Many AAA regional clubs partner with a pet insurance company, like Spot (4.2 stars), Healthy Paws (3.1 stars), or Companion Protect, to offer pet insurance to their members. The pet insurance plan types, coverages, and costs will depend on your AAA club and the pet insurance company it partners with. You can visit your AAA club’s website or call a branch location to find out if pet insurance is available as a member benefit.
Learn more: The best pet insurance companies
-
Most plans cover treatment for unexpected accidents and illnesses
-
Some pet insurers offer exclusive AAA member discounts
-
Plans may include 24/7 vet telehealth support
Learn more: Is pet insurance worth it?
AAA doesn’t underwrite its own pet insurance policies. Instead, it partners with pet insurance companies to provide pet insurance to its members. Because of that, the plan choices, waiting periods, deductible options, reimbursement rates, and enrollment ages will vary.
If you buy pet insurance through AAA, you can’t select which pet insurance company issues your policy. You must purchase pet insurance from the insurer that your AAA auto club partners with. Because of that, it’s important to compare your AAA club’s pet insurance partner to other pet insurance companies to find the best option for your pet’s needs.
Learn more: How does pet insurance work? A complete guide.
AAA pet insurance can cover treatment for accidents and illnesses as well as related vet expenses, such as exams and diagnostic testing. While some pet insurance plans provide comprehensive coverage without add-ons, others require optional endorsements or packages if you want the most coverage.
Learn more: Your guide to what pet insurance covers
AAA’s accident and illness policy
Most AAA pet insurance partners offer accident and illness plans, which may cover the following:
-
Hereditary and congenital conditions
-
Dental accidents and illnesses
-
Prescription medications
-
Cancer treatment
-
Euthanasia
-
Alternative therapy, such as acupuncture and chiropractic care
-
Behavioral therapy
-
Prescription diets
-
Surgeries
-
Hospitalization
Learn more: Does pet insurance cover separation anxiety in dogs?
Some AAA pet insurance partner companies may offer an accident-only plan. These policies cover veterinary costs related to unexpected accidents, such as broken bones, bite wounds, lacerations, car accidents, and toxic ingestion. They don’t cover vet care for illnesses, like allergies, cancer, or pancreatitis.
Depending on the insurance company that provides your AAA pet insurance, you might be able to add an optional wellness plan to your policy. Wellness plans can cover your pet’s routine care, like:
Learn more: Why a pet wellness plan is worth considering
Most pet insurance companies don’t cover preexisting conditions that happened before your pet was insured, or occurred during the waiting period. However, some AAA pet insurance partners may cover curable preexisting conditions if your pet has been treatment- and symptom-free for six months to a year.
Learn more: Pet insurance that covers preexisting conditions
Some pet insurance companies that AAA partners with, including Spot and Healthy Paws, offer a 24/7 vet telehealth line. Through the chat feature, you can talk with a licensed veterinarian and get advice about your pet’s health, behavior, diet, or medications.
AAA pet insurance doesn’t cover everything. The specific exclusions will depend on the insurance company that issues your policy, but some common ones are:
-
Pre-existing conditions
-
Preventive care (unless you add a wellness plan)
-
Injuries and illnesses from intentional, negligent, or preventable acts
-
Elective or cosmetic procedures
-
Boarding and transportation
-
Grooming
-
Breeding and pregnancy
-
Experimental treatments
-
Cloning
Learn more: What is microchipping, and does pet insurance cover it?
Depending on your pet insurance company, you might be able to adjust your coverage during the policy term. However, keep in mind that increasing your coverage could result in new waiting periods, and any conditions that occurred before the change would be considered preexisting. Typically, you can decrease your coverage with fewer restrictions.
The cost of AAA pet insurance depends on the insurance company that supplies pet insurance for your regional AAA club. Additionally, pet insurance premiums vary based on your plan type, annual maximum, deductible, and reimbursement rate as well as your pet’s age and breed.
Learn more: How much does pet insurance cost?
The average cost of pet insurance through Spot, with a $5,000 annual coverage limit, is shown below.
The average cost of pet insurance through Spot and Healthy Paws, with an unlimited annual coverage limit, is below.
