 21113. Its NAIC file shows its currently licensed to provide insurance in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia.
Awards and certifications
No awards or certifications were found for Spot Pet Insurance. However, the company was named the best pet insurance company for unlimited coverage on our Best Pet Insurance Companies of 2022 list.
Regulatory or legal actions
The only legal action found in our research was a complaint filed in 2020 in Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York against Spot Pet Insurance. It alleged that the company’s website was not accessible according to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines’ standards. Issues cited included empty links that contained no text and linked images that were missing alt-text.
Spot’s accessibility
How easy is it to get coverage and manage your plan with Spot Pet Insurance? Here’s what you should know.
Availability
Spot Pet Insurance is available in all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. However, it’s an online company without brick-and-mortar service locations. You’ll sign up and manage your policy online. If you need to submit a claim, you can do so on the website, in the mobile app, via email, or via fax.
Contact information
Spot Pet Insurance offers a customer service line that’s available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST. The phone number is 1-800-905-1595.
User experience
The company’s website is very user-friendly. It presents the plans clearly and provides sample policies to help you understand all the details. You can also customize your pricing and complete the enrollment process within a few minutes. Further, there’s a collection of FAQs and other resources that address many common questions and concerns.
Once you’re a customer, you can log in on the Spot website or mobile app. Through the app, you’ll have access to the 24/7 pet telehealth service and can submit and track claims, view your policy, find a vet clinic, and more.
Limitations
Customer service hours are limited to weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST.
Spot’s customer satisfaction
What level of satisfaction can you expect if you decide to become a Spot customer? To find out, we looked into the company’s customer complaints and third-party ratings.
Customer complaints
Spot Pet Insurance has had eight complaints closed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in the last three years, five of which were in the last 12 months. Most of these cited problems getting claims approved. However, Spot has responded to all the complaints and addressed the issues.
To gain a broader understanding, we looked at the complaint index provided by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The National Complaint Index is 1.00 so any index above that means a company has more complaints than expected, while an index below that means the company has fewer complaints than expected. The United States Fire Insurance Company was given an index of 0.30 in 2021, meaning it had far fewer complaints than are expected for an insurer of its size.
Third-Party ratings
As for third-party ratings, Spot Pet Insurance is accredited by the BBB and has earned a 4.43- out of 5-star rating after 28 reviews. We also looked to Google to see how the insurer ranked with a larger pool of customers. As of November 2022, the company has 258 reviews and an average rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.
Spot Pet Insurance vs. the competition
So how does Spot stack up to the competition? Here’s a quick comparison with three other leading pet insurers.
Spot vs Pumpkin
Pumpkin Pet Insurance also specializes in providing coverage for dogs and cats.
Quick facts:
- Deductibles: $100 to $500
- Annual limits: $10k, $20k, or unlimited
- Reimbursement rates: 90% for all
Like Spot, Pumpkin covers exam fees for accidents and illnesses at no additional cost. It also offers coverage for many of the same expenses and a preventive care endorsement option. However, there are a few notable differences. Here’s a look at Pumpkin’s main advantages and disadvantages when compared to Spot.
Pricing comparison: We looked up pricing for dog insurance using the same details that we used to get a quote from Spot. Pumpkin’s premiums ranged from $42.55 to $97.55 per month, while Spot’s ranged from $12.31 to $97.55.
Overall, Pumpkin’s plans include a higher level of minimum coverage than Spot’s. As a result, the lowest premium is higher than what Spot offers. If you’re looking for the most affordable coverage, even if that means lower reimbursement rates, higher deductibles, and lower annual limits, then Spot is the better option. Spot also offers a more comprehensive preventative endorsement at a lower starting price.
Spot vs Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws is another well-known direct competitor of Spot that specializes in dog and cat insurance.
Quick facts:
- Deductibles: $250 or $500
- Annual limits: None
- Reimbursement rates: 70% or 80%
Healthy Paws offers base plans with similar coverages and exclusions as Spot. However, here’s a look at some of its advantages and disadvantages.
Pricing comparison: We got a comparable dog insurance quote from Healthy Paws and its premiums ranged from $37.80 to $49.78 per month, in comparison to Spot’s $12.31 to $97.55 per month.
Spot comes out ahead of Healthy Paws on many fronts. It offers a wider range of policy options, more coverage, and makes it easier to get coverage (no fees or exams are required). While Healthy Paws imposes no annual limits on any plan, Spot offers unlimited coverage along with options that can help you reduce your premium.
Spot vs Lemonade
Lastly, Lemonade is an online insurer that offers pet health insurance alongside various other coverage types.
Quick facts:
- Deductibles: $100 to $500
- Annual limits: $5k to $50k
- Reimbursement rates:70%, 80%, or 90%
Lemonade’s pet insurance plans cover diagnostics, procedures, and medications for pet accidents and illnesses. Additionally, it offers two preventative care packages. Here’s a look at where it comes out ahead of Spot, and where it comes out behind.
Pricing comparison: Lemonade’s dog insurance quote came out with a low of $39.33 and a high of $98 per month, compared to Spot’s $12.31 to $97.55 premium range.
Once again, Spot offers plans that are more customizable to the pet owner’s needs. Whether you want minimal or full coverage, Spot offers pet parents a more competitive deal. However, Lemonade’s stand-out feature is its two-day waiting period for accident coverage.
Spot Pet insurance FAQs
Still have questions? Here are some quick answers about Spot’s pet insurance coverage.
How we evaluated Spot Pet Insurance
We evaluated Spot Pet Insurance by researching various aspects of its insurance offering. First, we looked into the insurance policies on offer to see what coverages were included, excluded, and optional. We also reviewed the company’s credentials to determine whether it’s a legitimate, law-abiding operation. Then we looked at the company’s accessibility, including its customer support channels, availability, user experience, and limitations. Lastly, we looked into how satisfied Spot customers seem to be based on customer reviews and reputable third-party ratings.
Summary of Miami Herald’s Spot Pet Insurance review
- Spot Pet Insurance offers customizable pet insurance policies with competitive pricing
- It’s available on a month-to-month basis and you can try it risk-free thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee
- You can opt for an accident-only policy or a policy that covers accidents and illnesses
- You can also choose from two preventative care endorsements
- The company’s underwriter is properly licensed and has far fewer complaints than are expected for a company of its size
- Spot fares well in customer reviews reported by Google My Business and the BBB
- The company stands out amongst the competition for its pricing, coverage, customization options, and features like a 24/7 vet telehealth hotline
Cassidy Horton is a finance writer based in Seattle, Washington. With an MBA and a bachelor's in public relations, her work has been published over a thousand times by The Balance, Finder.com, Money Under 30, Clever Girl Finance, and many more. Cassidy is a self-confessed money nerd who’s passionate about helping people find financial freedom. Oh, and she really loves cats.