Spot Pet Insurance Review

Spot Pet Insurance Ratings at a Glance

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Your relationship with your pet is a gift. Why wouldn’t you safeguard it with pet insurance? One of the nation’s largest carriers, Spot Pet Insurance, reimburses pet owners for vet services. You can customize your policy to dial in the monthly premium, deductible and coverage to meet your specific needs. If you’re looking for the best pet insurance, take a look at Benzinga’s Spot Pet Insurance guide to understand how you and your pet can benefit from first-class coverage.

Animals Spot Pet Insurance Covers

Spot Pet Insurance covers your cat or dog in case of unexpected illness or injuries. The carrier follows the reimbursement approach, repaying you for covered veterinary services. Again, customization is at the heart of Spot Pet Insurance plans, so you have a choice in what’s covered.

Dog breeds commonly covered by Spot:

• Bulldog
• Chihuahua
• German Shepherd
• Golden Retriever
• Great Dane
• Labrador Retriever
• Pitbull

Cat breeds commonly covered by Spot:

• Bengal
• Devon Rex
• Maine Coon
• Munchkin
• Ragdoll
• Sphynx

Spot Pet Insurance provides a variety of coverage options but coming to the table with some general insurance knowledge will help you choose a plan. Here’s a quick review of terms to make sure you comprehend your coverage:

• Premiums: A premium is the amount of money you pay monthly for an insurance plan. You can adjust factors to lower or raise your premium. Factors such as your pet’s age, deductible and coverage add-ons will determine your premium.
• Deductible: You must pay your deductible before your policy contributes toward the cost of covered vet services. Your deductible is set when you enroll into a plan. If your insurance provider accepts a submitted claim, the amount you pay upfront counts toward your deductible.
• Copay: The copay is the amount you pay at each vet visit. After meeting your deductible, you are responsible for a copay for every service or visit covered by your plan. Your insurance carrier is responsible for the remainder of the cost.
• Maximum payout: Some insurance plans have a maximum payout amount, which is the maximum amount of money your insurance provider contributes towards your pet’s costs. Some plans have a maximum payout per illness or incident while others have a lifetime or annual maximum payout. Once you meet the maximum payout, you’ll begin paying out of pocket for vet services.
• Waiting period: The waiting period starts on the first effective date of the applicable coverage. Your coverage won’t begin until the waiting period lapses. An injury or illness that occurs during this period won’t be covered by your insurance policy.
• Preexisting conditions: These are injuries, diseases, illnesses or changes to your pet’s health that first show symptoms or occur during the waiting period or before coverage is effective. This also includes conditions that are secondary, related to or that result from a preexisting condition.  

Spot Pet Insurance coverage starts at rates as little as $10 (for accident only), $16 (Complete Coverage). Rates vary based on species, age, breed, and location. This type of plan will reimburse you a set amount of money for covered services. Preventive services include dental cleanings and vaccines. No copay or deductible is required for this option. Spot also provides an accident-only plan, which only covers accidents.

A Spot Pet Insurance plan will cover:

• Diagnostic tests: This may include blood tests, MRI or CT scans, X-rays and other tests your vet may prescribe.
• Illnesses: The coverage extends to both minor and major illnesses. For instance, you’d expect the same level of coverage for a chronic illness like cancer or for a simple ear infection.
• Accidents: Accidents are covered and can include incidents like breaking a bone or getting a giant splinter.
• Veterinary treatment: Examinations, consultations, intravenous fluids and laboratory tests are included. Hospitalization and surgery and medical supplies like casts, bandages and splints are also covered.
• Injuries: Necessary stitches, care for broken bones or other injuries make the list.
• Medicine and supplements: Spot will cover prescription medications and supplements needed to treat a covered condition.