Learn more: How to compare pet insurance quotes
Many pet insurance companies that AAA partners with offer a multi-pet discount. For example, AAA Mountain West Group members can save 2.5% for insuring two pets, and up to 5.6% for insuring three or more pets through Companion Protect. The Automobile Club of Southern California offers a 10% multi-pet discount through Spot.
AAA members might qualify for member-only discounts on pet insurance. The exact discounts depend on the insurance company that issues policies for your AAA regional club.
For instance, if you belong to AAA Mountain West Group, you can earn a 5% AAA member discount, a 5% military discount, and a 5% multi-policy discount if you have AAA auto or home insurance.
AAA might be able to pay the vet directly, depending on the insurer that provides your policy. For example, if your AAA regional club partners with Health Paws, you can request payment directly to your vet if you can’t afford to pay your invoice upfront. However, you must arrange direct payment before your pet gets treatment.
Learn more: Pet insurance that pays the vet directly
The exact process for filing AAA pet insurance claims will depend on the company that issues your policy. You’ll file claims directly through the pet insurance company, not AAA.
Here’s a general overview of how most pet insurance companies handle claims:
-
Submit the claim: The fastest way to file a claim is usually online or through the insurer’s mobile app, if it has one. If you prefer, you can file a claim over phone, or via email or fax if the insurer allows it.
-
Upload your invoice: You’ll need to submit your invoice from the vet with proof of payment. Most insurers also require you to upload your pet’s medical records, especially if you’re filing a claim for the first time.
-
Wait for reimbursement: The insurance company will process your claim and let you know if it needs more information. Once approved, you’ll receive reimbursement.
Most pet insurance companies require customers to submit claims within 90 to 180 days from the date of treatment. Some insurers, including Spot, have longer submission periods of 270 days or longer from the time of treatment.
Some of AAA’s pet insurance partners can pay claims in as little as a few days, while others might take longer. Typically, claims are paid faster if you choose direct deposit rather than a paper check.
AAA’s mobile app doesn’t provide any pet insurance policy management features. However, many pet insurance companies have a mobile app where customers can file claims, add pets, make payments, view medical records, and access 24/7 vet telehealth, if available.
AAA pet insurance is available in most states. To find out if AAA pet insurance is available in your region, you should contact your AAA auto club.
Learn more: AAA car insurance review
Some AAA pet insurance partners might require an exam before you can enroll your pet. You should contact your regional AAA club’s pet insurance partner to find out if an exam is required.
You should contact your regional AAA auto club to learn more about its pet insurance offerings. You might be directed to the pet insurance partner’s customer service for more specific information about plans, coverages, and eligibility.
If you have a pet insurance policy through AAA, you’ll need to contact the insurance company directly to cancel your policy. Most pet insurance policies have a free look period, which allows you to cancel within the first 30 days and receive a full refund if you haven’t filed any claims.
Tim Manni and Jamie Young edited this article.
We researched the coverage details and prices for 28 pet insurance plans. We then weighted categories, and each pet insurer was scored relative to the others to find the best pet insurance companies. Here are the factors we incorporated.
Coverage types: 40% of score. We examined the coverage provided by the base policy without the extra cost of add-ons. This encompassed coverage for alternative therapy, behavioral therapy, dental illness, euthanasia or end-of-life expenses, exotic pets, hereditary and congenital conditions, preexisting conditions, prescription food and supplements, veterinary exam fees, and advertising/reward for lost/stolen pets.
Average cost: 30% of score. We evaluated costs in five states for $5,000 and unlimited coverage for a mixed-breed dog (age 1), a French bulldog (age 5), and a Labrador retriever (age 8).
Unlimited coverage option: 10% of score. We gave points when pet insurers offered an unlimited annual limit (or a $100,000 limit), which gives pet owners the most robust financial protection possible in the event of a catastrophic pet medical issue.
Direct payments to the veterinarian: 5% of score. We gave points to pet insurers that state on their websites that they accommodate direct vet payments.
No special waiting periods for special conditions: 5% of score. We gave points when pet insurers have no waiting periods for special conditions, such as cruciate ligament conditions.
Routine wellness plan: 5% of score. Companies that offer a routine wellness plan in addition to pet insurance received points.
Multi-pet discount: 5% of score. We gave points when pet insurers offered a discount for insuring multiple pets.
