Who’s the Best Pet Insurance Provider? Comparing AKC Pet Insurance and Fetch
How do you pick the best pet insurance provider for your cats and dogs? We've researched the plans, benefits, and services provided by AKC Pet Insurance and Fetch.
Owning a pet is a big responsibility. As their caregiver, you are accountable for their health and well-being. Not only must you keep them fed and happy, but responsible pet ownership means caring for their physical health as well. This means taking pets to the vet for checkups, as well as when they have an accident or illness.
With pet healthcare costs rising 10% in the past year, how can you continue to give your pet the quality veterinary care they deserve? Pet insurance is an excellent solution to help you with unexpected vet bills from illnesses and injuries. Nearly half of American pet owners already have pet insurance coverage for their furry friends.
There is a lot of information out there on how pet insurance works and what it covers, and it can all feel overwhelming. Get a direct comparison of the options, availability, and services provided by AKC Pet Insurance and Fetch Pet Insurance.
Company Information
As the first kennel club in the U.S., the American Kennel Club (AKC) is internationally regarded as the premier kennel club. AKC Pet Insurance (underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company) is the exclusive pet-insurance partner of the AKC and has been since their inception in 2003, providing quality pet-insurance services to all 50 states in the U.S. and Washington D.C.
Fetch Pet Insurance is underwritten by XL Specialty Insurance Company or AXIS Insurance Company, based on your location in the U.S. They have provided pet insurance to all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Canada for 17 years.
Every Dog and Cat Deserves the Pet Insurance of Champions
Get prize-winning care for your pets.
Top Unique Features for AKC Pet Insurance and Fetch
Very few pet insurers offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, but AKC Pet Insurance is unique by offering this benefit after 365 days of continuous coverage1. If your pet has a chronic medical issue, AKC Pet Insurance will include it in your coverage benefits after the first year of service. Fetch Pet Insurance does not offer any coverage for pre-existing conditions. If your pet has a symptom documented prior to coverage with Fetch Pet Insurance, that condition will not be covered once diagnosed, regardless of length of coverage.
AKC Pet Insurance also includes a 24/7 Vet Helpline with Accident and Illness plans, which gives customers the added benefit of being able to talk with vet professionals for advice or guidance about their pet.
Fetch knows that prevention is an important part of pet health, so they offer a unique service called Fetch Forward. This free service is a pet-health forecast that takes 150 million data points into consideration to give you an idea of your pet’s potential health issues based on their breed, age, location, and more. It is a data-driven program that provides you with potential health complications and gives guidance on how to protect your pet from them.
AKC Pet Insurance vs. Fetch: Coverage Comparison
You may be asking, “but what does pet insurance actually cover?” That is a common question for potential pet insurance customers. While both AKC Pet Insurance and Fetch Pet Insurance offer coverage for emergency illnesses and injuries, AKCPI also offers coverage for preventative care with their optional Wellness add-on for an additional fee.
AKC Pet Insurance has multiple add-ons available for an extra fee. Once enrolled in their base Accident and Illness Plan, not only can customers add Wellness Options, but also Exam Coverage, Hereditary Condition Coverage, Breeding Coverage, and Final Respects Coverage as additional benefits to create a custom insurance plan for each pet.
Fetch Pet Insurance plans are designed for emergencies and unexpected illnesses and injuries. Like AKC Pet Insurance, they cover diagnostics and treatments for many medical issues like surgery, cancer, toxin ingestion, hospitalization, prescriptions, and more.
AKC Pet Insurance | Fetch Pet Insurance | |
Pre-Existing Conditions | Covered after 365 days of continuous coverage* | Not Covered |
24/7 Vet Helpline | Included | Not Included |
Diagnostics & Testing | Covered | Covered |
Physical Therapy | Covered | Covered |
Hospitalization | Covered | Covered |
Exam Fees | Covered with Add-on | Not Covered |
Wellness & Prevention Care | Covered with Add-on | Not Covered |
Microchipping | Covered with Add-on | Not Covered |
Spay/Neuter | Covered with Add-on | Not Covered |
Vaccinations | Covered with Add-on | Not Covered |
Flea & Tick Prevention | Covered with Add-on | Not Covered |
Cost of Pet Insurance Coverage for AKC Pet Insurance and Fetch
Pet insurance premium costs are based on your pet’s age, breed, and location. Both AKC Pet Insurance and Fetch Pet Insurance allow you to customize plan options like deductibles, annual limits, and coinsurance percentages. Additionally, AKC Pet Insurance offers a discount if you enroll 2 or more pets in their plans2. Both companies charge a small processing fee, which is added to premium payments, but neither charges a signup or enrollment fee for starting a plan.
AKC Pet Insurance vs. Fetch: Customer Service and Claims Processing
Both AKCPI and Fetch have strong customer approval ratings. As of this writing, customers have given AKC Pet Insurance a 4.4 out of 5 star rating and Fetch a 4.2 out of 5 star rating on Consumer Affairs.
The claims process is also similar for both AKC Pet Insurance and Fetch Pet Insurance. AKC Pet Insurance accepts claims online through their customer portal or mail, email, and fax with a traditional claim form. The entire claims process and reimbursement payment is expected to take 3-5 business days, depending on the claim, information payment, and reimbursement method (direct deposit or mailed check).
Fetch Pet Insurance requires that claim submission occur within 90 days of treatment via their app or online customer portal. Claims are expected to be processed within 15 business days, and reimbursement can be provided by direct deposit or mailed check.
Selecting the best pet insurance plan for your pet is critical to providing the best care possible. So, choose a provider that meets your pets’ holistic needs like AKC Pet Insurance. Get your quote today.
Every Dog and Cat Deserves the Pet Insurance of Champions
Get prize-winning care for your pets.
1 Not available in all states. “Only brand” refers to comparison with 5 pet insurance carriers making up approximately 80% of the US pet insurance market (Nationwide, ASPCA, Trupanion, HealthyPaws and PetPlan).
2Not available in all states. New and current policyholders may receive a 5% multi-pet discount if they get coverage for more than one pet or add an additional pet to an existing policy.
CJ has always wanted to be a writer. She even threatened to drop out after her first day of kindergarten when they weren’t immediately going to teach her to read and write. Fortunately, she stayed in school, earned her degree in Creative Writing from Christopher Newport University, and now gets to live her best life with her husband, 3 Japanese Chins, and cat writing for AKC Pet Insurance.
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