Spot Pet Insurance Review
Best for Unlimited Benefits
Spot is one of our choices for the best pet insurance companies because it offers unlimited annual benefits and customizable deductibles and reimbursement percentages. Spot also provides coverage for hereditary and congenital conditions, and will even cover chronic conditions.
Unlike most companies, Spot doesn’t have an upper age limit, and there is no lifetime limit on payouts.
- Spot Pet Insurance Pros and Cons
- Spot Plans
- Spot Pricing Tier
- Financial Stability
- Accessibility
- Customer Satisfaction
- How We Evaluated Spot Pet Insurance
- Summary of Money’s Pets Best Pet Insurance Review
Spot Pet Insurance Pros and Cons
- Option for unlimited annual benefits
- No upper age limit
- No additional waiting period for orthopedic conditions
- 24/7 telehealth helpline
- Higher-than-average premiums
- Charges transaction fees for monthly, quarterly or semi-annual payments
Pros Explained
Option for unlimited annual benefits
Pet insurers usually have caps on annual benefit payouts, such as $5,000 per year. Spot offers multiple options ranging from $2,500 to unlimited annual benefits, so you can pick the benefit amount based on your pet’s needs — and what you can afford. (A higher benefit triggers a higher premium, as a rule.)
No upper age limit
With most pet insurance companies, there are restrictions on how old a pet can be to qualify for a policy. Depending on the company, the age limit can be as low as 10 years, so owners of senior pets cannot enroll their animals. With Spot, there is no upper age limit, so you can get full accident and illness coverage for your pet, regardless of its age.
No additional waiting period for orthopedic conditions
Spot’s waiting period — the time after enrollment that you can seek care — is just 14 days for all accidents and illnesses, including hip dysplasia and knee or ligament conditions. Most companies make you wait six to 12 months to cover those conditions, in addition to the standard 14 days.
24/7 telehealth helpline
As a Spot customer, you get free 24/7 access to a veterinarian helpline. You can use the helpline to discuss medication side effects, get expert advice about whether emergency treatment is necessary or learn of typical treatments for your pet’s condition.
Cons Explained
Higher-than-average premiums
When we requested quotes for various breeds and ages and compared them to quotes in our past price survey, we found that Spot’s premiums were higher than the industry average.
Charges transaction fees for monthly, quarterly or semi-annual payments
If you opt to pay your premiums monthly, quarterly or semi-annually, Spot will charge you a transaction fee. The fee is only waived if you pay annually.
Spot Plans
Spot offers accident and illness plans, accident-only policies and preventative plans for dogs and cats.
Accident and Illness
Spot’s accident and illness plan provides coverage for hospitalizations, surgeries, X-rays and poison control consultation fees. It also reimburses microchip implantation — by a licensed veterinarian — and behavioral therapy.
- Annual Maximum: $2,500 to unlimited
- Reimbursement Options: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Deductibles: $100 to $1,000
Accident-Only
The accident-only plan covers treatments for unexpected injuries, such as toxic ingestion, broken limbs or fractured teeth. Spot’s accident-only plans also pays for microchip implantation, but it does not cover treatments for illnesses, such as cancer or influenza.
- Annual Maximum: $2,500 to unlimited
- Reimbursement Options: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Deductibles: $100 to $1,000
Wellness
Spot has two preventative care plans that can be added to its insurance policies. With either option, you are reimbursed up to a specific amount for preventative tests and treatments, such as wellness exams and vaccines. Note: preventative care plans cannot be purchased separately.
- Gold: The gold plan provides up to $250 in annual reimbursement. It covers specific amounts for dental cleanings, vaccines and heartworm tests.
- Platinum: Providing up to $450 in annual reimbursement, the platinum plan covers higher amounts for preventative procedures. It also provides reimbursement for additional expenses like spaying or neutering and bordetella vaccines.
