Hartville Pet Insurance Review 2024
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Hartville Pet Insurance offers plans for cats and dogs ages 8 weeks and up. The company sells one accident and illness policy and one accident-only policy, as well as two optional preventive care packages.
Note: Coverage options and availability may vary depending on where you live and the age and breed of your pet.
Hartville pet insurance
Hartville earned 4.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer experience, coverage options and financial strength ratings.
» MORE: The best pet insurance companies
Plans and coverage
Complete Coverage
Complete Coverage is the name of Hartville’s standard accident and illness plan. This policy covers:
Hereditary conditions.
Behavioral issues.
Alternative therapy.
End-of-life expenses.
Intravenous fluids and medications.
Medical supplies, such as casts and splints.
MRIs, CT scans and X-rays.
Poison control consultation fees.
Prescription food (only for a covered condition).
Prescription medications.
Stem cell therapy.
Supplements (only for a covered condition).
Surgery and hospitalization.
Tooth extractions.
Vet exams and tests.
Cancer treatments.
Microchip implantation.
Curable pre-existing conditions (only if the pet is cured and symptom-free for 180 days). Ligament and knee conditions are not included.
Accident-only coverage
Hartville’s accident-only plan covers a range of treatments and services, such as end-of-life expenses, medical supplies, MRIs, poison control consultation fees and tooth extractions.
Preventive care
Hartville offers two preventive-care plans: basic and prime. These packages are optional and can be added to your policy for a fee. There are no deductibles or copayments; instead, you get a set budget per year for certain treatments. The basic package can help pay for services like dental cleaning, vaccinations and fecal tests. The prime plan offers higher annual maximums, as well as coverage for spaying or neutering.
» MORE: What does pet insurance cover?
What’s not covered
Hartville’s accident and illness plan doesn't cover:
Some dental procedures.
Boarding fees.
Breeding expenses.
Cosmetic or elective procedures.
Dental cleanings (unless due to covered illness).
Experimental treatments.
Funeral services.
Grooming.
Herbal supplements.
House call fees.
Illnesses or injuries resulting from intentional actions or gross negligence.
Organ or heart valve transplants.
Incurable pre-existing conditions.
Training.
Hartville’s accident-only plan excludes all of the above, as well as treatment for any illness.
» MORE: Is pet insurance worth it?
Plan options
Deductibles: A pet insurance deductible is the amount you need to spend on vet expenses before your insurer starts reimbursing you. With Hartville, you can choose an annual deductible of $100, $250 or $500.
Reimbursement amounts: 70%, 80% and 90%.
Unlike some other pet insurers, Hartville generally subtracts its deductible from your vet bill before applying your reimbursement percentage. This results in a higher payout than you might get from other insurers.
Say you have a $2,000 vet bill, an 80% reimbursement rate and a $500 deductible. Here’s how Hartville might determine your payout:
$2,000 vet bill - $500 deductible = $1,500.
$1,500 x 0.8 (80% reimbursement rate) = $1,200 reimbursement.
You’d pay the remaining $800.
Did you know…
Insurers that apply the reimbursement rate to your vet bill first would pay only $1,100 of the claim above. Here’s the math:
$2,000 vet bill x 0.8 (80% reimbursement rate) = $1,600.
$1,600 - $500 deductible = $1,100.
Coverage limits: Coverage limits range from $2,500 per year to unlimited. Some options may be available only by phone.
Restrictions and waiting periods
Age restrictions: Dogs and cats ages 8 weeks and up are eligible to apply.
Waiting periods: A waiting period is the time between when you buy the policy and when the coverage takes effect. Hartville has a 14-day waiting period for all conditions. If an accident or illness occurs during this time, it is considered a pre-existing condition.
Sample rates
The cost of Hartville pet insurance depends on where you live, the coverage limits you choose, and your pet’s breed and age.
To give you a rough idea of how much you might pay, we gathered quotes for several popular dog breeds at ages 2 and 8. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for dogs living in Katy, Texas. Our sample plan was for accident and illness coverage with a $250 deductible, $5,000 of annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate. Your own price will vary.
Breed | Age 2 | Age 8 |
|---|---|---|
French bulldog | $68 | $161 |
German shepherd | $40 | $95 |
Golden retriever | $47 | $112 |
Labrador retriever | $47 | $112 |
Medium mixed-breed dog | $32 | $77 |
Poodle | $47 | $112 |
We also gathered rates for a variety of cat breeds with the same coverage limits as above. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for cats living in Katy, Texas.
Breed | Age 2 | Age 8 |
|---|---|---|
Devon rex | $18 | $33 |
Domestic shorthair | $18 | $33 |
Exotic longhair | $34 | $61 |
Maine coon | $29 | $52 |
Persian | $29 | $52 |
Ragdoll | $18 | $33 |
» MORE: The best cheap pet insurance
Discounts
Hartville offers a 10% discount for each additional pet you insure.
State availability
Hartville is licensed to sell pet insurance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Consumer experience
Website: The website includes key details for each type of coverage available and allows you to download sample policies. You can log in to the member portal on the Hartville website, where you can view your policy, add pets, submit claims and access a 24/7 veterinary helpline.
App: The Hartville smartphone app offers many of the same features available in the web portal. You can file and track claims, add pets, view your policy, and find vets in your area.
Claims: You can submit and track claims using the online member portal or smartphone app. Claims must be submitted within 270 days of the service date. Hartville may be able to pay your vet directly if you request it with your claim submission.
Customer service: If you need assistance, you can reach Hartville by phone or email. Call centers are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Other pet insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other pet insurance companies:
How we review pet insurance
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines that ensure fairness and accuracy to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. In our pet insurance reviews, we consider coverage, discounts, financial strength ratings from AM Best and more to determine our star ratings.
Our rating system rewards companies that cover a wide range of potential expenses, offer many ways to customize your plan and have a strong financial rating. Within the consumer experience category, we looked at features such as mobile app ratings and whether the company offers direct vet payments. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
Dive deeper with our criteria for evaluating pet insurance companies.
Methodology
Pet insurance star ratings
NerdWallet’s pet insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, scope of coverage, the ability to customize your plan and more. Our “consumer experience” category looks at factors such as website transparency and mobile app ratings. To calculate each insurer’s star rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale. See our full pet insurance methodology.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Pet insurance sample rates
To find sample pet insurance rates, NerdWallet gathered quotes for the base level of accident and illness coverage on each insurer’s website. Quotes reflect the monthly cost of a policy and do not include wellness coverage or other optional add-ons. Each plan for a given company had the same deductible, coverage limit and reimbursement rate for all sample pets.
These are sample rates gathered for specific pets living in Katy, Texas. Your own rates will be different.
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