- Hartville Pet Insurance Overview: Hartville has been providing pet insurance since the late ’90s, offering solid coverage backed by strong financial support, suitable for pet owners seeking reliable protection.
- Who is Hartville Pet Insurance Best For?: It is ideal for cat owners, pet parents with senior pets, and those interested in alternative treatments like acupuncture, especially if premium speed and chronic conditions are not primary concerns.
- Hartville’s Strengths and Weaknesses: Hartville excels in insuring pets of all ages and covers some pre-existing conditions after 6 months, but claims processing can be slow, and recent coverage transitions have caused customer dissatisfaction.
- Coverage and Policy Details: The main plan, Complete Coverage, includes accidents, illnesses, and some alternative treatments, with options for preventive care and flexible waiting periods, but excludes pre-existing conditions and certain procedures.
- Affordability and Customer Experience: Rates are competitive with average premiums around $23/month for cats and $55/month for dogs, though long-term premiums may increase significantly; claims submission is straightforward, but reimbursement times can be slower than competitors.
- Get a quote from Hartville Pet Insurance.
Hartville Pet Insurance Overview
Hartville has been around since the late ’90s, making it one of the true veterans of the pet insurance space. The company brings serious financial backing from its parent organization and offers solid coverage options that can protect your furry family member from unexpected vet bills. That said, your mileage may vary depending on what you need and how you found your way to them.
Hartville Pet Insurance earned an 8.6 out of 10, which was just shy of landing it on our list of the best pet insurance. That doesn’t mean Hartville isn’t right for you, though. Here’s everything you need to know to decide if it’s the right fit for your pet.
Who is Hartville Pet Insurance Best For?
This insurer makes the most sense for cat owners looking for affordable coverage, pet parents with senior animals who can’t get insured elsewhere, and folks who value access to alternative treatments like acupuncture and stem cell therapy. If you want a company with nearly three decades of experience and rock-solid financial backing, Hartville fits that bill. However, if you need lightning-fast reimbursements or have a pet with chronic knee issues, you might want to explore other options.
Hartville Pet Insurance Strengths
Hartville shines when it comes to welcoming pets of all ages. There’s no cutoff for senior pets, which is huge if you’re trying to get coverage for your older companion when other companies have already closed the door. The company also stands out by potentially covering certain pre-existing conditions after your pet has been healthy for six months, something most competitors won’t even consider. Their 14-day waiting period for orthopedic conditions is notably shorter than the industry standard, and the 24/7 vet helpline gives you peace of mind when your pup starts acting weird at 2 AM.
Hartville Pet Insurance Weaknesses
The claims process can feel slow compared to newer competitors. While some insurers get you paid back within a week, Hartville may take up to 30 days. The 14-day waiting period for accidents is actually longer than average in today’s market. Recent negative buzz surrounds their acquisition of 24PetWatch customers, with many reporting significant premium increases and coverage changes during the transition. The app experience has room for improvement based on user feedback.
Hartville Pet Insurance Overview
Hartville launched in 1997 in Ohio and has been protecting pets ever since. The company currently operates from its headquarters in Akron, Ohio, where it has created a pretty pet-friendly workplace that even welcomes employees’ dogs.
Over the years, the company has insured more than 400,000 pets and processed over 1.6 million claims. You can get coverage in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and your policy even works if you’re traveling through U.S. territories or Canada.
The insurance only covers dogs and cats at this time, so exotic pet owners will need to look elsewhere. Plans are offered through PTZ Insurance Agency, Ltd., and policies are underwritten by either United States Fire Insurance Company or Independence American Insurance Company, both part of the Crum & Forster family.
Hartville also administers pet insurance under the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance brand through a licensing partnership, making them one of the biggest players in the pet insurance gam, even if you’ve never heard their name directly.
Hartville Pet Insurance Reliability
When it comes to financial muscle, Hartville’s parent company brings serious weight to the table. Crum & Forster earned an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best in September 2025, upgraded from their previous A (Excellent) rating. This puts them in elite company among insurance carriers.