Spot Pricing Tier
Spot was not included in our past price survey, but its premiums tend to be higher than the averages we calculated for other companies. To give you an idea of what premiums to expect when you enroll your pet, we gathered quotes for dogs and cats of different ages and breeds.
Rate quotes are for a pet owner in Orlando, FL, and are based on an accident and illness plan with a $10,000 annual reimbursement limit, a $500 deductible and a 70% reimbursement percentage. When you request quotes for your own pet, you may find that you get different rates since premiums are based on factors like location, your pet’s breed and age.
Sample monthly pricing for dogs
1 year old | 5 years old | 10 years old | 15 years old | |
Cocker Spaniel | $41.88 | $50.86 | $107.70 | $149.59 |
Labrador Retriever | $41.88 | $50.86 | $107.70 | $149.59 |
Pomeranian | $30.13 | $36.59 | $77.49 | $107.62 |
Sample monthly pricing for cats
1 year old | 5 years old | 10 years old | 15 years old | |
Domestic Shorthair | $16.21 | $18.92 | $33.78 | $60.80 |
Maine Coon | $24.09 | $28.11 | $50.20 | $90.35 |
Russian Blue | $16.21 | $18.92 | $33.78 | $60.80 |
Discounts
Spot offers a 10% multiple pet discount when you enroll two or more pets, which is a higher discount than many other insurers provide.
New policyholders may also qualify for a $25 Amazon gift card when they enroll their pets. This promotion is not available in all states.
Spot Financial Stability
Having the knowledge that your pet insurance company is financially secure and capable of paying out its future claims can be reassuring. You can find out what industry experts think about companies by looking up the insurer’s Financial Strength Rating from credit rating agencies like AM Best or Demotech.
Spot’s pet insurance plans are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company, a business with an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best.
Spot Accessibility
It’s common for pet insurance companies to provide educational tools on their websites, and Spot follows that trend. It has an informational blog with articles on pet health, safety and training, an online FAQ and quote tool.
Spot has an app for Android and iOS devices. You can use the app to submit claims or to contact a veterinarian through the 24/7 helpline.
Unlike some other insurers, Spot doesn’t have an online chat feature, and its customer service department is only available during certain business hours during the week; no customer support is available on the weekends.
Availability
Spot’s plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Contact Information
Customer support is available by phone or email. To reach customer service, call 1-866-310-3968 or email service@customer.spotins.com.
Customer service is only available during the following times:
- Monday through Friday: 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. EST
User Experience
Spot allows policyholders to use their online accounts or the mobile app to submit claims, make payments or add pets to your policy. You can submit claims through the app or Spot’s website.
Coverage Limitations
Spot only insures pets that are eight weeks or older. There is no upper age limit.
Spot Customer Satisfaction
In general, Spot pet insurance reviews from its customers are positive. Policyholders frequently cite the company’s responsiveness to inquiries, quick and easy enrollment and quick processing time. On TrustPilot, Spot’s TrustScore is 4.3 out of 5 based on over 500 reviews, which is “excellent” according to TrustPilot’s scale.
Spot is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and has an 4.5 out of 5 rating based on 16 customer reviews — better than average.
How We Evaluated Spot Pet Insurance
To review Spot pet insurance, we looked at the following factors:
- Typical premiums
- Plan options
- Reimbursement amounts
- Annual and lifetime caps
- Policy exclusions and restrictions
- Wellness benefits
- Customer support
- Customer reviews
- Third-party ratings
Summary of Money’s Spot Pet Insurance Review
Although Spot’s pet insurance plans may be more expensive than some competitors, the company is still an excellent option, particularly if you’re looking for a policy with unlimited annual benefits. It has a strong reputation for customer service and financial stability, has no upper age limit and it offers multiple deductibles and plans so you can customize your policy to your needs.
It’s always a good idea to shop around and get quotes from multiple insurers so you can find the best plan for your pet. Before enrolling your dog or cat, be sure to read the policy documents carefully so that you fully understand its coverages and exclusions.