Recently, I had the opportunity to visit The Hartville Group in Canton, Ohio. The best-known brand associated with The Hartville Group is ASPCA Pet Insurance.
I was invited to tour their offices and meet with 7 or 8 key team members, several that I've communicated with via email, phone, or interviewed for podcast episodes, but never met in person. I was very appreciative that the President/CEO, Dennis Rushovich, sat in on our meeting. The occasion was also for the purpose of giving me an overview of their new Complete Coverage Policy that was introduced on Oct 30. It is already approved in most states and they are expecting approval in the other states very soon.
L-R - Gina Fortunato, Doug Kenney, Liz Watson, Dennis Rushovich
These are quotes I got on a 2 year old mixed breed dog and a 2 year old DSH cat in Memphis, TN. One of the major differences from past policies they've offered is the ability to customize your coverage:
You can see the annual maximums they now offer and also a policy with no limits. You can also see the options available for reimbursement percentages and annual deductibles. Also observe that the premium to insure the cat the same age and with the same coverages costs about 1/3 less than to insure the dog. With most, if not all, pet insurance companies, it costs less to insure a cats than dogs. My impression is that these premiums are very reasonable and should compare well with other companies for similar coverage.
Here's a summary of the features of the new Complete Coverage Policy that I think are significant:
- Reimburses according to veterinary invoice vs. what is usual, customary, and reasonable.
- No incident limits.
- Covers hereditary/congenital conditions, chronic conditions, behavioral conditions, alternative therapies and prescription diets up to the selected policy maximum (renews annually).
- Good coverage of dental conditions. They cover treatment of periodontal disease and tooth fractures. They will pay for extraction of fractured or diseased teeth, but not root canals, caps, crowns, etc.
I am very impressed with the company and their team. I believe the new policy will make the company much more competitive with other insurers in the United States.
I will also have a podcast episode soon with representatives of the company going over the details of the new policy. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast.
Check out the new Complete Coverage policy here and get a quote for your pet.
