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Paw Protect vs ASPCA PHI

Paw Protect vs ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Verdict

Paw Protect is a recently established pet insurance provider that pays its share of covered vet bills to customers while they’re still at the vet, meaning customers don’t have to use their own money to pay vet bills upfront. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, which has been around since 2006, makes its customers pay the whole bill upfront themselves before reimbursing them.

Both cover diagnostics and behavioral therapies, but Paw Protect also offers a useful 24/7 vet telehealth line for instant expert advice.

Here’s how they shape up in more detail:

PawASPCA
Can pay vet bills upfront
Annual coverage options$5000, $10,000, Unlimited$2,500, $4,000, $7,000, $10,000
Deductible options$100, $250, $500$100, $250, $500
Reimbursement options70%, 80%, 90%70%, 80%, 90%
Illness coverage start14 days14 days
Maximum age at sign-upCoverage (14 years) and Accident only (14+ years)No maximum
Vet exam fees included
Dental accidents covered
Dental illness covered
Wellness plan offered
24/7 Telehealth
End of life coverage included
10% Multi-pet discount
Military discount

Information correct as of May 2023

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Paw Protect vs ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Claims process

The main drawback with pet insurance is that usually, you have to pay the whole bill upfront and then claim the money back from your insurer, less your deductible and copay. But Paw Protect is different. When you’re at the vet and you get your bill for a covered claim, you just call Paw Protect and once the claim is approved, Paw Protect immediately sends its share of the claim to your bank account. This means the only thing you have to pay for is your out-of-pocket expenses, which is the same with any pet insurance plan.

With ASPCA Pet Health Insurance you’ll have to pay the vet’s fee in full yourself, before claiming back the payment, minus the deductible and copay. You can submit your claim and track it from there. Alternatively, you can email, fax or mail your claims.

 

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Paw Protect vs ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: What do the plans cover?

Paw Protect and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plans are two of the best on the market. Cats and dogs can find a lot of ways to hurt themselves or make themselves sick, but each insurer offers wide coverage, from common ailments to rarer and more serious ones. 

Both accident and illness treatment costs are covered, as are hereditary, congenital and chronic ailments.

All the most common conditions that can trouble your beloved pet are covered. This includes, but is not limited to:  

  • Arthritis
  • Cancer
  • Cataracts
  • Dental disease
  • Dermatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Diarrhea
  • Ear infections
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Kidney disease
  • Ligament injury
  • Limping
  • Liver disease
  • Lymphoma
  • Pancreatitis
  • Seizures
  • Vomiting

Both cover the cost of examination fees, diagnostics, behavioral issues, stem-cell therapy, alternative therapies such as acupuncture, and advanced treatments like chemotherapy and surgery.

Paw Protect adds a key extra service in the form of  a 24/7 vet telehealth line, which can speed diagnosis and minimize any suffering for a sick or injured pet.

Do Paw Protect and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance have a Wellness plan?

Paw Protect’s Wellness Rewards routine wellness plan helps to pay for regular preventative treatments including teeth cleaning, grooming and vaccinations, along with one-offs such as neutering or spaying. You can choose between annual limits of $250, $450 and $650 per year, with each package saving you money.

Paw Protect’s Wellness Rewards is offered as a supplementary, non-insurance benefit administered by Embrace Pet Insurance Agency in the United States. Wellness Rewards is not available in Rhode Island.

Meanwhile, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers Preventative Care packages set at two levels. Gold costs $9.95 per month for a $250 annual limit; while Platinum costs $24.95 per month for a $450 annual limit. Services offered range from teeth cleaning to fecal tests.

Paw Protect vs ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: What are the coverage limits?

Both insurers offer a range of maximum annual payouts. Paw Protect offers three limits: $5,000, $10,000 and Unlimited. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000 and $10,000.

The higher the limit you select, the more your annual premium will be. Generally puppies and senior dogs need higher amounts.

Paw Protect vs ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Deductibles

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance and Paw Protect both offer annual deductibles of $100, $250 and $500.

