Who’s the Best Pet Insurance Provider? Comparing AKC Pet Insurance and Spot
Picking the right pet insurance provider for your cat or dog is an important part of your pet's health. Compare the plans offered by AKC Pet Insurance and Spot.
Recent inflation has caused prices on essentials to soar across the United States. As Americans are tightening their belts to keep their families fed, they are also feeling the pinch in unexpected areas like pet care. Veterinary expenses have risen 10% this year, the largest spike in vet costs in two decades.
With pet-care costs rising, how can you continue to give your pet the quality care they deserve without draining your savings account in the event of an emergency illness or injury? Pet insurance is the answer for many Americans, with nearly half of pet owners saying they already have pet insurance coverage for their furry friends.
Whether you’re looking for a new provider or planning to add pet insurance to your pet’s wellness routine, there are a lot of options and information out there on how pet insurance works, and it can all feel overwhelming. Let’s look at the pet insurance benefits offered through two top providers: AKC Pet Insurance and Spot Pet Insurance.
Company Information
Whether you know them from dog shows or your own dog’s registration, the American Kennel Club (AKC) is widely regarded as one of the top kennel clubs in the world. The first kennel club in the U.S., the AKC set the standards for breeding and care of dogs throughout the nation. AKC Pet Insurance (underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company) was founded in 2003 and offers robust, pet-focused coverage through their customizable insurance plans in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Spot Pet Insurance works from a “digital-first” approach to providing pet insurance. They are pet-centric in their focus and goals, and work to eliminate the need for paperwork by focusing their product offerings on their digital account platform and mobile app. Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company and administered by Spot Pet Insurances, LLC, they provide pet insurance coverage to pet owners in all 50 states.
Top Unique Features
Pre-existing coverage is a unique offering in the pet insurance world provided through AKC Pet Insurance after 365 days of continuous coverage1. This means that if your pet has a chronic or recurring medical issue, AKC Pet Insurance will include it in your coverage benefits after the first year of the policy. Most pet insurers, including Spot Pet Insurance, do not offer coverage for pre-existing medical issues at any point.
Pet health emergencies don’t happen on a normal 9-5 schedule, so both plans include 24/7 access to veterinarians and pet experts. AKC Pet Insurance has the 24/7 Vet Helpline and Spot Pet Insurance offers VetAccess 24/7, so customers can speak with veterinary experts any time for guidance and advice about their pets. These unique services are included with enrollment in the base pet-insurance plans offered through each company.
Spot Pet Insurance also provides a feature-packed mobile app. Customers can pay their monthly premiums, file claims, and get assistance from their customer support teams. It is a convenient way to utilize their plans anywhere.
Every Dog and Cat Deserves the Pet Insurance of Champions
Get prize-winning care for your pets.
AKC Pet Insurance and Spot Coverage Comparison
Both AKC Pet Insurance and Spot Pet Insurance offer robust coverage plans for accidents and illnesses as their base packages, but they come with the option to customize your coverage to suit your pet’s needs.
AKC Pet Insurance has multiple add-ons available for an extra fee. Once enrolled in their base Accident and Illness Plan, customers can add Wellness Options, Exam Coverage, Hereditary Condition Coverage, Breeding Coverage, and Final Respects Coverage as additional benefits and create a custom insurance plan for each pet.
Spot Pet Insurance offers Accident & Illness or Accident-Only Plans as their base packages. Customers have the option to add a wellness add-on for an additional monthly premium at either the Gold or Platinum level. These wellness packages offer coverage for select needs up to $250 annually.
AKC Pet Insurance | Spot Pet Insurance | |
Pre-Existing Conditions1 | Covered1 | Not Covered |
24/7 Vet Helpline | Included | Included |
Diagnostics & Testing | Covered | Covered |
Physical Therapy | Covered | Not Covered |
Holistic Care | Covered | Not Covered |
Exam Fees | Covered with Add-on | Not Covered |
Wellness & Prevention Care | Covered with Add-on | Limited Coverage with Add-on |
Microchipping | Covered with Add-on | Covered |
Spay/Neuter | Covered with Add-on | Covered with Platinum Add-on up to $150 |
Vaccinations | Covered with Add-on | Limited Coverage for Select Vaccines with Add-on |
Flea & Tick Prevention | Covered with Add-on | Limited Coverage with Platinum Add-on up to $25 Annually |
Pregnancy or Birth Complications | Covered with Add-on | Not Covered |
End of Life Support | Covered with Add-on | Not Covered |
Cost of Pet Insurance Coverage
Pet insurance premium costs are typically based on your location and pet’s information, so it’s difficult to give a general quote for either company. However, both providers offer flexible payment schedules and plan customizations.
Premium costs can be lowered or balanced during sign up by customizing plan options like deductibles, annual limits, and coinsurance percentages. Additionally, AKC Pet Insurance and Spot Pet Insurance offer multi-pet discounts if you enroll 2 or more pets in their plans2.
Customer Service and Claims Processing
Both companies boast Better Business Bureau Accreditation and have high ratings from customers, but AKC Pet Insurance runs on a “people-first” approach to customer service, working with compassionate pet-lovers to help in your time of need. Spot Pet Insurance provides much of their support and processes through their online customer portals and mobile app, though customer service teams are also available by phone. As of this writing, both AKC Pet Insurance and Spot have a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Consumer Affairs.
The claims process is similar for both AKC Pet Insurance and Spot Pet Insurance. AKC Pet Insurance accepts claims online through their customer portal or mail, email, and fax with a traditional claim form. They estimate the whole process including payout by direct deposit or mailed check will take 3-5 business days depending on the information provided.
Spot Pet Insurance accepts claims online through their portal, via their mobile app, or by mail, email, and fax with a standard claim form. Spot Pet Insurance typically processes claims within 10-14 business days.
Pet insurance is so much more than just the coverage and plans provided by insurers; it’s the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have assistance in the event of a medical emergency for your pet. Get the pet insurance coverage you need, and choose a provider that offers robust coverage options and excellent customer service like AKC Pet Insurance.
Every Dog and Cat Deserves the Pet Insurance of Champions
Get prize-winning care for your pets.
1 Not available in all states. Pre-existing condition coverage available after 365 days of continuous coverage. “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.
