Hartville Pet Insurance Review 2024 – Pros, Cons, & Verdict

Hartville Pet Insurance is one of the many pet insurance providers that offer a significant breadth of coverage options and a lot of flexibility for their customers. With pet insurance becoming increasingly popular because of the rising costs of veterinary care, it’s nice to take an in-depth look at each company and what they have to bring to the table.

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Hartville Pet Insurance Review

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Other Top Rated Pet Insurance Companies

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About Hartville Pet Insurance

Hartville Pet Insurance is part of Crum & Forster Insurance which was founded in 1997. They offer pet insurance in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia. Their insurance policies are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company, which is also owned by Crum and Forster.

Hartville offers pet insurance to dogs and cats 8 weeks of age and older with no maximum age limit. Unlike some other brands, they do offer some flexible options with their policies so that pet owners can find a plan that suits their budget and their needs.

They offer a Complete Coverage plan and an Accident-Only plan along with preventative care add-on options. You can visit any veterinarian in the United States using this insurance and they do have an option for an unlimited annual limit.

They are one of the few pet insurance companies that will cover spay and neutering under their Prime preventative care add-on. They do not offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, herbal supplements, or any costs associated with breeding.

Hartville’s customer service is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. They also provide email support for both sales and customer service on their website. Quotes can be obtained online or over the phone and upon enrollment customers will have access to the Member Center to manage their policy.

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Pricing & Plans (Updated in 2024)

Pet Insurance Cost Comparison

Base Policy

With Hartville pet insurance you have the option to choose from their Complete Coverage plan or their Accident-Only plan. The Complete Coverage plan is the most comprehensive coverage offered by the company and will cover things related to accidents, illnesses, hereditary or congenital conditions, and even behavioral issues.

The Accident-Only plan is much more limited in terms of coverage but will come with a lower monthly premium. This will cover the cost of exam fees, diagnostics, and treatment for accidents and accidents only.

Customizations

Hartville offers some flexibility with pet insurance to allow you to have more control over your premium and the type of coverage you get. Here’s a look at the ways you can customize your plan to suit your needs:

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Annual Deductible

Like with other insurance policies, you will be subject to pay an annual deductible amount before your coverage kicks in and you can be reimbursed for your veterinary bills. Hartville offers three different deductible options: $100, $250, or $500. The lower your deductible, the higher your premium, and the higher the deductible, the lower your premium.

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Reimbursement Percentage

A reimbursement percentage for pet insurance is what you will get after you have submitted your claim for eligible veterinary bills. Reimbursements will only begin once the annual deductible has been met. Hartville offers 70 percent, 80 percent, or 90 percent reimbursement percentages when you are shopping for your policy.

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Annual Coverage Limit

The annual coverage limit is the price limit that your insurance will pay toward veterinary care within a calendar year. With Hartville pet insurance, you can choose annual coverage limits ranging from $5,000 to unlimited.

There is some confusion on the website that we noticed. While the company advertises annual limits ranging from $5,000 to unlimited, when you go to get your quote, you see options of $2,500, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, and $10,000.

Preventative Care Add-On
Hartville also has the option of a preventative care add-on for an additional cost. This add-on becomes available once you enroll in coverage. Preventative care can be added to both the accident-only plan and the complete coverage plan.

If you choose to add this to your policy, you will get a fixed amount of money reimbursed for a list of preventative services like wellness exams, vaccinations, blood tests, and dental cleanings. There are two preventative care options, Basic and Prime. Each covers a different scope of care.

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Hartville Pet Insurance Price Comparison for Dogs

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Deductibles & Claims

Once you have paid your agreed-upon deductible amount for the year, coverage will kick in and you will begin to be reimbursed for eligible veterinary care within your pet insurance policy. Hartville will not pay your veterinarian directly; you will be responsible for paying them and submitting a claim afterward.

The claim payout will be based on your total vet bill and the reimbursement percentage you chose for your plan. Depending on what you selected when you enrolled in your policy, you will be reimbursed that percentage after you submit the claim to Hartville.

Claims can be submitted via the app, online, via email, fax, or traditional mail. The process typically takes anywhere from 14 to 16 days for processing and reimbursement comes by way of direct deposit or check.

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What Does Hartville Pet Insurance Cover?

All types of coverage with a Hartville Pet Insurance policy will include exam fees, diagnostics, and treatment.

All types of coverage with a Hartville Pet Insurance policy will include exam fees, diagnostics, and treatment. Here is an overview of the types of coverage you can expect, depending on the plan you choose.

