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Spot Pet Insurance Review 2023

Spot Pet Insurance offers comprehensive, customizable policies for cats and dogs. Pet owners can protect their pets against accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, behavioral issues, alternative treatments, chronic conditions, and other common pet health conditions. Spot also offers preventative care add-ons, making it easy for customers to save money on care necessities like dental cleaning and deworming.

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Highlights

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Customizable policies make pricing flexible
  • 24/7 access to tele-vet specialists
  • Ability to visit any licensed vet in the US

Our Summary

We consistently rate Spot as one of our top-rated pet insurance companies because its policies are both generous and customizable. Spot automatically covers alternative therapies, some chronic conditions, and many behavioral conditions, inclusions that other insurers would charge as add-ons. Policyholders can even edit their deductible, annual limit, and reimbursement rate to create an insurance package that fits their budget.

About Spot Pet Insurance

Started in 2017, Spot provides affordable pet insurance policies to pet owners in all 50 states.

Spot specializes in offering coverage for puppies, dogs, kittens, and cats. Policyholders can choose two primary types of coverage—Accident-Only and Accident + Illness—as well as an add-on for preventative care coverage. Every policy is customizable, allowing policyholders to tweak their reimbursement rate, annual limit, and deductible to create the most affordable coverage plan for their furry friend.

How Does Spot Pet Insurance Work?

Spot utilizes a 100% online toolkit to make the claims process extremely easy and efficient for new and old customers alike.

New customers can request a free quote in just a few minutes, with the option to edit their policy details to see how it would affect premium pricing. Applying for coverage is just as easy, thanks to a 100% online application that never requires an in-person vet checkup.

For existing customers, Spot’s online claims portal is fast and easy to use. After visiting a vet, customers pay the bill in full and keep a record of the itemized bill. Once online, customers can simply upload a photo of their bill to Spot’s online portal and answer a few questions to file their claim. Once approved, customers can receive a direct deposit or check reimbursement of up to 90% of their bill in just a day or two.

Spot Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Customizable reimbursement rate, annual limit, and deductible Spot does not pay veterinary bills directly
Multiple coverage options: Accident-Only and Accident + Illness
Preventative care add-on available

Spot State Availability

Spot Pet Insurance policies are available in all 50 states.

Spot policyholders can receive reimbursement coverage for a visit from any licensed veterinarian located anywhere in the United States.

Spot Pet Insurance Plans

Next to customizability (which we’ll cover in the next section), Spot’s best feature is its comprehensive coverage options. There are two plans to choose from, as well as two tiers of preventative care plans:

Accident-Only

Spot’s Accident-Only coverage is their most affordable pet insurance plan, at the cost of being less comprehensive than the others. Accident-Only coverage is a great option for pet owners looking for an affordable way to protect their pets against unexpected incidents like car accidents or animal attacks.

Covered accidents include (but are not limited to):

  • Bites
  • Cuts
  • Broken bones
  • Lodged foreign objects
  • Toxin ingestion

Accident & Illness

Spot’s Accident & Illness policy is the next step up, and is perfect for a pet owner who wants to protect their pet against almost any incident or scenario. Accident + Illness Coverage is priced a bit higher than the Accident-Only plan, but the inclusion of illness-related treatments may be worth it for many pet owners.

Covered incidents and scenarios include (but are not limited to):

  • Accidents
    • Bites
    • Cuts
    • Broken bones
    • Lodged foreign objects
    • Toxin ingestion
  • Hereditary Conditions
    • Heart disease
    • Eye disorders
    • Hip dysplasia
  • Illnesses
    • Thyroid disease
    • Digestive problems
    • Urinary Tract Infections
    • Cancer
  • Chronic Issues
    • Diabetes
    • Arthritis
  • Alternative Therapies
    • Acupuncture
    • Physiotherapy
    • Chiropractic Care
    • Rehabilitative Therapy
    • Hydrotherapy
    • Low-level laser therapy
  • Behavioral Issues
    • Anxiety
    • Excessive licking
    • Destruction of the home
    • Fur Pulling
    • Aggression
    • Other compulsive behavior

Preventative Care Plans

Spot’s Preventative Care policies are add-ons that cover the treatments and medications designed to prevent an illness or injury before it occurs. The preventative Care add-ons are perfect for the proactive pet owner who wants to keep a watchful eye over their pet’s health at all times, even when their pup or kitty is in perfect health.

Spot offers two tiers of Preventative Care: Gold and Platinum. Gold Preventative Care costs $9.95/month and includes less coverage than the Platinum plan, which costs $24.95/month (prices accurate as of 11/4/2022).

