Pet Assure Dog Insurance Review

Your dog deserves the best, but finding the right insurance company or pet discounts can be tricky. Fortunately, with Pet Assure Pet Insurance, we’ve already done the legwork for you. Here’s what you should know:

Brand Overview

Since 1995, Pet Assure has been providing discounts to pet owners across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. What often separates Pet Assure from similar companies is their determination to help out pet owners—regardless of the circumstances.

Even dogs who have pre-existing conditions or hip dysplasia are eligible to receive some sort of savings on their vet bills. This vision stems from the personal experiences of the company’s owners, who were denied an insurance claim because their pet’s condition was “inherent to the breed.”

With so many years in business, it’s no wonder why organizations like the Better Business Bureau have given Pet Assure an A-Plus rating. While Pet Assure may not always be able to provide as many reimbursement opportunities as some companies, they can provide medical cost savings for any customer who signs up.

New customers may mistake Pet Assure as actual pet insurance, but this company only offers discounts—there are no reimbursements or claims to file. The discounts are applied directly to your vet bill when you go to pay, and they do not typically add up to the same savings you’d see with actual pet insurance.

Since Pet Assure centers around providing discounts for all medical costs, many dog owners may choose to use Pet Assure along with pet insurance to “fill in the gaps.” Pet Assure does not have the same restrictions or excursions that traditional pet insurance does.

2024 Pet Assure Pet Insurance Review

Like any brand, Pet Assure has its pros and cons. Before you start signing up, it’s a good idea to know what those strengths and weaknesses are ahead of time:

Pros:

• Responsive customer service staff can help navigate the confusion with veterinary offices and clinics
• Easy-to-use website
• 25% savings on medical costs (regardless of what those costs may be for)

Cons:

• Customers are only eligible for savings with participating vets
• Annual fees may only seem “worth it” if your dog has frequent vet visits

What do customers like about Pet Assure?

Here’s what real customers and pet owners have liked about Pet Assure:

“First off, I never leave reviews, anywhere. Let me say that this company went above and beyond to help me. I went into my local vet, that is under their participating vets list, to get my new puppy her first checkup/shots/etc. 

There was some confusion at the checkout. The receptionist told me they do not accept that card. I tried to explain to her that it was not insurance (she kept referring to it as insurance and telling me I need to get a hold of them for a reimbursement).

 Came home, contacted Pet Assure to let them know about this situation and what happened. They emailed me every single day keeping me informed on each step they were taking to work with the vet to figure out what had happened! 

I have never worked with a company like this and am so pleased to see a company actually listen and help! I was not expecting this kind of response at all. Long story short, I did get my discount and am going to continue going to this vet. Pet Assure did not stop until the problem was solved. Thank you Amanda from Pet Assure! <3”  – Priscilla C on Better Business Bureau

“This is a great product and I use it for all of the pets in my home. It more than pays for itself. The website is easy to use and customer service when you call is excellent. There really is no downside to Pet Assure.”  – Kris H on Better Business Bureau

“Pet Assure is perfect for me and my kitty and bunny. It gives me exactly what I am looking for and what regular pet insurance does not cover. Right on the website it says it gives a 25% discount at participating 

Vets and allows you to look up your local vets in the nearby area. With that said of course you cannot submit a claim because this is a discount card more than anything else. It comes in helpful if your insurance doesn’t cover exams or the like. And it’s a good card to receive a discount on your pet’s medication should they need it. Just have to read thoroughly before clicking to sign up.”  – Shadae on Consumer Affairs

What do customers dislike about Pet Assure?

No brand is perfect. Here’s what pet owners have disliked about their experiences with Pet Assure:

“Buyer Beware! Turns out, you can buy Pet Assure health insurance, but you can’t actually use it! I purchased insurance and when I took my dog to the vet, they said they’d never heard of Pet Assure, but that many insurances were super easy to work with – just send a snapshot of the receipt or keep a claim form of theirs at the office. 

Great service from my vet! When I went on the website, it turns out – NONE of the vets I’ve been to are on the list of “approved vendors.” So if you have a great vet – too bad! Pet Assure won’t work with them! I called (a little disbelieving the service could truly be that limited) and the customer support guy was like, “Yeah. Maybe return the card for a refund?” What a load of garbage.”  – Farrah on Consumer Affairs

“Just not worth it if you have a healthy dog.”  – M. Sanchez on Trust Pitot

How Does Pet Assure Pet Insurance Work?

The first thing to understand about Pet Assure is that it’s only available through your employer. Although the company allows people to submit their contact information so they can get notified if the service is ever offered directly to pet owners, you currently need to sign up with your employer.

Depending on where you work, signing up may be as simple as talking with an insurance agent or HR staff member and creating an account on the spot. Some employers may even allow you to use Pet Assure along with a traditional pet insurance plan for optimum savings.

If you aren’t sure whether or not your company offers Pet Assure, you can always double-check through the website. Once you’ve signed up through your employer and received your ID card in the mail, you’ll be eligible to receive 25% off all medical procedures.

Unlike some companies, which require you to fill out a claim form before you can receive benefits, Pet Assure doesn’t have a claim filing process. Instead, when you go to pay your medical bill, all you need to do is present the card to your vet, and the discount should be automatically applied to your bill.

If you find that you’ve been denied discounts for a medical procedure or exam that your dog went through, you can contact Pet Assure to find out why or correct the error. Although they don’t have the traditional claims process, Pet Assure boasts that they’ve never denied a claim before.

If the clinic you go to has not joined Pet Assure yet (and won’t apply the discount, you can always invite your vet to join. Pet Assure makes it simple for practices to join (and there’s no cost).