What are Paw Protect and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s reimbursement percentage options?

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance and Paw Protect both have 70%, 80% and 90% reimbursement options. This means, after your deductible is paid, the insurer will pay out 70%, 80% or 90% of bills for covered conditions.

The lower the reimbursement amount you select, the cheaper your annual premium will be – but any payout will be smaller, too.

Do Paw Protect and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance have any exclusions?

All genuine insurance features exclusions and both ASPCA Pet Health Insurance and Paw Protect are upfront about theirs. 

Like all pet insurers, pre-existing conditions are not covered. That said, both firms will cover some curable pre-existing conditions if your pet hasn’t experienced any symptoms or had any treatment for a set period of time. 

With ASPCA Pet Health Insurance this period is 180 days (with the exception of knee & ligament conditions), while with Paw Protect it’s 12 months.

Neither policy covers regular preventative care such as routine exams or vaccines, but their additional wellness plans do.

How expensive are Paw Protect and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance?

These are two high-quality products, and in true you-get-what-you-pay-for style, they may cost a little more than some less-comprehensive insurances. However, the extra cost is typically a few dollars a month, so you should weigh up the pros and cons of any small potential savings.

Paw Protect
ASPCA pet health insurance
$44.90per month
$56.13per month

Medium Mixed Breed Puppy

1 year old
in Los Angeles, 91010
$10,000 annual coverage

$90.95per month
$86.02per month

Golden Retriever

3 years old
in Orlando, 32807
$10,000 annual coverage

$31.51per month
$27.79per month

Chihuahua

4 years old
in Sacramento, 94211
$10,000 annual coverage

$35.96per month
$29.31per month

Domestic Shorthair Kitten

1 year old
in New York City, 10008
$5,000 annual coverage

$37.75per month
$36.75per month

Ragdoll Cat

3 years old
in Dallas, 75061
$10,000 annual coverage

All quotes are based on a $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement. Prices correct as of April 1st 2025

Paw Protect vs ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: How quickly are claims paid?

The speed with which your insurer repays your veterinary treatment invoice is all-important, especially as you could be paying interest on a bill of several thousand dollars.

Paw Protect can pay its share of any covered claim straight to its customers’ bank accounts while they’re still at the vet, meaning you don’t have to wait days or even weeks to get your money back. 

With ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, claims usually take around two weeks to process, plus however long it takes for payments to clear – although you’ll be paid significantly quicker if you opt for direct deposit reimbursement, rather than payment by check. 

Do Paw Protect and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offer any discounts?

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers a 10% multi-pet discount.

Paw Protect goes further, offering the same 10% multi-pet discount, but adding a 5% reduction for former and active military personnel. 

Paw Protect vs ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Standard waiting periods?

With Paw Protect there is a two-week illness waiting period which begins on your policies’ effective date. Orthopedic conditions have additional waiting or exclusion periods that vary by state.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance coverage has a 14-day waiting period for treatments related to both injury or illness. ASPCA doesn’t have an extended waiting period for some conditions such as cruciate-ligament damage.

The waiting period begins on the day the insurance plan is activated. Should a condition occur during that time, it will be considered a pre-existing condition.

Do Paw Protect and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s plans include behavioral treatments?

Calm and happy animal companions are what every pet parent dreams of, but if that’s not the case, several insurers will pay for therapy and training to modify their behavior.

Paw Protect will pay for both behavioral therapy and training, as long as it’s delivered by a veterinarian for a condition covered by the policy.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance covers anxiety medication, plus behavioral therapy and training for both dogs and cats. Issues typically include anxiety, aggression, destructive or compulsive behaviors and excessive licking.

Paw Protect vs ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Is there a maximum age for enrollment?

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance states no upper-age limit for illness and accident coverage. Paw Protect has an upper limit of 5 years for accident and illness cover.

Paw Protect vs ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Customer Reviews

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is popular among its customers and scores 4.3 on Trustpilot, from almost 4,000 respondents. In November 2022, customers gave five-star ratings for the speed of payment and efficiency/quality of customer service. 

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