Our Thoughts on AKC Pet Insurance
AKC Pet Insurance is our top pet insurance pick for breeders, and we gave the company 4.6 out of 5 stars. It covers an extensive range of conditions and treatments and provides numerous ways to customize coverage by adjusting a plan’s deductible, reimbursem*nt rate and annual limit.
AKC Pet Insurance has no age limit for enrolling pets and no breed restrictions, and it offers breeder discounts and a breeder support program. Plus, members have access to a 24/7 veterinary helpline.
AKC Pet Insurance’s waiting periods for accidents and illnesses are comparable to other providers, but it has a 180-day coverage delay for intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and cruciate ligament conditions. However, in some cases, the company will waive waiting periods if a licensed veterinarian evaluates your pet within seven days of the policy’s start date.
First-time registered members of AKC can activate a 30-day pet insurance offer for accident and illness coverage without paying a premium. After the first 30 days end, members would then pay for continued coverage.
AKC Pet Insurance provides policies in 50 U.S. states, but pet owners in California, New York and Washington are not eligible for the 30-day pet insurance offer.
Pros and Cons of AKC Pet Insurance
Pros
Has no upper age limit for enrolling petsCovers curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after 365 days (in most states)Provides a 24/7 veterinary helplineOffers coverage for diseases and complications related to breeding and pregnancy
Cons
Longer 180-day waiting period for cranial cruciate ligament injury and IVDDHighest annual limit option is only $20,000 for plans without incident limitsPets over 9 years old can only enroll in accident coverage
How AKC Scored in Our Methodology
AKC scored 4.6 out of 5 stars based on our provider review methodology. The company scored highest in our coverage, availability and covered treatments rating factors but lost points based on cost, customer experience and industry standing.
Flip Card AKC Pet Insurance Rating
MarketWatch Rating 4.6 / out of 5 stars
Rating is based off of MarketWatch Methodology Guidelines
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Rating breakdown
Cost and Discounts AKC Pet Insurance scored 4.7 points for offering below-average premiums across several sample pets and three possible discounts. 4.7 / 5
Coverage AKC Pet Insurance earned nearly full points for offering multiple plan types, customization options and reasonable waiting periods. 4.9 / 5
Covered Treatments AKC Pet Insurance earned 4.6 points because it covers most treatments but does not offer end-of-life care or prescription food coverage. 4.6 / 5
Customer Experience AKC Pet Insurance earned 4.2 points because it offers several contact methods, a vet telehealth line and direct deposit, but lost points for not offering a mobile app. 4.2 / 5
Industry Standing AKC Pet Insurance earned 4.1 points for having over 20 years of experience and high Trustpilot customer review ratings but lost points for its lower Better Business Bureau (BBB) score. 4.1 / 5
Availability AKC Pet Insurance earned a perfect availability score for offering policies in all 50 U.S. states and not limiting coverage based on a pet’s age or breed. 5 / 5
AKC’s Plans and Pricing
Signing up for coverage with AKC Pet Insurance is a straightforward process, based on our experience. On the home page, you can enter your pet’s name and hit the “Get a Quote” button. You should then get routed to a page that asks for your ZIP code, email address, and your pet’s species, breed, age and health status. Once you enter this information, you hit the “Choose Coverage” button, which sends you to a page that details your pet’s options.
You can see what is covered in the basic plan by clicking on “Plan Details,” which also shows available upgrades. You can adjust your pet’s deductible, reimbursem*nt rate and annual limit to see how different options affect your monthly premium. If you have difficulties or prefer to talk to a person, you can call AKC Pet Insurance to connect with a representative.
How Much Does AKC Pet Insurance Cost?
The average cost of an AKC Pet Insurance accident and illness plan is $48 per month for dogs and $27 for cats. The minimum prices that our team found included $28 per month for dogs and $16 for cats, with maximum prices of around $74 per month for dogs and $43 for cats.
If a pet is 9 years or older, it can only enroll in accident-only plans. The average cost is $81 per month for dogs and $36 for cats.