Here are the maximum annual benefits for the two options:

Gold Preventative Care Platinum Preventative Care
Dental Cleaning $100 $150
Wellness Exam $50 $50
Deworming $20 $25
Health Certificate $0 $25
DHLPP Vaccine/Titer $20 $25
Fecal Test $20 $25
Heartworm Test $20 $25
Flea/Heartworm Prevention $0 $25
Bordetella Vaccine Titer $0 25
Blood Test $0 25
Urinalysis $0 25
Total Annual Benefit $250 $450

What’s Not Covered

In pet insurance, a coverage limitation is any scenario that voids a policyholder’s coverage status. Spot’s coverage limitations include:

  • Pre-Existing Conditions: Spot defines a pre-existing condition as a health problem that occurs before coverage is effective or during the waiting period.

here’s an important caveat about pre-existing conditions: if your pet has been cured of the condition(has been without treatment of the condition and has not had symptoms of it) for 180 days, Spot may provide coverage for it if your pet contracts it a second time (with the exception of knee and ligament conditions). If your dog or cat had a bladder infection, received treatment for it, and was cured, this condition would no longer be considered pre-existing.

Insurance contracts tend to include additional limitations that may inhibit coverage; make sure to read and review your contract before signing.

Spot Coverage Options and Customizability

Right alongside its breadth of coverage inclusions, Spot’s commitment to policyholder customizability is our favorite feature. To save money and create their perfect policy, policyholders can tweak the following policy details:

Deductibles

A deductible is the amount of money a policyholder must pay for veterinary services before their coverage benefits kick in. For example, let’s say a policyholder had to pay an $800 vet bill for treatment of a covered pet injury. If this customer had a deductible of $500, they would have to pay the first $500 of the bill out-of-pocket, while the remaining $300 would be eligible for reimbursement (up to 90%).

Spot’s deductibles reset every 12 months from a term’s activation date.

Generally speaking, the lower the deductible, the higher the premium a policyholder would have to pay. Spot customers can choose from the following annual deductibles:

  • $100
  • $250
  • $500
  • $750
  • $1,000

Reimbursement Rate

The reimbursement rate is the percentage of a covered veterinary bill that will be reimbursed by the pet insurer. With Spot, policyholders pay for their veterinary bill upfront, then submit a claim that (if approved) is reimbursed to the pet owners via direct deposit or check.

Let’s say a Spot policyholder has a 90% reimbursement rate and just paid a $500 vet bill. Assuming they already paid off their deductible, the policyholder could expect a reimbursement deposit of $450 (if the claim is accepted).

Generally speaking, the lower the reimbursement rate, the lower the premium a policyholder would have to pay. Spot customers can choose from the following reimbursement rates:

  • 70%
  • 80%
  • 90%

Annual Coverage Limit

The annual coverage limit is the maximum amount of money that an insurer will reimburse a policyholder over 12 months. Spot’s annual coverage limit resets 12 months after the term’s activation date.

For example, let’s say a policyholder has an annual limit of $2,500 and just paid off a $500 vet bill. Assuming they’ve already been reimbursed for $2,400 that year, the insurer would only reimburse the first $100 of the new bill; the remaining $400 would wholly be the policyholder’s responsibility.

Generally speaking, the lower the annual coverage limit, the lower the premium a policyholder would have to pay. Spot customers can choose from the following annual coverage limits:

  • $2,500
  • $3,000
  • $4,000
  • $5,000
  • $7,000
  • $10,000
  • Unlimited

Restrictions and Waiting Periods

Restrictions, waiting periods, and other coverage limitations can greatly alter a customer’s experience with their pet insurance policy. To get the most out of your Spot policy, be sure to keep the following restrictions in mind:

Restrictions

  • Pre-Existing Conditions: Spot considers any accident, injury, or chronic disease with an onset that occurs before the end of the waiting period to be considered a pre-existing condition. Pre-existing conditions do not meet the criteria for coverage.
  • Age: A policyholder’s pet must be at least 8 weeks old to meet coverage requirements.

Waiting Periods

Spot customers must wait 14 days after signing before their coverage begins. If their pet becomes ill, injured, or develops a chronic disease during that time, the pet’s subsequent treatments and medications will not be reimbursed.

How Much Does Spot Cost?

Pet insurance pricing is based on a unique variety of personal details such as a policyholder’s species of pet, breed of pet, location, age of pet, and customizable policy details.

With this variation in mind, we estimated how much it would cost (per month) to insure our cat or dog for the various Spot Pet Insurance plans. Pricing is based on the following details:

  • Coverage Type
  • Reimbursement Rate: 90%
  • Deductible: $500
  • Annual Coverage Limit: $5,000
  • Location: Chicago, Illinois (60614)
  • Pet Age: 2 years old
  • Pet Gender: Female

Spot Dog Insurance

Small Mix (<10 lbs.) Small Mix (11–25 lbs.) Medium Mix (26–50 lbs.) Large Mix (51–100 lbs.) Giant Mix (>100 lbs.)
Accident-Only $30.60 $30.60 $30.60 $30.60 $30.60
Accident + Illness $27.78 $32.54 $41.29 $47.60 $57.40
Accident + Illness + Gold Preventative Care 40.55 $42.49 $51.24 $57.55 $67.35
Accident + Illness + Platinum Preventative Care $55.55 $57.49 $66.24 $72.55 $82.35

Spot Cat Insurance

For cat insurance, we found that prices were much more consistent across breed than with dogs; Spot only seems to use only two groups to figure out how much a cat’s premium should be. We named these groups: “Common” and “Uncommon.”

