Spot Pet Insurance: A Comprehensive Overview
Spot Pet Insurance offers a range of coverage options for pet owners, earning high marks from NerdWallet for its comprehensive approach. Let’s delve into the details to see if Spot is the right choice for you and your pet.
NerdWallet’s Rating
Spot proudly holds a 5.0/5 rating from NerdWallet. These ratings take into account factors like customer satisfaction and the handling of consumer complaints.
Coverage Highlights
- Annual Max Coverage: Unlimited, offering peace of mind against high vet bills.
- Reimbursement Rates: Choices of 70%, 80%, or 90% of covered expenses after your deductible is met.
- Deductibles: Options range from $100 to $1,000, giving you flexibility in managing your premiums.
- Policy Highlight: Broad coverage, including microchip implantation.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Covers a wide array of conditions and treatments, including some not offered by all insurers such as prescription food and behavioral modification.
- May cover certain pre-existing conditions if they’ve been cured and symptom-free for 180 days.
- Offers an unlimited annual coverage option for extensive coverage.
Cons:
- Does not offer direct payment to your veterinarian; you must pay the vet bills upfront and submit for reimbursement.
Bottom Line: Spot provides extensive coverage options, but direct vet payments are not available. Consider Spot if you are looking for comprehensive coverage and are comfortable handling reimbursement claims.
Why Trust NerdWallet’s Review?
NerdWallet adheres to strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy. Its team of specialists analyzes more than 1,000 rates and evaluates over 25 insurance companies to provide valuable insights.
About Spot Pet Insurance
Spot stands out for its comprehensive accident and illness plans. Key features include:
- Alternative medicine coverage, including behavioral treatments, prescription food, and microchip implantation.
- No upper age limit for pets.
- Unlimited annual payout options.
- An accident-only plan is available.
- Two preventive care plans (Gold and Platinum) that can be added to your policy. These plans offer reimbursement for wellness exams, dental cleanings, and other routine expenses.
Spot, like most pet insurers, does not pay your veterinarian directly. You’ll need to settle your own vet bills upfront and then submit receipts for reimbursement.
Spot Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage
Spot provides three main types of coverage:
1. Accident and Illness: This plan offers broad protection for injuries and illnesses alike.
- Offers alternative therapies, like acupuncture and stem cell therapy, conducted by a veterinarian at a medical facility.
- Covers MRI or CT scans, X-rays, IV fluids and medications, and prescription drugs.
- Covers prescription food, supplements, exams, surgery, hospitalization, tooth extractions, and cancer treatments.
- Covers treatment of behavioral issues, hereditary conditions, and microchip implantation.
- May cover pre-existing conditions that are cured and treatment-free for 180 days (excluding pre-existing knee or ligament conditions).
2. Accident-Only: This plan focuses on injuries and accidents, offering no coverage for illnesses.
- Covers therapies such as acupuncture or hydrotherapy (when performed by a licensed veterinarian).
- Covers a wide range of diagnostics, including MRI or CT scans, X-rays, and medications.
- Covers prescription food and supplements to treat a covered condition.
- It provides coverage for stem cell therapy and microchip implantation.
3. Preventive Care: These optional plans can be added to either accident and illness plans to cover routine care expenses. Gold and Platinum plans exist:
- Gold: Includes dental cleanings, annual exams, deworming, and certain vaccinations and screening tests.
- Platinum: Offers higher limits and covers everything in the Gold plan, plus blood tests, spay/neuter surgery, urinalysis, heartworm and flea prevention, and additional vaccinations.
What’s Not Covered?
Spot’s policies have some exclusions:
- Aesthetic, cosmetic, endodontic or orthodontic dental services.
- Anal sac expression or resection.
- Costs associated with breeding or pregnancy.
- Pre-existing conditions that occurred during the waiting period or before policy purchase (unless symptom-free for at least 180 days).
- Prescription food or supplements not treating a covered condition.
- Funeral services.
- Experimental treatment.
- Illness or injury due to mistreatment, racing, or organized fighting.
Plan Options: Deductibles and Reimbursement
- Deductibles: Spot provides deductible options ranging from $100, $250, $500, $750, to $1,000 per year.
- Reimbursement Amounts: After your deductible is met, you can choose a reimbursement percentage of 70%, 80%, or 90% of your vet expenses up to your coverage limit. Deductibles do not apply to preventive care plans.
Spot generally calculates your deductible before applying your reimbursement percentage, which results in higher payouts. If the vet bill is $2,000, the deductible is $500 and the reimbursement rate is at 80%, then it’s simple: $2,000 bill – $500 deductible= $1,500. $1,500 x 0.8 (80% reimbursement rate) = $1,200. The client would pay $800 of the bill.
Coverage Limits and Restrictions
- Coverage Limits: Spot’s annual coverage options range from $2,500 up to unlimited.
- Age Restrictions: No upper age limit and it insures pets from 8 weeks old and up.
- Waiting Periods: There is a 14-day waiting period before coverage begins.
Spot Pet Insurance Sample Rates
The cost of Spot pet insurance depends on where you live, the coverage limits you choose, and your pet’s breed and age. Here are some example rates:
Sample Monthly Premiums (Katy, Texas)
Sample Monthly Premiums (Katy, Texas) for Cats
Discounts Available
Spot offers a 10% multi-pet discount.
State Availability
Spot is licensed to sell pet insurance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Availability may change.
Consumer Experience
- Website: The website offers an easy way to obtain quotes and enroll pets. There’s assistance for common questions, plus access to sample policies.
- App: Allows policy viewing, vet clinic location, and claim filing and tracking.
- Claims: Claims can be filed via the website or app. You have 270 days from the treatment date to file a claim. It should be noted that you pay up front and then get reimbursed.
- Customer Service: Can be contacted Monday through Saturday at 800-905-1595.
Spot vs. Competitors
Spot vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance:
- Pumpkin has an accident and illness plan, and a wellness add-on, but does not have an accident-only option.
- Both offer unlimited annual coverage. Spot has an app, and Pumpkin does not.
Spot vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance:
- Healthy Paws only offers one accident and illness plan without any accident-only or wellness options.
- Healthy Paws doesn’t cover exam fees, prescription food or supplements like Spot, Healthy Paws has unlimited annual coverage and various reimbursement levels.
- Spot typically processes claims faster.
Spot vs. Competitor Coverage Options
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Spot cover spaying or neutering? Spot’s platinum preventive care plan reimburses customers up to $150 for spaying and neutering.
- How do I cancel Spot pet insurance? You can cancel your policy by phone, email, or in writing.
- How much is Spot pet insurance? Advertised rates start at $15 a month for dogs and $9 a month for cats. The cost varies.
Conclusion
Spot Pet Insurance is a strong contender in the pet insurance market, especially for those seeking comprehensive coverage with an emphasis on wellness and extensive accident and illness plan options. The unlimited annual coverage and broad coverage options set it apart, despite the lack of direct payments to vets. Be sure to compare quotes and coverage levels to find the best fit for you and your pet’s needs.