AKC Pet Insurance has two levels of optional wellness coverage. The Defender Wellness Plan costs $16 per month for dogs and $12 for cats, and the DefenderPlus Plan is an additional $27 for dogs and $22 for cats.
| Plan | Accident-Only* | Accident and Illness | Defender Wellness Plan | DefenderPlus Wellness Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average cost | $81 for dogs and $36 for cats | $48 for dogs and $27 for cats | $16 for dogs and $12 for cats | $27 for dogs and $22 for cats |
| Summary | Covers diagnostics and treatments associated with accidents for pets 9 years old or older | Covers diagnostics and treatments for pet-related accidents and illnesses | Offers reimbursem*nt of up to $305 for select wellness care | Offers reimbursem*nt of up to $735 for select wellness care |
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*The accident-only plan is only available for senior pets aged nine or older.
We determined pet insurance costs by collecting quotes for the following sample pets:
- A 5-year-old male, mixed-breed dog
- A 2-year-old female golden retriever
- A 5-year-old male, mixed-breed cat
- A 2-year-old Siamese cat
We calculated average prices by averaging together the quotes we received for each of the above-listed pets. Our team found that wellness plan costs remained the same regardless of a pet’s age.
MARKETWATCH GUIDES TIP
When compared to other pet insurance companies, AKC Pet Insurance has lower premiums than average for most pets, including mixed-breeds and purebreds. However, premium prices can increase if you upgrade your pet’s coverage to include options such as exam fees, hereditary conditions, breeding and wellness care.
What Does AKC Pet Insurance Cover?
AKC Pet Insurance offers an accident and illness plan with the option to upgrade coverage to include exam fees, hereditary conditions and breeding issues. However, this type of plan is only available for newly enrolled pets under 9 years old. The company also has two wellness coverage options.
While AKC Pet Insurance has no upper age limit for enrolling pets, pets older than 9 years can only qualify for accident coverage. Available upgrades for senior pets include exam fees and two levels of wellness coverage.
AKC Plan Offerings
AKC Pet Insurance offers an accident and illness policy that provides coverage for veterinary expenses related to the diagnosis and treatment of pet accidents, injuries and illnesses. Older pets are only eligible for accident-only coverage, which covers veterinary expenses related to accidents and injuries.
| Condition or Treatment | Accident Only (Senior Pets) | Accident and Illness |
|---|---|---|
| Accidents | ✓ | ✓ |
| Injuries | ✓ | ✓ |
| X-rays and ultrasound | ✓ | ✓ |
| CT scan and MRI | ✓ | ✓ |
| Labwork | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prescription medications | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vitamins and supplements | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hospitalization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Surgery | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hydrotherapy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Physical therapy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Emergency care | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pet ambulance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Illnesses | ✓ | |
| Alternative and holistic treatment | ✓ | |
| Behavioral issues | ✓ | |
| Cancer coverage | ✓ |
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Preventive Care Plans
AKC Pet Insurance has two wellness plans, Defender and DefenderPlus.
| Covered Services | Defender | DefenderPlus |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $16 for dogs and $12 for cats | $27 for dogs and $22 for cats |
| Annual benefits | Up to $305 | Up to $735 |
| Spay or neuter surgery or teeth cleaning | $0 | $150 |
| Rabies vaccine | $15 | $15 |
| Flea, tick and heartworm prevention | $80 | $95 |
| Vaccination and titer | $30 | $40 |
| Wellness exam | $50 | $50 |
| Heartworm test or FELV test | $25 | $30 |
| Blood, fecal or parasite exam | $50 | $70 |
| Microchip | $20 | $40 |
| Urinalysis or early renal disease test | $15 | $25 |
| Deworming | $20 | $20 |
| Elective or preventive gastropexy | $0 | $200 |
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AKC Optional Add-On Coverage
In addition to wellness coverage, AKC Pet Insurance policyholders can add coverage for exam fees, hereditary conditions and breeding. You can pick these add-ons as you adjust your pet’s deductible, reimbursem*nt rate and annual limit. To find out what each add-on covers, hit the “Show” button by each option on the company’s website.
To determine the prices for upgraded coverage options, we requested quotes for our four sample pets:
- A 5-year-old male, mixed-breed dog
- A 2-year-old female golden retriever
- A 5-year-old male, mixed-breed cat
- A 2-year-old Siamese cat
Note that choosing add-ons will increase your monthly cost in addition to your base plan pricing.