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Covered

Accidents

Coverage for accidents is part of both the Accident-Only plan (which is self-explanatory) and the Complete Coverage plan. This will cover costs associated with any injuries and the necessary diagnostics and treatment related to accidents or emergencies. This includes things like torn ligaments, cuts, wounds,  broken bones, foreign object removal, and the ingestion of toxic substances.

Illnesses

Veterinary costs for both minor and major illnesses will be covered under the Complete Coverage plan. This includes illnesses like digestive issues, allergies, arthritis, hypothyroidism, UTIs, cancer, and more.

Hereditary & Congenital Conditions

Inherited conditions or certain birth defects may not show up until much later in life. This includes conditions like heart disease, intervertebral disc disease, eye conditions, and hip dysplasia. If the condition is not pre-existing prior to enrollment, they will be covered under the Complete Coverage option.

Behavioral Issues

With the Complete Coverage plan, costs of veterinary care related to behavioral issues such as anxiety, excessive licking, fur pulling, or any destructive or compulsive behaviors will be covered.

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Not Covered

Pre-Existing Conditions

Unfortunately, there are no pet insurance providers that cover pre-existing conditions. Any health issue that arises before coverage kicks in is considered a pre-existing condition and will not be eligible within your policy.

Health issues that have been effectively treated and cured for 180 days or more will no longer be considered pre-existing conditions unless it is a condition related to the knees or ligaments.

Cosmetic Procedures

Hartville does not offer any coverage for grooming or any elective cosmetic procedures such as dewclaw removal, tail docking, or ear cropping.

Breeding Costs

Any costs related to pregnancy or breeding will not be eligible for coverage under any of Hartville’s pet insurance plans.

Pre-Existing Conditions

As with many pet insurance companies, Hartville Pet Insurance does not cover any pre-existing conditions. This includes any health issue that occurred before coverage becomes effective, including anything that takes place during the waiting period that is implemented upon enrollment.

The company does provide the courtesy of no longer considering a condition pre-existing if it has been cured, symptom-free, and has not received any treatment for 180 days. The only exception to this is conditions related to knees and ligaments. If there are any pre-existing knee or ligament problems, they will not be covered under the policy at any time.

Waiting Periods

Most pet insurance policies will have a waiting period between the time you purchase your policy and when the coverage begins. These waiting periods will vary by company and Hartville has a 14-day waiting period for all conditions.

If an accident or illness occurs before or during the waiting period, this will be considered a pre-existing condition and will not be covered.

Reviews from Customers 

Hartville gets fairly good reviews from customers since they are available in all 50 states, and you can visit any licensed veterinarian in the country. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you were to change your mind about enrollment.

Customers also love that there is flexibility with Hartville policies including choice of deductible, annual limit, reimbursement percentage, a preventative care add-on option, and an accident-only plan for those that want minimal coverage.

The downfalls of Hartville Pet Insurance are that claims processing is much slower than that of most competitors. While there’s a 14 to 16-day expected turnaround for claims, many advise that it can take up to 30 days. There are also a few complaints about receiving lower-than-expected reimbursements on claims.

Another issue is the 14-day waiting period for accidents. While a 14-day waiting period is standard in the business, most companies have a much shorter waiting period for accidents compared to the 14-day wait time under Hartville Pet Insurance policies.

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FAQ

How Do I Get a Quote?

You can easily get a quote online by visiting Hartville’s website. Customers have the option to obtain and quote and enroll online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will fill out all the required information about your pet, your zip code, and your email address, and the company will then give you customized quotes by allowing you to play around with customizations to see what your monthly premium would be.

How Do I Find a Veterinarian That Accepts My Pet Insurance?

With Hartville Pet Insurance, you can visit any veterinary clinic in the United States or Canada, including specialists and emergency care facilities.

Do Prices Increase as Pets Age?

Yes, the company will not cancel or downgrade coverage due to any health issues your pet experiences, but your premium cost will increase over time.

Does Hartville Pet Insurance Offer Any Discounts?

The company only offers one type of discount, which allows for a 10 percent discount on premiums when you have multiple pets.

How Are Premiums Billed?

Customers can choose between being billed monthly or annually. Payments will then be due on the day of the month that your policy becomes effective. Regardless of whether you choose monthly or annual payments, they can be completed online or via automatic draft from your checking account.

Our Verdict

Hartville Pet Insurance offers customers some flexibility and coverage options that a lot of other companies may lack. This does result in some higher premiums when compared to competitors but for the most part, the wide breadth of coverage is worth it.

They do have longer claim turnaround times and waiting periods for accident coverage, but overall, they rank as a premium pet insurance provider with the convenience of flexible customizations and comprehensive coverage.

• See also: 10 Best Pet Dental Insurance Providers – Reviews & Top Picks