Bringing it up may feel awkward, but a good way to start is by showing your vet your Pet Assure ID card and talking about the added savings you’ve received from carrying it around.

Pet Assure Pricing Details

You may know how Pet Assure works, but now it’s time to talk about the specifics.

How much does it cost per month for their best plan?

Although potential customers may need to check with their employer to learn more about specific costs, insuring a single dog usually costs around $10 a month.

Are there any coupons, deals or incentives to sign up?

One incentive that Pet Assure offers for signing up is a lost pet recovery service. In addition to your ID card, you’ll also get a pet tag that you can attach to your dog’s collar. The tag includes a Pet Assure number so that if your pup ever goes missing, anyone who finds him can call the number and speak with an operator. These tags can go a long way in helping lost dogs find their way home.

Pet Assure does include a 24/7-hour support staff, so an operator should always be able to answer the phone and then immediately get in contact with you if your missing pup is located.

What’s the deductible? Is it annual or per visit?

Since Pet Assure is not technically insurance, there is no annual or per visit deductible. Whatever amount is left after the clinic has applied the savings is how much you’ll be responsible for.

Do you have to pay a co-pay or are claims covered 100%?

Besides the 25% off that you’ll receive in savings with your Pet Assure card, you’ll be responsible for paying the rest of the bill.

Will the rates go up over time?

The cost of adding a dog onto a Pet Assure plan isn’t subject to change the same way monthly premiums are. You shouldn’t expect the cost to rise unless you add another animal onto the plan. Pet Assure also doesn’t discriminate based on age, breed, or gender.

Pet Assure Coverage Details

Now that you’ve got a better idea of what to expect when it comes to pricing, it’s time to talk about coverage.

Does it cover regular vet office visits and routine check-ups or only unexpected emergencies?

Pet Assure does not deny any claim, and you can apply your savings to any kind of medical bill you have—from routine check-ups to emergency hospitalizations.

Does it cover dental and teeth cleaning?

Pet Assure does cover regular teeth cleanings as well as any dental work your pup may need due to an illness or accident.

Does it cover hip dysplasia?

Pet Assure will still give you 25% off any bills concerning hip dysplasia.

Does it cover spaying and neutering?

Yes, you can use your Pet Assure card when you get your pup spayed or neutered.

Does it cover pre-existing conditions?

Unlike many companies, Pet Assure doesn’t discriminate against pre-existing conditions. Since there’s no actual policy, you can use your savings for pre-existing conditions.

Does it cover cancer?

You can use your Pet Assure card for cancer treatments.

Does it cover prescription medications?

Since medication is a take-home item, Pet Assure does not provide discounts on any medication you may have to buy for your pup.

What else does it cover?

Pet Assure strives to give pet owners savings on all medical costs that they may have, such as:

• Cancer treatment
• Diabetes management
• Dental work and teeth cleanings
• Wellness visits
• Routine exams
• Tumor removal
• Parasite screenings
• Vaccines
• Allergy treatments
• Surgery
• Ultrasounds

What else does it NOT cover?

However, there are a few things that your Pet Assure card may not provide you savings on:

• Take-home items such as food and medicine
• Grooming appointments
• Boarding
• Mileage to and from the vet clinic

If you feel that an aspect of your medical bill deserved to be discounted but was not, you can always reach out to Pet Assure and bring up your claim.

Are there any restrictions on breed-specific conditions or age?

There are currently no restrictions based on breed or age with Pet Assure.

Is there a waiting period? How soon can I start using the insurance after I sign up?

As soon as you receive your card in the mail, you should be able to use it. Pet Assure will mail you your card as soon as you sign-up for benefits.

However, since you signed up with your employer, you may need to double-check about waiting periods. Different states or employers may have their own rules about how long you need to wait before you can use the discount card. That being said, unlike traditional insurance, any illnesses or accidents that your dog may develop during the waiting period are still eligible for a discount once coverage starts.

Is it easy to cancel if I change my mind?

If you no longer want to use Pet Assure, you can speak with your employer about canceling the plan and getting rid of the ID card. Since it works monthly, you can cancel Pet Assure anytime throughout the year.

How does Pet Assure compare to other pet insurance companies?

Since Pet Assure does not technically offer insurance, it’s difficult to compare it to pet insurance companies. That being said, Pet Assure does offer savings on a variety of different medical treatments that many traditional forms of pet insurance exclude. The only difference is that while you can usually expect 70-90% savings from pet insurance companies, Pet Assure only provides 25% in discounts.

Would you recommend this pet insurance company for dogs?

For its price, Pet Assure is worth recommending to dog owners—especially when it’s used in addition to traditional pet insurance policies. Pet Assure will provide discounts on the medical costs and procedures that your traditional insurance won’t. For this reason, many dog owners use Pet Assure to “fill in the gaps”.

What about coverage for other animals?

Getting a discount for your dog is great, but it’s important to know whether or not your other animals may be covered.

Do they offer coverage for cats?

Yes, the discounts pet owners receive from their Pet Assure card can be applied to medical bills your cat has racked up. Adding a cat onto your Pet Assure plan may even be cheaper than trying to add another dog too.

However, if you’re interested in pursuing even more coverage for your frisky feline, this article provides a closer look at some of the best cat insurance companies out there.

Do they offer coverage for horses, birds, reptiles and other exotic animals?

Pet Assure is willing to go above and beyond and offer discounts for any kind of exotic pet you may have—from horses and lizards to llamas. If you have an exotic animal and aren’t sure whether or not Pet Assure will provide coverage, you can always reach out and speak with a member of their support staff.

Typically, larger or more exotic animals tend to cost more to add to your plan than a dog or housecat would.