Beyond general preventive and acute care, Spot Pet Insurance plans also let you choose coverage for most specialized treatments. The following can be part of your pet’s plan:

• Prescription food: Prescription food is covered if it's needed to treat a covered condition.
• Poison control and consultation fees: Spot covers all veterinary consultation fees and poison control procedures if your pet ingests poison.
• Tooth extractions
• Stem cell therapy: Stem cell procedures like bone marrow transplant make the list as long as it’s for a covered condition.
• Alternative therapy: Procedures like physiotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic and therapeutic laser treatment are covered.
• Behavioral conditions: Treatment for aggression, marking and destructive chewing is provided only if treatment is performed by a vet or through a written referral by a vet to a certified applied animal behaviorist.  
• Cancer: All cancer-related testing and treatments, including but not limited to radiation treatment and chemotherapy, are covered by Spot at no extra cost.
• Microchip implantation: Your plan will cover microchip implantation by a vet. Associated fees for monitoring, registration or renewal are not included.

Spot Pet Insurance Exclusions

Understanding policy exclusions is just as important. Spot Pet Insurance will not pay for any costs resulting from or associated with the following:

• Breeding, pregnancy, nursing or whelping
• Cosmetic, aesthetic and endodontic dental services like crowns, caps, crown amputation, implants, fillings and root canals
• Grooming or grooming supplies including ear cleanings, non-prescription baths, nail trims and non-prescription shampoos.
• Cosmetic and elective procedures including tail docking, ear cropping and claw removal
• House call fees and travel expenses to and from the hospital or veterinarian office
• Non-medical supplies such as leashes, toys and training devices
• Preexisting conditions that occurred during the waiting period or on or before the policy effective date
• Pet food, prescription food, supplements, vitamins, treats or diets used for general prevention or health maintenance — including weight loss
• Pet daycare or boarding

Spot calculates your premium based on your pet’s breed, age and where you live. Other factors that will impact your premium are:

• Your reimbursement percentage
• The plan you choose
• Your deductible
• Discount eligibility
• Inclusion of preventive care

Take a look at Spot’s premium rates for specific breeds and ages to get an idea of what you can expect. 

Quotes were obtained for a male pet with a $5,000 annual limit, $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement. Get your custom quote.

Spot Pet Insurance—like most carriers—follows a claim and reimbursement model. You should begin the claims process for every vet visit or invoice received for a covered expense. As a customer, you can submit a claim and invoice through the Spot Pet Insurance mobile app. They also strive to respond to all complete claims within a 7 day period.

Follow these steps as a part of Spot’s claims process.

Step 1: Complete the Claims Form.

You can submit a claim within 270 days from the date of treatment for all treatments and visits you want to be covered. You can visit any licensed vet in the U.S., including emergency care clinics and specialists. Remember, most vets will not submit these claims for you. If your vet is willing to send invoices along with claims forms, make sure to do your part to complete the claim at the desk. You don’t want to wait and cause more work for the clerical staff.

Step 2: Attach an Itemized Invoice.

To receive your reimbursement, you’ll need to provide an invoice from your vet as proof of treatment. Include your vet’s name as well as a summary of why you made the visit. You may want to ask your vet to make two copies so that you can keep one for your records and send one to the carrier.

Step 3: Send in Your Claim.

Email or upload your claim to your Spot account. Include your pet’s medical records to speed up the claims process. You’ll receive a response email when your claim is received and complete. You can check the status of your claim online through your personalized claims portal. Remember, it can take some time to see a payment for each claim, but you can also reach out to the customer service team if you have any questions about when your claim will be paid.

Here are a few ways to get in touch with Spot:

• The Spot Pet Insurance customer service team is available at 1-877-958-8702 weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST
• Online contact form
• Email

Spot Pet Insurance’s overall rating is 4.8 out of 5. Your relationships with your pets are valuable. Protect it with a pet insurance policy from Spot Pet Insurance. Spot’s customizable policy benefits mean you can find a policy that works for you. 

Visit Spot to receive a free quote.

Spot Pet Insurance vs. Competitors

Take a look at how Spot stacks up to competitors.

Methodology

Benzinga crafted a specific methodology to rank pet insurance. To see a comprehensive breakdown of our methodology, please visit see our Pet Insurance Methodology page.

Frequently Asked Questions