ExamPlus
For an extra $11 per month for dogs and $6 for cats, policyholders can get exam fees for sick or injured pets covered. This includes exams provided by your pet’s regular veterinarian, specialty clinics and emergency veterinary hospitals.
HereditaryPlus
For $1.40 per month for dogs and $0.75 for cats, AKC Pet Insurance will cover hereditary and congenital conditions, plus chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease.
Breeding Coverage
For $48 per month for dogs and $27 for cats, AKC Pet Insurance will cover accidents, illnesses, and complications related to or caused by breeding, pregnancy, whelping and nursing, including emergency C-sections.
Customizable Coverage Levels
As with most pet insurance providers, AKC Pet Insurance allows policyholders to adjust the deductible, reimbursem*nt rate and annual limit to find a premium within budget. The company considers the most cost-effective option a $100 deductible, 80% reimbursem*nt rate, $500 incident limit and unlimited annual limit. However, policyholders can customize their plans as they wish.
Deductible Options
The deductible is the amount you must pay toward your pet’s veterinary bill before AKC Pet Insurance reimburses you for expenses. The company offers the following options: $250, $300, $400, $500, $600, $750 and $1,000.
Reimbursem*nt Rates
The reimbursem*nt rate is the percentage of covered expenses AKC Pet Insurance will pay out after your deductible is met. The company offers the following options: 70%, 80% or 90%.
Annual Limit Options
The annual limit is the maximum amount AKC Pet Insurance will pay toward your pet’s covered veterinary expenses in a given year. The company has both annual and incident limits on some policies —the annual limit reflects how much you can receive for claims in a given year and incident limits dictate how much you can receive for a singular incident over your pet’s lifetime.
If you choose what the company considers the most cost-effective option, your pet’s plan will include a $500 per-incident cap with an unlimited annual limit. If you customize your coverage, you will not have a per-incident cap and can choose from the following annual limit options: $2,500, $5,000, $7,500, $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000.
AKC Sign-Up, Claims Filing and Payout Processes
Pet owners can sign up for AKC Pet Insurance online by clicking on the “Get a Quote” button, but also have the option to call and speak to a representative.
If signing up online, clicking on the “Get a Quote” button sends you to a page that asks for information such as your name, ZIP code, address, and your pet’s species, breed, age and health status. Once you fill out this information, you can see a quote for your pet, including add-on coverage options such as wellness care, hereditary conditions, exam fees and breeding issues.
To file a claim, pay your veterinarian and ask for an itemized receipt. Then complete an AKC Pet Insurance claim form, which asks for your policy number, pet’s name, claim details, and when you first notice signs or symptoms. Submit the completed claim form and itemized invoice through the customer portal or by email, fax or mail. AKC Pet Insurance recommends filing your claim within 180 days of your pet’s veterinary visit.
Once AKC Pet Insurance receives a claim, it assigns an agent within two business days. Claims that include the proper documentation usually get approved, and pet owners get reimbursed, within one business day, according to the company.
The company reimburses claims by a check in the mail with an accompanying explanation of benefits (EOB). According to reviews on Trustpilot, some pet owners received their reimbursem*nt the same week they made a claim.
AKC Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions
AKC Pet Insurance has no upper age limit for enrolling pets, but it only offers accident coverage to newly enrolling pets aged 9 or older. Owners also cannot buy certain add-on protection for senior pets, including coverage for breeding and hereditary conditions.
Similar to other pet insurance providers, AKC Pet Insurance has waiting periods that limit your ability to file a claim from the time of enrollment until coverage kicks in. The company’s waiting periods include:
- Injuries: 2 days
- Illnesses: 14 days
- Cruciate ligament-related conditions: 180 days
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD): 180 days
Unlike other pet insurance providers, AKC Pet Insurance extends coverage for curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after a 365-day waiting period, but it is not available in all states.