The Crum & Forster organization has been operating since 1822, giving it over 200 years of experience in the insurance business. They wrote $5.7 billion in gross premiums in 2024, so there’s plenty of financial runway to pay your claims.
Crum & Forster is owned by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, a major financial services conglomerate traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. This corporate structure provides additional stability and resources.
From a regulatory standpoint, Hartville operates as a licensed insurance agency in all 50 states and D.C. The company maintains BBB accreditation with an A+ rating, though they’ve had complaints filed over the years, particularly related to recent customer transitions.
Bottom line: You don’t need to worry about Hartville disappearing or being unable to pay claims. The financial foundation here is as solid as it gets in the pet insurance world.
Hartville Pet Insurance Coverage Options
Plan Types Offered
Hartville keeps things relatively simple with their plan lineup. The main offering is Complete Coverage, their accident and illness policy that handles both unexpected injuries and health problems. For those who want bare-bones protection, there’s an Accident-Only plan that costs less but won’t help when your pet gets sick. You can also tack on Preventive Care coverage if you want help with routine stuff like annual exams and vaccines.
The Basic Preventive Care add-on runs about $9.95 extra per month and provides $250 annually toward wellness expenses. The Prime Preventive Care upgrade costs around $24.95 monthly and bumps that up to $450 per year while adding benefits like spay/neuter reimbursement and parasite prevention.
What’s Covered
The Complete Coverage plan handles a wide range of situations. Your pet gets protection for accidents like broken bones, bite wounds, swallowed objects, and toxic ingestions. On the illness side, coverage extends to infections, digestive problems, cancer treatments, heart disease, diabetes, and more.
Hartville stands out by covering some treatments that competitors often skip. Stem cell therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and other alternative treatments fall under the plan. Behavioral issues like anxiety and aggression are covered, too. The policy handles hereditary and congenital conditions such as hip dysplasia, heart defects, and eye disorders.
Emergency care, surgeries, hospitalizations, diagnostic imaging like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans all get covered. Prescription medications and prescription diets for covered conditions are included. Even end-of-life expenses like euthanasia get some coverage.
Vet exam fees come standard with both the Complete Coverage and Accident-Only plans, which isn’t always the case with other insurers.
What’s NOT Covered
No pet insurer covers pre-existing conditions, and Hartville follows this industry standard. However, they take a more flexible approach than most. If a condition has been completely resolved and your pet shows no symptoms for 180 days, Hartville may start covering it again. The catch: knee and ligament conditions are excluded from this reconsideration policy permanently.
Standard exclusions include breeding and pregnancy costs, cosmetic procedures like ear cropping and tail docking, experimental treatments, organ transplants, and intentional injuries. Herbal supplements get the boot, and so do house call fees. Dental cleanings only count if they’re treating a covered illness.
The Accident-Only policy excludes everything illness-related, so you’re only protected against injuries with that plan.
Policy Terms
The waiting period structure keeps things straightforward at Hartville. Everything covered under the accident and illness policy has a 14-day waiting period after your policy starts. This applies uniformly to accidents, illnesses, and orthopedic conditions. Preventive care kicks in immediately if you’ve added it.
That 14-day accident wait is actually longer than some competitors who offer 2-3 day windows for injuries, but the orthopedic waiting period is much shorter than the 6-12 months you’ll find elsewhere.
Enrollment is open to pets between 8 weeks and 20 years old. Once your pet is covered, the policy renews automatically and can’t be cancelled or downgraded due to your pet’s age or health. However, premiums typically increase as your pet gets older.
Want to cancel? You’ve got 30 days from your policy’s effective date to get a full refund if you haven’t filed any claims. After that, contact customer service, and you may need to provide a 60-day notice.
Your coverage works at any licensed veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada, including specialists and emergency animal hospitals. No network restrictions or referral requirements to worry about.
Special Features
All policyholders get access to a 24/7 veterinary helpline for those late-night moments when you’re not sure if something is an emergency. The online Member Center lets you manage your account, submit claims, track payments, and locate nearby vets.
There’s no lost pet assistance program specifically mentioned, but the comprehensive coverage does handle most situations pet owners encounter. Boarding fee coverage isn’t explicitly part of the standard package.
