Pet Insurance Blog

Is AKC Pet Insurance Good? Here's How It Stacks Up

Kari Steere
Licensed Insurance Producer - Pawlicy Advisor
Kitten gets scratch under skin

As one of the first pet insurance providers in the US, AKC Pet Insurance offers comprehensive coverage with flexible pricing since 2003 and serves as the American Kennel Club's exclusive provider.

Get expert guidance to help you find the best policy for your best friend.

Our AKC Pet Insurance review will go over the available plans, exclusions, prices, and more to help you figure out whether it's the right choice for you and your pet.

Table of Contents:

Does AKC provide pet insurance?

AKC Pet Insurance is one of the first pet insurance companies in the US, providing high-quality insurance for cats and dogs since 2002. Their policies are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company and administered by PetPartners, Inc.

AKC Pet Insurance is American Kennel Club’s exclusive pet insurance provider since 2003, and in 2017, the company was acquired by IHC Group, adding further to the reliability of AKC Pet Insurance.

Overview of AKC Pet Insurance

What distinguishes AKC Pet Insurance from other pet insurance providers is their Alternative & Holistic Care Coverage. This plan offers coverage for holistic, alternative, and behavioral care. Covered behavioral issues include compulsive behavior, destructive behavior, and anxiety. The plan also covers services like chiropractors, herbal therapy, and acupuncture.

  • The Accident & Illness Plan is somewhat more complicated than those offered by other insurance providers. The Basic CompanionCare plan is less flexible option, with an 80% reimbursement rate, annual deductible of $100, and a $500 incident limit with unlimited incidents. However, the CompanionCare plan is fully customizable and allows customers to choose their annual coverage, reimbursement amounts, and deductibles in order to create a plan that best suits their needs.
  • AKC’s Accident-Only Policy is called AccidentCare and is recommended for senior pets. It comes with a 90% reimbursement rate, unlimited annual coverage limit, and a $100 deductible.
  • AKC members can also try the basic Accident & Illness Plan free of charge for 30 days. It comes with a $100 annual deductible, 80% reimbursement rate, and a limit of $500 per reimbursement with unlimited incidents.

AKC offers a number of paid add-on riders, such as Wellness Coverage, Exam and Office Visit Coverage, Hereditary and Congenital Coverage, and Final Respects Coverage.

Like most other providers, AKC doesn’t offer pet insurance for pre-existing conditions, as well as congenital and hereditary conditions, routine and wellness care, exam fees, cosmetic procedures, and breeding.

When it comes to pricing, AKC’s plans are relatively affordable, but once you start choosing your add-on services, the price will quickly go up. Your final price will depend on your pet’s age, the plan you choose, as well as the add-ons you select.

AKC offers recurring customers a 5% discount for each additional pet you insure. Customers can also pay their premiums upfront annually rather than monthly and save $4 on monthly service fees.

What we like about AKC's coverage

The customer reviews for AKC Pet Insurance are mostly positive and its rating on rating sites is also high. Customers like that the claims submission process is simple and straightforward. They also praise the company’s efficient customer support and quick refunds.

Our research shows that the customizable coverage allows pet owners to control their policy and only spend what fits in their budget. The premiums are also quite affordable - the cheapest plans cost just a few cents a day for both dogs and cats.

AKC Pet Insurance offers a 30-day free trial. If you change your mind about using their policies and you haven’t filed a claim yet, you’ll get your money back within the first month of coverage.

What could be improved

Most of the complaints related to AKC’s policies are about the fact that it doesn’t cover several common pet diseases such as Cushing’s in dogs and FIV in cats.

After comparing AKC Pet Insurance to insurance provided by other companies, we’ve concluded that it is great for young pets, but when it comes to pets aged nine or older, the coverage options are increasingly limited.

The waiting periods are somewhat complicated: there are four different waiting periods for different types of health conditions that may impact how soon your pet insurance benefits will go into effect.

Finally, while AKC’s premiums are on the low side compared to other pet insurance companies, the final price might be surprisingly high after selecting add-on services.

Is AKC Pet Insurance worth it?

Being accredited by the American Kennel Organization, the AKC Pet Insurance is one of the most reliable iproviders. The company offers flexible policies to make sure each pet owner gets the best deal without sacrificing the quality of care for their pet.

Having this in mind, the AKC Pet Insurance may be a good choice for pet parents who want more of a say in the type of coverage they are purchasing. It's also suitable for owners of senior pets, or purebred dogs and cats.

Ultimately, most experts and pet owners agree that pet insurance is a great investment, as it allows you to provide your beloved pet with the best care available while at the same time protecting your family finances.

Even if your pet avoids serious injuries or illnesses, the annual cost of pet ownership is still a significant item of the household budget, costing an average of $1,149 for cats and $1,391 for dogs1. And while there is no way to eliminate the possibile pet health issues, there are ways to mitigate the financial blow and make sure your pet gets the best care available.

Pet insurance helps alleviate the stress that comes from unexpected vet bills by making it possible for pet owners to get their pets the veterinary care they need in an emergency.

Be sure to do enough research before choosing the best insurance policy for your beloved four-legged companion. Because pet health insurance policies aren’t standardized like human insurance policies, it is very important to understand all of the exclusions and coverages instead of simply shop based on the price alone. There are many things to watch out for, such as deductibles, reimbursement percentages, premiums, waiting periods, and so on. but sites like Pawlicy Advisor can make the process much simpler and easier.

Pawlicy Advisor’s comparison charts give an in-depth look at leading pet insurance companies’ coverage details and offer pet parents personalized versions based on their unique pet. This helps pet owners understand what coverage is best for their pet’s age, breed-specific health risks, location, and more.

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References

  1. ASPCA, "Cutting Pet Care Costs" Accessed Aug. 14, 2021.

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Kari Steer, Licensed P&C Insurance Agent at Pawlicy Advisor

Kari Steere
Licensed Insurance Producer - Pawlicy Advisor

Kari Steere is a licensed P&C insurance agent in all 50 states and has focused entirely on pet insurance since 2019. As an animal lover with a rescued Terrier named Barry, when she's not helping pet owners find the perfect plan on Pawlicy Advisor, she runs a ranch in Oregon and rehabilitates any animals that come across her path.

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