The following chart outlines important time periods to note as you shop for pet insurance and compare options.
| Provider | AKC Pet Insurance | Lemonade | Spot | Trupanion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claim turnaround time | 3 days or more | 2–4 days | 5–7 days | 5–7 days |
| Accident waiting period | 2 days | 2 days | 14 days | 5 days |
| Illness waiting period | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days | 30 days |
| Cruciate ligament waiting period | 180 days | 6 months | 14 days | 30 days |
| Enrollment age limit | None (limits coverage for pets 9 years and older) | 14 years | None | 14 years |
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What Customers Think About AKC Pet Insurance
AKC Pet Insurance holds an A+ rating with the BBB but only received 1.07 out of 5 stars based on customer reviews on the platform. However, Trustpilot reviewers have rated the provider 4.4 out of 5 stars. To learn more about AKC’s customer support, our team compiled a list of common likes and dislikes about the company.
What Customers Like
- Customer service: Reviewers, such as this one, found AKC Pet Insurance’s customer service representatives helpful and patient.
- Expedited claims: One reviewer was pleased that the claims department was able to expedite her claim so she received reimbursem*nt within the same week.
- Pre-existing conditions coverage: Reviewers, including this one, were happy that their pet with a pre-existing condition could still receive pet insurance coverage.
- Prompt response: Several reviewers said they received prompt responses from AKC Pet Insurance about their claims.
What Customers Don’t Like
- Denied claims: Some reviewers, including this one, were upset that several claims were denied.
- Delayed reimbursem*nt: One reviewer was displeased that her claim was held up because the veterinarian couldn’t diagnose the cause of her pet’s seizure.
- Issues escalating conversations: One reviewer said AKC Pet Insurance would not get back to them when they requested to speak to a manager over multiple concerns they had.
- Breeder coverage claims: One policyholder who invested in breeder coverage said their claim was denied for an issue related to breeding.
We reached out to AKC Pet Insurance for comment on its negative customer reviews but did not receive a response.
AKC Pet Insurance vs. the Market
Comparing pet insurance companies can help you determine what provider and policy is right for your pet and your budget. You can use the table below to easily compare our top-rated providers.
| Company | Monthly Cost | Star Rating | Accident Waiting Period | BBB Rating | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $38-$44 | 4.6 | 2 days | A+ | EXPLORE PLANS |
| $15-$30 | 4.8 | 2 days* | N/A | EXPLORE PLANS |
| $51-$68 | 4.4 | 14 days | A | EXPLORE PLANS |
| $38-$50 | 4.5 | 14 days | N/R | EXPLORE PLANS |
| $53-$64 | 4.6 | 48 hours | A+ | EXPLORE PLANS |
| $43-$50 | 4.5 | 15 days | A+ | EXPLORE PLANS |
| $35-$49 | 4.3 | 15 days | A+ | EXPLORE PLANS |
| $35-$50 | 4.2 | 14 days | A+ | EXPLORE PLANS |
| $33-$41 | 4.8 | 3 days | A+ | EXPLORE PLANS |
| Company | BBB Rating | Monthly Cost | Star Rating | Accident Waiting Period | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | $38-$44 | 4.6 | 2 days | EXPLORE PLANS |
| N/A | $15-$30 | 4.8 | 2 days* | EXPLORE PLANS |
| A | $51-$68 | 4.4 | 14 days | EXPLORE PLANS |
| N/R | $38-$50 | 4.5 | 14 days | EXPLORE PLANS |
| A+ | $53-$64 | 4.6 | 48 hours | EXPLORE PLANS |
| A+ | $43-$50 | 4.5 | 15 days | EXPLORE PLANS |
| A+ | $35-$49 | 4.3 | 15 days | EXPLORE PLANS |
| A+ | $35-$50 | 4.2 | 14 days | EXPLORE PLANS |
| A+ | $33-$41 | 4.8 | 3 days | EXPLORE PLANS |
No results were found.
AKC vs. Trupanion
Trupanion offers an accident and illness plan with an unlimited lifetime payout. The company does not provide an option for add-on wellness coverage, unlike AKC, but policyholders can add recovery-and-complementary care, pet owner assistance and other riders. Some of these add-ons are unique to Trupanion and not offered by AKC.
