- home »
- learn about pet insurance »
- the basics »
Pet Insurance Glossary
a |
b |
c |
d |
e | f |
g |
h |
i | j
| k |
l |
m | n |
o |
p | q |
r | s | t
|
u | v |
w | x | y | z
- A
- ASPCA
-
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®)
was founded in 1866 as the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere,
according to ASPCA.org. As a leading voice for animal welfare, the ASPCA’s
mission is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals
throughout the United States.” As part of this mission, the ASPCA teamed up with
the Hartville Group to help pet parents afford quality veterinary care with pet
insurance.
Top
- B
- Benefit Limits
-
To keep premiums lower, most types of insurance have limits on available
coverage. Explore our coverage for an overview of our benefit limits.Top
- Benefit Schedule
-
A benefit schedule is a list that sets a fixed reimbursement amount based on a
diagnosis. Since it’s based on the diagnosis, a benefit schedule may not take
into account all of the treatments your veterinarian actually performs. ASPCA
Pet Health Insurance plans reimburse 90% of usual and customary covered charges,
rather than using a benefit schedule. This allows us to consider all of the
services your pet needs in calculating reimbursements. Top
- Billing Frequency
-
This is the number of times you pay your premium over a plan year. With our
plans, you can pay monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. If you pay
annually, we’ll waive the low installment fee.Top
- C
- Claim
-
After your pet receives treatment, you submit a claim to be reimbursed for covered services. To submit a claim, just fill out our simple 1-page claim form then fax, email, or mail it to us with your receipts. Your veterinarian does not need to sign the claim form. Our customers also can easily track the status of claims online at our free
Member Center.Top
- Continuing Care
-
Continuing Care is extra protection for ongoing conditions, which are conditions that need care across multiple plan periods. Explore our coverage to learn more.
Top
- D
- Deductible
-
A deductible is the amount you’re responsible for meeting before reimbursement begins. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance has a low $100 annual deductible per pet that only needs to be met once per plan year, no matter how many incidents occur. In contrast, per incident deductibles require you to pay a new deductible for every single injury or illness, which can really add up. We also have other annual deductible options you can choose if that works better for you.
Top
- E
- Effective Date
-
Your plan’s effective date is the day your pet’s coverage begins. With our pet
insurance, accident and wellness coverage, if selected, begin on your effective
date. Illness coverage starts 30 days after your effective date in most states,
and hereditary and congenital coverage, if available, begins 180 days after your
effective date. Your plan will list your effective dates. Top
- M
- Member Center
-
Our Member Center is a free online resource where our customers can easily track the status of their claims, edit contact and payment information, view billing details, and see pet and plan information. If you’re a customer, sign up for the Member Center now. Top
- O
- Ongoing Condition
-
Ongoing conditions are conditions that need care across multiple plan periods.
Our Continuing Care coverage is extra protection for ongoing conditions for
those pets who qualify. Explore our coverage to learn more.
Top
- P
- Per Incident Limit
-
Your plan’s per incident limit is the maximum amount you’ll be reimbursed for a single accident or illness. Explore our coverage for an overview of our benefit limits. Top
- Pet Health Library
-
The Pet Health Library
contains useful articles about pet health and safety brought to you by the ASPCA. Browse our Pet Health Library now.Top
- Pet Insurance
-
Pet insurance helps you afford your veterinary bills so you can give your pet
the best care possible and avoid a tough financial decision about your pet’s
health. With our pet insurance plans, you can cover your dog or cat for
accidents, illnesses, and wellness care. Explore our coverage to see the options and rates available for your pet.
Top
- Pre-existing Condition
-
Pre-existing conditions are illnesses or injuries that are present prior to a
plan's effective date or during a waiting period. A condition may be
pre-existing if your pet showed symptoms of the condition, even if it was not
diagnosed or treated, before your plan’s effective date. Like all pet insurance
providers, we don’t cover pre-existing conditions.
Top
-
Premium
-
Your premium is the amount you’ll be charged for your pet insurance coverage. See the premium rates and coverage options available for your pet by starting a free quote now.
Top
- R
- Reimbursement
-
Your reimbursement is the amount of money we pay you for an eligible claim. Our pet insurance reimburses 90% of usual and customary covered charges. Call us to hear about other co-insurance options to customize your plan.
Top
- U
- Usual and Customary Covered Costs
-
To keep our premiums lower, we reimburse 90% of usual and customary covered
charges. These are veterinary costs covered by your plan and considered typical
in areas similar to yours. We use available industry and proprietary data to
determine usual and customary costs.
Top
- W
- Waiting Period
-
A waiting period is the amount of time you may have to wait before a certain
type of coverage starts. With our pet insurance, accident and wellness coverage,
if selected, begins as soon as your plan takes effect. Illness coverage has a
30-day waiting period in most states, and coverage for hereditary and congenital
conditions, if available, has a 180-day waiting period.
Top
- Wellness Care
-
Routine preventive treatments, like vaccinations, annual check-ups, and dental cleanings, are very important to keep your pet happy and healthy. We’re committed to helping pet parents provide these treatments for their pets, so we have two options for wellness care that you can add for a low cost. Our least expensive option covers standard vaccines, spaying or neutering, and a yearly exam among other routine treatments. Our second option adds coverage for additional vaccines, an annual dental cleaning and more. Explore our coverage to view the wellness options.
Top