AKC Pet Insurance – As a dog owner, you want the best for your furry friend. However, unexpected veterinary bills can be stressful and costly. That’s where pet insurance comes in.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) offers pet insurance designed specifically for dog owners, providing financial protection and peace of mind.
In this article, we’ll explore all you need to know about AKC pet insurance including the coverage options, and discounts, helping you decide if it’s the right choice for you and your pet.
AKC Pet Insurance Plans And What They Cover
AKC Pet Insurance offers two main health plans, plus a few extra options you can add if you want more coverage.
CompanionCare Plan
This is AKC’s basic accident and illness plan for both dogs and cats. You can pick your own coverage limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates.
After you pay your chosen deductible, the insurance will refund you a part of your vet bills.
Accident-Only Plan
For older pets, AKC offers an accident-only plan. It covers unexpected injuries like broken bones, sprains, or even snake bites.
It pays for treatments like surgery or medications after an accident, but it does not cover illnesses such as cancer or any preventive care.
Exam Plus Coverage
This option helps pay for vet visits when your pet is sick or hurt. It covers checkups at regular vets, specialists, and emergency rooms. However, it does not cover routine wellness visits.
Breeding Coverage
This covers health problems that happen from breeding, pregnancy, giving birth, or nursing. It includes things like emergency C-sections, gestational diabetes, and other breeding-related issues.
Defender and DefenderPlus Plans
These are wellness add-ons. The Defender plan helps with costs like vaccines, microchipping, heartworm prevention, flea and tick treatments, and general checkups.
DefenderPlus offers extra benefits like dental cleanings and surgeries like spaying or neutering.
What AKC Pet Insurance Does Not Cover
While the CompanionCare plan covers a lot, there are a few things it doesn’t pay for:
- Birth defects or inherited problems if you enroll after your pet turns two.
- Optional cosmetic procedures like ear cropping or tail docking.
- Injuries caused on purpose by the owner or someone responsible for the pet.
- Pregnancy-related issues unless you add the breeding coverage.
- Regular pet food, unless it’s a prescription diet needed for a covered illness.
- Dental issues like periodontal disease or gingivitis.
How Much Does AKC Pet Insurance Cost?
The average cost is about $48 per month for dogs and $27 for cats. Prices can vary as some may pay as little as $28 for dogs or $16 for cats, while others might pay up to $74 for dogs and $43 for cats.
If your pet is nine years or older, you can only get the accident-only plan, which costs about $81 per month for dogs and $36 for cats.
For wellness plans:
- Defender Plan: $16 for dogs, $12 for cats per month
- DefenderPlus Plan: $27 for dogs, $22 for cats per month
Who Should Consider AKC Pet Insurance?
AKC Pet Insurance could be a great choice for pet owners involved with AKC activities like dog shows or training.
It’s also good for breeders because there are discounts for being part of AKC’s Breeder of Merit or H.E.A.R.T. Program.
Plus, you can customize the plan to fit your budget by adjusting coverage limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates.
AKC Pet Insurance Discounts
Here are some ways you can save with AKC:
- Multiple Pets: Get a 5% discount when you cover more than one pet.
- Breeders: Responsible breeders can get a 10% discount.
- New Registrations: If you recently registered your pet with the AKC, you might qualify for a free 30-day policy without any waiting periods for illnesses or accidents.
Age Limits and Waiting Periods
You can sign up pets of any age, but pets nine years or older can only get accident-only coverage. Also, some extras like genetic condition coverage aren’t available for older pets.
AKC also has waiting periods before coverage kicks in:
- 2 days for accidents
- 14 days for illnesses
- 180 days for knee injuries and back problems like IVDD
One unique thing about AKC is that it covers certain pre-existing conditions after a 365-day waiting period — but this may not be available in every state.
Key Highlights of AKC Pet Insurance
AKC Pet Insurance stands out because it offers:
- Coverage for breeding-related issues
- Some coverage for pre-existing conditions
- Flexible plan options and add-ons
It’s available across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., through its partners.