The company doesn’t advertise a formal rewards or loyalty program, but long-term customers note that they don’t penalize you with rate increases for filing claims.
Hartville Pet Insurance Affordability
Hartville’s rates land in the competitive range, though they won’t be the absolute cheapest option you find. Starting prices hover around $10-12 per month for cats and $12-15 per month for dogs, with accident and illness coverage when you’re protecting a young pet.
For a more realistic picture, a 2-year-old mixed-breed dog typically runs around $48 monthly for the Complete Coverage plan. The same dog on an Accident-Only plan costs approximately $37 per month. Cats generally fall between $20-2$25monthly depending on breed and your coverage selections.
Average premiums across customers work out to roughly $23 per month for feline coverage and $55 per month for canine coverage. Where you live matters too. Cat coverage ranges from about $18 monthly in Alabama to around $29 in Maine. Dog insurance runs from approximately $43 in Arkansas up to $70 in Illinois.
Breed significantly impacts your quote. Small mixed-breed dogs under 20 pounds might only cost $23 monthly, while a Bullmastiff could run you over $100. On the cat side, British Longhairs average $21 monthly compared to $31 for Abyssinians.
Senior pets cost more to insure, and some long-term customers have reported substantial premium increases as their pets age, with a few noting their rates doubled or tripled over time.
Pricing Factors
Your premium gets calculated based on several variables. Species and breed determine base risk levels. Age plays a major role, with older pets costing more to insure. Your location affects pricing based on local veterinary costs. The coverage options you select obviously change your rate.
Customization Options
Deductible choices include $100, $250, and $500 annually. Higher deductibles lower your monthly payment, but mean more out-of-pocket spending before coverage kicks in.
Reimbursement percentage options are 70%, 80%, and 90%. Selecting a lower rate reduces premiums but leaves you covering more of each bill.
Annual limits range from $2,500 up through $10,000 with online enrollment. An unlimited option may be available if you call and speak with a representative directly.
Discounts Available
Enroll multiple pets, and you’ll save 10% on each additional animal’s premium. Paying your entire annual premium upfront instead of monthly saves about $24 per year by eliminating monthly processing fees.
Military, veteran, or employer group discounts aren’t prominently advertised, but it’s worth asking when you get a quote. The company does offer pet insurance as a voluntary employee benefit through employers.
Value Assessment
Hartville delivers solid value for cat owners, ranking among the most affordable options nationally for feline coverage. Dog insurance costs fall in the moderate range compared to competitors.
The value equation improves if you want coverage for alternative therapies, need insurance for a senior pet, or appreciate the curable pre-existing condition policy. Those features justify higher prices for some pet parents.
Watch out for annual rate increases. Like most pet insurers, Hartville adjusts premiums yearly based on your pet’s age and veterinary cost inflation. Some customers have experienced significant jumps, so budget accordingly for the long term.
Hartville Pet Insurance Claims Process
Claims Submission Methods
You’ve got plenty of ways to file a claim. The My Pet Insurance mobile app handles submissions from your phone or tablet. The online Member Center works from any device. Old school options include fax, mail, and email if you prefer.
Uploading a photo of your invoice works fine for the claim form, keeping things simple. You’ve got a generous 270-day window from the date of treatment to get your claim submitted.
Average Reimbursement Timeframe
Hartville aims to process most claims within 30 days. This timeframe runs longer than many competitors, with some newer insurers turning around reimbursements in just 2-7 days or even 24-48 hours.
The company sends email updates on claim progress, and you can track status through the Member Center or app anytime.
Reimbursement Process
Standard procedure requires you to pay the vet bill at the time of your visit, then file for reimbursement afterward. Hartville doesn’t prominently advertise direct vet payment, but representatives have mentioned this option may be available if you call and discuss it.
When your claim pays out, choose between receiving a check in the mail or setting up direct deposit for faster access to your funds.
One thing worth noting: Hartville subtracts your deductible from the vet bill before applying your reimbursement percentage. This calculation method actually benefits you compared to insurers who apply the reimbursement rate first.
