AAHA to phase out veterinary seal of acceptance program for pet insurance

Denver –

The idea was to create a program to offer pet owners high-deductible, lower-cost pet insurance policies to help defray costs of veterinary care.

But after “much deliberation” the American Animal Hospital Association’s (AAHA) Board of Directors opted to scrap its Seal of Acceptance program entirely.In fact, the program will be phased out by Dec. 31, the association reports.

"The program was successful in achieving this goal based purely on the number of policies that have earned the seal," AAHA says in a prepared statement. "However, the association began receiving requests from its members, pet insurance representatives and pet owners for additional Seal of Acceptance requirements and policy scrutiny."

The association reports that the “program was not intended to serve as an insurance commission” to the veterinary insurance industry or to endorse any specific company.

For AAHA's board, the decision became a choice between throwing more money to beef up a program or use it to fund other efforts.

"The board decided that members and pet owners would be better served if the association discontinued the Seal of Acceptance and reallocated resources to general pet insurance education for the veterinary profession and pet owners," AAHA says.

The companies earning AAHA's seal included Trupanion, PurinaCare, Petsecure, Pets Best Insurance, HealthyPaws Pet Insurance, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) and Petplan.