Spot rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

Best for: Range of coverage

Spot earned one of our highest ratings thanks to its wide range of benefits built into the base plan. While some pet insurers charge extra for coverage for treatments such as behavioral or alternative therapy, Spot includes them up-front.

Monthly premiums are above average, but if you want a pet insurance policy that doesn’t cut corners on coverage, Spot is worth a serious look.

Learn more: How does pet insurance work? A complete guide.

Pros

• Many choices for annual coverage limits

• Spot will cover curable pre-existing conditions if there are no symptoms or treatment within 180 days (except ligament and knee conditions)

• No rules for special waiting periods for certain conditions

• Covers behavioral and alternative therapy

• Covers microchipping

• Generous 270 days to submit claims after the treatment date

Cons

• Above-average prices

• No coverage for minor expenses such as advertising and rewards for pets that are stolen or lost

As you shop for pet insurance, pay attention to these details:

Spot pet insurance basics

• Annual maximum limit choices: $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, Unlimited

• Deductible choices: $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000

• Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%

• Multi-pet discount: 10%

Spot waiting periods

• For accident coverage: 14 days

• For illness coverage: 14 days

• Special waiting period: None

Spot age restrictions for buying a new policy

• Minimum pet age: 8 weeks

• Maximum pet age: None

Spot has a standard accident and illness plan, an accident-only plan, plus two wellness plans. Its accident and illness policy has one of the most robust coverage options on the market without requiring you to add a bunch of riders.

Spot’s accident and illness policy

Coverage under Spot’s policy includes:

• The vet exam free

• Exams and diagnostics such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs

• Hereditary and congenital conditions

• Dental accidents and illnesses, such as periodontal disease and tooth extractions

• Behavioral therapy for issues like aggression, separation anxiety, and excessive licking, when prescribed by a vet or animal behaviorist

• Alternative therapies like acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and chiropractic care

• Prescription medications and pet food or supplements used to treat covered conditions

• Stem cell therapy

• End-of-life care, including euthanasia and associated expenses

• Microchip implantation by a vet

Learn more: What does pet insurance cover?

If you don’t need illness coverage, Spot offers an accident-only plan that can help with sudden vet bills related to unexpected injuries.

Coverage typically includes:

• Emergency vet visits and hospitalization after accidents

• Treatment for injuries like broken bones, wounds, swallowed objects, or toxic ingestions

• Surgery, medical supplies, and prescription medications related to an accident

• X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and other diagnostic tests

• Vet exam fees for covered accidents

• Microchip implantation

This plan does not cover any illnesses, preventive care, or chronic conditions. It’s geared toward active pets or pet parents who are mostly worried about traumatic events, like falls, car accidents, or surprise injuries from outdoor adventures.

This policy has the same 14-day waiting period as Spot’s accident and illness plan, and is available for both cats and dogs.

Spot offers two preventive care add-ons — Gold and Platinum — that you can tack onto either base plan for an additional monthly fee. These help pay for routine care expenses.

Depending on the tier you choose, coverage may include:

• Wellness exams and dental cleanings (up to $50 per service)

• Vaccinations and titers, including rabies, DHLPP, and Bordetella

• Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention

• Screenings and diagnostic tests like fecal exams, urinalysis, and bloodwork

• Spay/neuter surgery (Platinum plan only)

• Microchipping

Coverage is capped per service, so you’ll want to check Spot’s benefit schedule to see the maximum reimbursement for each item. If your vet charges more, you’ll need to pay the difference.

Learn more: Does pet insurance cover vaccines?

Like most pet insurers, Spot does not cover pre-existing conditions, which Spot defines as any “illness, disease, injury, or change to your pet's health that first occurs or shows symptoms before coverage is effective or during a waiting period.”

However, Spot does make an important exception: If a pre-existing condition is curable and your pet has been symptom-free and treatment-free for at least 180 days, it can be eligible for coverage again. This does not apply to knee or ligament conditions, which are permanently excluded once they occur, even if your pet recovers.

Yes, all Spot policies include access to a 24/7 vet helpline. You can call anytime to get advice from vet telehealth specialists, whether you’re dealing with a late-night emergency or just unsure if your pet’s symptoms warrant a trip to the clinic.

Spot offers excellent broad coverage, but like all pet insurers, it excludes certain types of care and situations.

