Founded in 1997, Hartville Remains an Industry Leader 140 “Dog Years” Later
Over the past 20 years, Hartville Pet Insurance GroupSM has provided insurance for more than 400,000 dogs and cats. That’s a lot of tail wagging and purring compared to its humble beginnings.
Hartville Pet Insurance Group, providers of ASPCA Pet Health Insurance (PRNewsFoto/Hartville Pet Insurance Group)
Now based in Akron, Ohio, the company will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. The second oldest pet health insurance provider in the U.S., Hartville® is an industry leader and has played witness to many milestones along the way.
The company was originally founded in North Canton, Ohio in 1997. In the early days, Hartville operated under various names, including PetsHealth Care Plan.
In the mid-2000s Hartville made moves that had a significant impact on the business. In 2005, Dennis Rushovich was tapped to lead the company. The very next year, as part of a strategic partnership with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®), Hartville introduced its most recognizable and impactful brand, ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance.
“It’s been an impressive 20 years for the entire Hartville family. We’ve not only created a financially strong business, but one that truly helps people and their pets,” said Rushovich. “Knowing that what we do can have such a huge impact is very rewarding. Pet health insurance is often the difference for people faced with very difficult financial decisions that affect their four-legged friend’s life.”
Hartville also played a key role in the creation of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) in 2007. Rushovich was one of the organization’s founding members and served as past President.
In 2013, Hartville became a member of Crum & Forster. Together, the financial strength and shared core values of the companies further established Hartville as a leading pet insurance provider poised for continued growth. Hartville’s ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is the largest of the brands in the Pet Insurance Division of Crum & Forster.
The company moved to Akron, Ohio, in July 2015, after nearly 10 years in nearby Canton. The 26,000-square-foot office houses a state-of-the-art call center, a data center, a cafeteria named the “chow room” and an outdoor play area for dogs. In fact, one of the perks of working at Hartville is bringing your dog to work every day.
Growth throughout the years has been steady. In 2006 the company had fewer than 50 employees. Today, Hartville employs more than 150 people.
Just last year the company made significant updates to its product offerings when Complete CoverageSM was launched in October. The product features simple reimbursement, based on a percentage of the covered veterinary bill, and has coverage for accidents, injuries, illnesses and more.