Claims Approval Rate
The company doesn’t publicly share specific claims approval statistics. Customer reviews paint a mixed picture, with many praising quick approvals and accurate payments while others report frustrating denials, particularly around pre-existing condition determinations.
Ease of Claims Process
Submitting claims through the app or portal consistently gets positive feedback for being straightforward. The actual experience after submission varies based on individual claims, with complexity and documentation requirements playing a role.
Digital Claims Tracking
The Member Center and mobile app both offer claim tracking capabilities. You can monitor where things stand without needing to call customer service.
Hartville Pet Insurance Customer Service
Accessibility
Phone support operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern time. No weekend hours are available for phone calls. You can reach the team at 1-800-799-5852.
Email inquiries go to [email protected] for existing customers. The company typically responds to negative reviews on Trustpilot within about a week, suggesting moderate social media monitoring.
Live chat isn’t prominently featured as an option, which may frustrate customers who prefer that communication style.
Digital Experience
The mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices. App store reviews are mixed, with some users finding it helpful for managing their accounts and submitting claims, while others report technical glitches and loading issues.
The website gets marks for providing clear information about coverage options and allowing 24/7 access to quotes that save automatically. The online Member Center handles account management, billing updates, claim submissions, and vet locator functionality.
Digital documentation access works well, letting you view policy details and explanation of benefits statements online.
Customer Satisfaction Metrics
The BBB gives Hartville an A+ rating with accreditation status, its highest trust designation. However, the bureau has closed dozens of complaints against Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group over recent years.
Trustpilot shows a 3.1 out of 5-star rating based on approximately 341 reviews. This “Average” rating reflects polarized opinions, with some customers raving about their experience while others share significant frustrations.
Reddit sentiment runs negative, with roughly one-third positive comments and two-thirds negative in informal analysis. Users praise customer service quality and clear policy terms in positive posts. Complaints focus on claim denials and coverage gaps.
Recent reviews are heavily influenced by the 24PetWatch acquisition situation, with many transferred customers expressing frustration about premium increases and coverage changes they didn’t anticipate.
Hartville Pet Insurance Customer Highlights
Customer experiences with Hartville span a wide spectrum. On the positive end, longtime policyholders describe smooth claims processing, accurate payments, and genuinely helpful customer service representatives. Several customers specifically mention how the company handled difficult situations with compassion, including one account of Hartville sending flowers after a pet passed away.
Pet parents with healthy animals who occasionally need vet care report the insurance working exactly as expected. Emergency situations like neurological issues, injuries requiring surgery, and cancer treatments have been covered for many customers without hassle.
The negative experiences cluster around a few themes. The 24PetWatch transition created significant problems for transferred customers, with reports of premiums doubling or tripling, coverage getting downgraded, and communication issues throughout the process. Some felt the company took advantage of a vulnerable situation.
Pre-existing condition determinations frustrate another group of customers. The “infinite loop” of conditions being labeled pre-existing despite seeming unrelated comes up in complaints. Knee and ligament claims generate particular friction due to the permanent exclusion policy.
Premium increases over time catch some long-term customers off guard, especially when notifications get buried in websites rather than sent clearly. A few reports describe difficulty cancelling policies or reaching human customer service representatives.
Pros and Cons of Hartville Pet Insurance
Pros
- The financial backing here provides genuine peace of mind. With Crum & Forster’s A+ Superior rating from AM Best and over 200 years of insurance experience behind them, you’re dealing with a company that will be around to pay your claims.
- No age restrictions for enrollment open doors that other insurers close. If your senior pet needs coverage and you’ve been turned away elsewhere, Hartville will still welcome you.
- The curable pre-existing condition policy gives second chances. After six months of being symptom-free, conditions that would have been excluded forever at other companies may become covered again.
- Alternative therapy coverage puts treatments like acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and stem cell therapy on the table when your pet needs advanced care options.
- The 14-day orthopedic waiting period beats the 6-12 month waits common at competitors, getting your pet protected faster for conditions like hip dysplasia.