What’s not covered includes:

• Pre-existing conditions, including any conditions where symptoms started before your policy effective date or during the waiting period

• Routine care, preventive services, and vaccinations (unless you’ve added a wellness plan)

• Cosmetic or elective procedures like ear cropping, claw removal, or tail docking

• Grooming services such as nail trims and ear cleanings

• Herbal treatments, CBD products, and most supplements used for general wellness

• Dental cleanings (unless tied to a an illness covered by the policy or added via a wellness plan)

• Breeding, pregnancy, and nursing-related care

• Injuries caused by neglect, abuse, or organized fighting

• Vet expenses related to racing, guarding, or law enforcement use

• Endodontic or orthodontic dental procedures like caps, crowns, root canals, or implants

• Travel costs, house calls, or non-veterinary services (like paperwork or membership fees)

You may be able to request a policy change mid-term, but any change is subject to underwriting approval. And depending on the change, it might trigger a new enrollment, which means new waiting periods will apply and pre-existing condition rules will reset. Thus, existing medical issues could become excluded from coverage as new pre-existing conditions.

If you’re considering a change, it’s best to contact Spot to ask how an adjustment would affect your specific coverage.

Spot’s premiums are higher than average for both $5,000 and unlimited annual coverage. However, keep in mind a Spot policy includes robust benefits.

Spot’s average monthly cost for a $5,000 annual limit is 7% higher than the overall average in our evaluation.

Learn more: Is pet insurance worth it? How to decide.

For unlimited annual coverage, Spot comes in at 40% higher than the overall average in our analysis.

Yes, Spot offers a 10% multi-pet discount when you insure more than one pet. Some pet insurance companies offer only 5% or no discount at all.

The discount helps lower your total cost, but since each pet will be on their own policy they will have their own deductible and annual limit. For a shared deductible and annual limit for up to three pets, check out MetLife’s family plan for pet insurance.

No, Spot does not have an official system for paying vets directly. Like most pet insurers, you’ll typically need to pay up-front, then submit your claim for reimbursement.

That said, if you’re facing a very large vet bill (like for surgery) it’s worth asking Spot ahead of time if an arrangement can be made for a direct vet payment.

Learn more: Pet insurance that pays the vet directly: How does it work?

Submitting a claim with Spot is straightforward:

1. Gather your documents. You’ll need a completed claim form, an itemized invoice from your vet, and a description of your pet’s condition and treatment.

2. Submit your claim. You can file a claim online or through the Spot mobile app.

3. Follow up if needed. Spot may request additional medical records or proof of identity for your pet. If anything’s missing, they’ll ask you to resubmit your claim with the required information.

Spot gives you 270 days from the date of treatment to submit your claim. That’s nearly nine months — much longer than the 90 to 180 day limit most pet insurers use.

Spot says most standard claims are processed in five to seven business days, while preventive care claims are usually handled in about two business days.

To avoid delays, make sure your claim includes all required documents, like itemized invoices and medical records. If something’s missing, Spot may pause processing until they receive it.

Spot’s mobile app lets you manage your policy from your phone. You can:

• Submit and track claims

• Access your policy documents

• View claim history and reimbursement status

• Contact customer support

• Access the 24/7 vet helpline

Spot’s mobile app ratings:

Spot’s app generally gets above-average or average ratings from users.

• App store: 3.7 out of 5 stars

• Google Play store: 3.1 out of 5 stars

Learn more: The best pet insurance companies of 2025

Spot pet insurance is available in all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C.

You can use Spot pet insurance for expenses incurred in the U.S., its territories, and Canada. The veterinarian does not need to take Spot pet insurance because you’ll pay the vet and then submit the bill to Spot for reimbursement.

No. Spot does not require a recent veterinary exam to enroll in coverage. But if you file a claim, you may be asked to provide past medical records, especially for your first claim.

You can reach Spot’s customer support team by phone at 1-800-905-1595. Hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. You can also contact customer support through the Spot mobile app.

You can cancel a Spot policy at any time by contacting the company via phone, email, mail, or fax. Let them know the date you want the cancellation to take effect.

If you cancel within the first 30 days and haven’t submitted a claim, you’ll receive a full refund of your premium.

If you’ve already submitted a claim, or you cancel after 30 days, Spot will issue a pro-rated refund for any unused premium you’ve paid for beyond your last date of coverage.

Amy Danise and Tim Manni edited this article.

We researched the coverage details and prices for 15 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.