Spot Pet Insurance Review 2025
NerdWallet’s review of Spot pet insurance highlights its comprehensive coverage options for pet owners. Spot offers both an accident and illness plan, as well as an accident-only plan. This review explores the details of Spot’s offerings to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your pet.
Overview
- NerdWallet rating: 5.0
- Annual max coverage: Unlimited
- Reimbursement rates: 70%, 80%, 90%
- Deductibles: $100 – $1,000
- Policy highlights: Broad coverage, including microchip implantation
Pros
- Covers items that some insurers don’t, such as prescription food and behavioral modification.
- Covers certain pre-existing conditions if they’ve been cured and treatment-free for 180 days.
- Offers an unlimited annual coverage option.
Cons
- Doesn’t offer direct payment to your vet.
Who is Spot Pet Insurance a good fit for? You should consider Spot if you’re looking for comprehensive coverage for your pet, with no upper age limit.
About Spot Pet Insurance
Spot earned 5 stars out of 5 for overall performance and is recognized as one of NerdWallet’s Best Pet Insurance Companies. Spot distinguishes itself through its comprehensive accident and illness plans. These plans encompass a range of services, including alternatives like acupuncture, behavioral treatments, microchip implantation, and prescription food. There is no upper age limit, and customers have the option of unlimited annual payouts. An accident-only plan is also available.
Spot also provides two preventive care plans that can be added to a pet’s policy. These options offer reimbursement for routine expenses, such as wellness exams and dental cleanings.
Similar to most pet insurers, Spot doesn’t pay your vet directly. Instead, policyholders must settle their vet bills and then submit receipts to Spot for reimbursement.
Spot Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage
Spot provides three main types of coverage:
- Accident and Illness: This comprehensive plan covers injuries (like broken bones) and illnesses (like diabetes). This plan includes:
- Alternative therapy like acupuncture and stem cell therapy (when conducted by a veterinarian).
- MRI/CT scans and X-rays.
- IV fluids, medications (IV and prescription).
- Prescription food and supplements.
- Exams, surgery, and hospitalization.
- Tooth extractions.
- Cancer treatments.
- Behavioral issue treatments (prescribed by a vet).
- Microchip implantation.
- Hereditary conditions.
- Pre-existing conditions that are cured and treatment-free for 180 days (excluding knee/ligament conditions).
- Accident-Only: This plan covers unexpected injuries but does not include illness-related treatments. This plan covers:
- Alternative therapy like acupuncture or hydrotherapy (when provided by a licensed veterinarian).
- MRI/CT scans and X-rays.
- IV fluids, IV medications, and prescription medications.
- Prescription food and supplements (for a covered condition).
- Stem cell therapy.
- Exams, surgery, and hospitalization.
- Tooth extractions.
- Microchip implantation.
- Preventive Care: You can add a gold or platinum preventive care package. The gold plan covers:
- Dental cleanings.
- Annual exams.
- Deworming.
- Certain vaccinations and screening tests. The platinum plan includes everything in the gold plan, along with:
- Blood tests.
- Spay/neuter surgery.
- Urinalysis.
- Heartworm and flea prevention.
- Additional vaccinations.
What’s Not Covered
Spot’s accident and illness plans exclude:
- Cosmetic dental procedures.
- Anal sac expression/resection.
- Breeding/pregnancy costs.
- Pre-existing conditions that arose before the policy or during the waiting period (unless symptom-free for 180 days).
- Non-covered prescription food or supplements.
- Funeral services.
- Experimental treatments.
- Illness/injury due to mistreatment, racing, or organized fighting.
Accident-only plans do not include any of the above, nor treatment for any illness at all.
Preventive plans only cover the services listed in the coverage section.
Spot Plan Options
- Deductibles: Options are $100, $250, $500, $750, and $1,000 per year for accident and illness/accident-only plans. Preventive care plans don’t have deductibles.
- Reimbursement amounts: You can choose 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement rates after meeting your deductible. Preventative care plans don’t have reimbursement rates.
- Coverage limits: Annual coverage options are from $2,500 to unlimited.
Spot vs. Competition
Spot allows a deductible to be applied before your reimbursement, resulting in a more generous payout. For example: A $2000 vet bill, 80% reimbursement, and $500 deductible would calculate like this: $2000 – $500 = $1500; $1500 x 0.8 = $1200. Your out-of-pocket cost would be $800, and Spot would reimburse you $1200. Companies that apply your reimbursement first ($2000 x 0.8 = $1600; $1600 – $500 = $1100) would reimburse only $1100 in this case.
Restrictions and Waiting Periods
- Age restrictions: No upper age limit.
- Waiting periods: 14 days.
Spot Pet Insurance Sample Rates
The cost of Spot pet insurance depends on location, chosen coverage levels, and your pet’s breed and age.
Sample monthly premiums for dogs in Katy, Texas, with accident and illness coverage, a $250 deductible, $5,000 annual coverage, and an 80% reimbursement rate:
Sample monthly premiums for cats in Katy, Texas, with the same coverage:
Spot Pet Insurance Discounts
Spot offers a 10% multi-pet discount.
State Availability
Spot is licensed in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Availability may change.
Consumer Experience
- Website: Easy-to-navigate, with free quote options and enrollment. It also has a FAQ page and sample policies.
- App: Available for Android and iPhone. Lets you view policies, find vet clinics, and file/track claims. However, user ratings are mixed.
- Claims: File claims through the website or app. You have 270 days to file a claim.
- Customer service: Contact Spot customer service Monday through Saturday at 800-905-1595.
Spot Pet Insurance vs. Competitors
Spot vs. Pumpkin pet insurance
- Pumpkin only offers accident and illness plans, unlike Spot’s accident-only option. Both offer unlimited annual coverage.
- Pumpkin doesn’t have an app, while Spot does.
Spot vs. Healthy Paws pet insurance
- Healthy Paws offers only one accident and illness plan, with no accident-only or wellness coverage options.
- Healthy Paws’ standard accident and illness plan is less comprehensive than Spot’s.
- Healthy Paws handles claims within 2-10 days. Spot doesn’t specify a normal claims processing time.