Trupanion policies are more expensive than AKC Pet Insurance plans, based on our quote process, but Trupanion offers an option to pay the veterinarian directly. The table below outlines key differences between AKC and Trupanion.
| AKC | Trupanion | |
|---|---|---|
| Reimbursem*nts | 70%, 80% or 90% | 90% |
| Deductibles | $250–$1,000 | $200–$1,000 |
| Annual limits | $2,500–unlimited | Unlimited |
| Average cost for dogs | $48 | $123 |
| Average cost for cats | $27 | $53 |
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To learn more about this provider, read our Trupanion Pet Insurance Review.
AKC vs. Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws offers an accident and illness plan with unlimited annual and lifetime coverage. Healthy Paws policyholders don’t have the option to add coverage such as wellness care, unlike AKC, which may present a drawback for some pet owners.
As you can see in the table below, Healthy Paws also offers fewer reimbursem*nt rates and deductible options than AKC. However, pricing does not vary much between the two providers based on our review.
| AKC | Healthy Paws | |
|---|---|---|
| Reimbursem*nts | 70%, 80% or 90% | 70% or 80% |
| Deductibles | $250–$1,000 | $250–$500 |
| Annual limits | $2,500–unlimited | Unlimited |
| Average cost for dogs | $48 | $54 |
| Average cost for cats | $27 | $24 |
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Frequently Asked Questions about AKC Pet Insurance
You do not need to register your pet with the American Kennel Club to enroll in AKC Pet Insurance —all dogs and cats can enroll regardless of membership status.
AKC Pet Insurance covers curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after a 365-day waiting period.
AKC Pet Insurance offers a 5% multi-pet discount for policyholders who purchase coverage for more than one pet. This discount is only available for new policies and is not offered in every state.
AKC Pet Insurance has no upper age limit for enrolling pets, but pets aged 9 and older can only enroll in accident coverage.
AKC Pet Insurance’s waiting periods include two days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, 180 days for cruciate ligament conditions and IVDD, and 365 days for pre-existing conditions.
Methodology: Our System for Rating Pet Insurance Companies
We review each pet insurance company based on factors most important to pet parents like you. Our process includes in-depth industry research into each provider, such as comparing coverage options, gathering quotes online to determine pricing and reading reviews to assess customer service. To better inform our reviews, we’ve surveyed 3,000 dog and cat owners nationwide to determine the most important elements of pet insurance coverage. We’ve also bought pet insurance plans for 10 of our team’s pets to test the customer experience of various providers for ourselves.
We then score each provider on a 100-point scale and calculate an overall rating out of five stars. Here are more details about the factors we consider when reviewing pet insurance providers:
- Costs and Discounts (22.5%): To assess pricing, we collected sample quotes for 10 mixed-breed and purebred dogs and cats, ranging from 3 months to 8 years old. Our team collected a total of 17,330 quotes directly from 22 provider’s websites, requesting at least two quotes for all 50 U.S. states from every insurer and pet profile. Providers earn the most points in this category for offering affordable coverage and more than four discount options to customers.
- Coverage (22.5%): The best pet insurance companies offer a range of plans, customization options and more so pet owners can choose the right coverage. Companies offering a wide variety of coverage options earn full points in this category. We also look at waiting periods and award the most points if companies offer policies with shorter waiting periods than its competitors.
- Covered Treatments (17.5%): According to our survey of pet owners, coverage is one of the most important factors when shopping for pet insurance. Companies with a breadth of included treatments and unique coverages as standard within their policies receive more points in this category than those with less options.
- Customer Experience (17.5%): Respondents to our survey also valued customer service when comparing pet insurance providers. We score each company based on its website accessibility and overall usability, customer service, mobile apps, money-back guarantees and veterinarian telehealth options. The insurers with the most customer experience offerings receive the most points.
- Industry Standing (10%): We review up-to-date ratings and accreditation information from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot, and score companies based on customer reviews and years of industry experience.
- Availability (10%): Some companies do not offer policies for pets over a certain age. For this category, we deduct points from providers that have age limits for older pets. We also consider state availability, international coverage and if a company extends coverage options to breeds considered dangerous.
We use our rating system to compare each company we review and determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry. To learn more, read our full pet insurance methodology to see how we review and score providers.
If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.com.
