When I first wrote the review of the ASPCA Pet Insurance a little over a year ago I might have been a little to optimistic about the company and what they offer. I’m not saying that they are a bad company and I’m sure that they have helped out a lot of pet owners in trouble but as with any insurance company it is not all customers that are left with a smile on their face.
ASPCA Insurance Hate
To be honest I hadn’t imagined that the article would get that many comments from people that literally hate ASPCA and the pet insurance that they offer. People are feeling cheated by the company and if they’re willing to go as far as to go online and let everybody know how they feel then someone has definitely stepped on their toes.
I can remember who created the original analysis but it is said that if you find one person complaining in public then you’ll have a least 10 people that have been treated the same way but they just don’t take it public.
So where does that leave ASPCA? Well by judging from the comments I think they’re in a very poor situation.
Must Pet Insurance Companies Cheat to Survive
My definite answer is “no”. Often it is not a matter of pet insurance companies wanting to cheat their customers but merely a lack in clear communication. The pet owners think that their insurance will cover incidents that isn’t in the policy and that will leave the customer feeling frustrated when that specific incident happens to their pet.
So whose fault is it really? Well when it comes down to it, it is the pet owner’s responsibility to read and understand the policy that they sign. It is no different than when you apply for a mortgage or similar legal obligations you commit to.
But what can the insurance company do? What would be the solution to ASPCA’s problem?
I think that they would be able to get very far by trying to educate their customers before they become customers. Tell them in plain English what is covered and what is not covered. Explain to them what the policy says so that they won’t be surprised when the pet insurance doesn’t cover the accident that happens to their pet.
Sure you might argue that they’ll loose some initial customers but I am sure that they’ll slowly (but securely) build a reputation of being a “no bullshit” pet insurance company that you can trust. As a pet owner the most important thing is not to have your pet covered for every imaginable incident (that would be too costly) but to have a clear understanding of what and when something is covered and also what is not covered.
So my advice to ASPCA is to listing to their customers complains and try to handle them by communicating as clearly as they possibly can.
I really have nothing new to say above and beyond what so many people already have, but I just need to ‘be heard’ I guess so I can get this off my chest. I’ve been paying for coverage for a year with no claims whatsoever. Then my dog got a simple little hotspot and I took him to the vet immediately to get medicine so he wouldn’t be uncomfortable for a moment longer than necessary. Then, after the vet bill of only $87, I remembered I had ASPCA Pet Insurance, and I thought “Oh! I’ll submit this and let it go towards my $100 deductible”. While I never expected payment because my deductible had not been met, I was intersted in the denial code on my response letter “18″…does not cover illnesses manifested within 180 of plan period. Well, I found that interesting since I had it for over a year so I called and they told me that on my claim I wrote that it ‘manifested’ June 30, and then my plan renewed automatically 7/1 and my treatment date was 7/2, therefore it was within 180 days of my plan period!?! WHAT???? I mean WHAT??? This is fraudulent. Flat out fraudulent. Then they actually had the audacity to try to sell me a more expensive ‘better’ plan. Needless to say, I told them to cancel all coverage on both my pets. If I weren’t so dang busy, I’d do what I could to seek action. Basically they are saying that for 180 days out of every year (after your automatic renewal) nothing is covered. I’m trying to report to better business burea. Do not buy ASPCA insurance…you will be washing your money down the drain. Instead: PUT WHAT WOULD BE YOUR RATE INTO A SAVINGS ACCOUNT EACH MONTH AND EARN A TAD INTERESTED AND IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS TO YOUR LOVED ONE, YOU’LL HAVE YOUR OWN INSURANCE ACCOUNT BUILING UP.
Love to all the pets out there!