Cons
- Claims processing speed lags behind modern competitors. The 30-day target window feels outdated when other insurers offer weekly or even daily turnaround times.
- The 14-day accident waiting period exceeds industry norms. Many competitors protect against accidents within just a few days of enrollment.
- Knee and ligament exclusions after any prior condition create permanent coverage gaps. One minor knee issue early in life means never having that protection again.
- Annual premium increases can be substantial. Long-term customers report rates climbing significantly over the years, sometimes catching them by surprise without clear notification.
- Recent acquisition issues have hurt the company’s reputation. The 24PetWatch transition generated numerous complaints about handling, communication, and customer treatment.
Our Verdict & Score for Hartville Pet Insurance
Hartville Pet Insurance delivers a solid, traditional pet insurance product backed by exceptional financial strength. The company makes the most sense for cat owners seeking affordable coverage, pet parents with senior animals who can’t get insured elsewhere, and people who value access to alternative veterinary treatments. Nearly three decades of experience and A+ financial ratings provide confidence that your claims will get paid.
Recommended for:
- Pet owners with senior dogs or cats who need coverage options
- Cat parents looking for affordable, reliable insurance
- Anyone interested in holistic or alternative veterinary care coverage
- People who prioritize financial stability over cutting-edge technology
Not ideal for:
- Pet owners who need a fast reimbursement turnaround (consider Prudent pet insurance)
- Anyone whose pet has existing knee or ligament conditions (consider Pumpkin pet insurance)
- People who prefer purely digital, app-first experiences (consider Lemonade pet insurance)
- Those looking for the absolute lowest premiums available (consider Embrace pet insurance)
Methodology
Our evaluation weighted five categories based on their importance to the average pet insurance buyer:
Affordability (30%): We compared pet insurance premium costs across multiple pet profiles, factoring in available discounts and fee structures. Pets Best’s industry-low prices drove their strong score here.
Claims Process (20%): We evaluated submission options, processing times, reimbursement speed, and the availability of direct vet payment. Multiple submission methods and reasonably fast processing earned a solid score, though customer friction reports prevented a higher rating.
Customer Service (20%): We assessed accessibility, digital tools, and customer satisfaction metrics from Trustpilot, BBB, and Reddit. The BBB complaint situation and app issues significantly impacted this score.
Stability (20%): We examined A.M. Best ratings, years in business, corporate backing, and regulatory standing. Strong financial backing, offset by mixed underwriter ratings, resulted in an above-average score.
Coverage Options (10%): We reviewed plan variety, what’s covered and excluded, waiting periods, and special features. Comprehensive offerings with genuine customization options earned a high score, with waiting periods being the main drawback.
Our review methodology weighs five key factors to generate overall scores. We analyzed 20 pet insurance providers across identical criteria, then applied a curve based on the top performer to ensure fair comparisons.
Hartville Pet Insurance Category Scores
- Financial Strength: 9/10
- Coverage Options: 7/10
- Affordability: 7/10
- Claims Experience: 6/10
- Customer Experience: 6/10
- Overall Score: 8.6/10
Check out our complete methodology and see how every provider stacked up in our Pet Insurance Reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to your questions about Hartville Pet Insurance.
Hartville Pet Insurance has been providing coverage since the late ’90s and is backed by a strong financial organization, Crum & Forster, with an A+ rating from AM Best, making it a reliable choice for pet insurance with decades of experience.
Hartville is ideal for cat owners, pet parents with senior pets, and those interested in alternative treatments like acupuncture, especially if quick reimbursements are not a primary concern.
It mainly offers the Complete Coverage plan covering accidents, illnesses, and some alternative treatments, with optional preventive care coverages. It also provides an Accident-Only plan, but pre-existing conditions and certain procedures are excluded.
Hartville’s rates are competitive, averaging around $23/month for cats and $55/month for dogs, but premiums may increase significantly as pets age. Discounts are available for multiple pets and paying annually upfront.
Claims can be submitted via a mobile app, online portal, or traditional methods. Most claims are processed within 30 days, with the reimbursement calculated after deducting the deductible, and can be tracked online or through the app.