  • “Common Breeds”
    • Abyssinian
    • American Curl
    • Domestic Shorthair
    • Domestic Mediumhair
    • Domestic Longhair
    • Siamese
  • “Uncommon Breeds”
    • British Shorthair
    • Exotic Shorthair
    • Himalayan
    • Siberian
Common Breeds Uncommon Breeds
Accident-Only $17.48 $17.48
Accident + Illness $21.42 $31.83
Accident + Illness + Gold Preventative Care $31.37 $41.78
Accident + Illness + Platinum Preventative Care $46.37 $56.78

The best way to see what your unique pricing might look like is to get a free quote directly from Spot.

Spot Discounts

Save on premium payments with the following discounts:

  • 10% Multi-Pet Discount: Save 10% on all premium payments when you sign up more than one pet for coverage.
  • $25 Amazon.com Gift Card: New customers from participating states can receive a $25 Amazon gift card.*

Spot’s Customer Experience

Spot customers can get quotes, apply for coverage, and file claims with a variety of easy-to-use tools such as:

Website:

Spot’s website makes it extremely easy for new customers to sign up for coverage. Customers have a variety of tools at their fingertips, including:

  • Instant Pricing Tool: With just a few clicks in Spot’s pricing tool, customers can edit policy details, personal details, and other information that affects pricing to custom-build their perfect pet insurance policy.
  • Online Quotes and Applications: Soon-to-be policyholders can receive an official quote and apply for coverage completely online, with no need to see a vet for a checkup.
  • Claims: Customers can file an online claim 24/7, usually just by answering a few questions and uploading an image of their veterinary bill.

App:

Spot’s customer app lets customers complete a variety of tasks from anywhere, such as:

  • View their policy
  • File a claim
  • Check on the status of a reimbursement
  • Text chat with a tele-vet expert, 24/7

Claims:

Spot lets customers file a claim in any way they like, via their website, app, fax, or email.

If a claim is accepted, customers can receive their reimbursement by direct deposit or by mail.

Customer Service:

Spot’s friendly customer service team is available by phone Monday through Friday from 8 AM–8 PM EST.

Spot Pet Insurance FAQ

How much does Spot Pet Insurance cost?

Spot pricing varies from customer to customer. For the most accurate pricing, we recommend you request a quote.

How long is the waiting period for Spot Pet Insurance?

The Spot waiting period is 14-days after a contract’s start date.

How do I cancel Spot Pet Insurance?

Spot Pet Insurance customers can cancel their pet insurance policy at any time via the Member Portal on Spot’s website.

Do all veterinarians accept Spot Pet Insurance?

Spot reimburses its customers who visit any licensed vet in the United States.

Does Spot Pet Insurance cover neutering?

Spot’s Platinum Preventative Care add-on covers the cost of spaying and neutering.

The Bottom Line

We consistently rate Spot as one of our top pet insurers and with good reason. Benefits such as generous coverage, customizable policies, tele-vet accessibility, and a 10% multi-pet discount make Spot hit the perfect balance of affordability and financial protection. If you want all of the must-have pet insurance perks at a customizable price, Spot is the pet insurer for you.

*Amazon.com Gift Card* is only available to residents of CA, FL, ID, ME, MT, NJ, NY, and WA, subject to eligibility. Eligibility terms: spotpetins.com/amz-terms/

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Pet insurance typically covers illness, accidents, behavioral issues, genetic conditions, chronic disorders, and alternative therapies recommended by veterinarians. Companies may offer additional offers or bonus packages for preventive care including annual appointments, vaccines, routine testing, de-worming, and more.
There are many different types of pet insurance covering a wide range of health needs. The most common types are comprehensive, accident-only, and preventive. Plans are often divided by animal type and age including dogs/cats, puppies/kittens, and sometimes even small or exotic animals can receive coverage.
An average pet insurance policy starts at roughly $15-25 per month for accident-only and preventative plans. A monthly premium for comprehensive pet insurance plans offering the most extensive coverage will cost an average of $40–$60 per month. Prices will vary based on provider features, plan selection, premium and deductible fees, number of pets, health needs, and more.
On average, pet insurance plans can save you anywhere from 25-85% annually. The amount of money saved will vary but policies should cover a significant portion of veterinary bills depending on the plan and specific treatments needed.