best pet insurance in canada

11 Best Pet Insurance in Canada

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The 11 best pet insurance in Canada are:

  • Fetch by the Dodo
  • Trupanion Canada
  • Petsecure Canada
  • Pets Plus Us
  • OVMA Pet Insurance
  • Furkin
  • Sonnet
  • BCAA
  • The Personal
  • Desjardins
  • Peppermint

Fetch Pet Insurance

Fetch by the Dodo (formerly Petplan) is one of the leading pet insurance providers in North America and offers pet health coverage in Canada and the United States.

It was founded in 2003. In 2020, the insurer partnered with The Dodo, a popular animal media brand.

Some of its top features include:

  • No upper age limit for enrollment
  • 15-day waiting period for illnesses
  • The plan covers exam fees for illness or injury
  • Alternative therapies are included
  • Up to 90% reimbursement options
  • Coverage amount varies with plan
  • 24/7 customer service support

The average pet insurance plan is around $35 per month for dogs and $25 per month for cats.

Fetch does not cover pre-existing conditions, wellness care, or cosmetic and elective procedures. Also, it is not available in New Brunswick and Quebec.

Trupanion Pet Insurance

Trupanion is a pet insurance company that has been around since 2000. It was initially known as Vetinsurance in Vancouver.

It covers 90% of eligible expenses after you meet your annual deductible, and there is no cap or payout limit, which is a unique feature.

Trupanion offers “Vet Direct Pay,” which means your veterinarian is paid directly, and you can avoid the hassle of submitting paper claims for reimbursement.

Other features of this pet insurance provider include:

  • Lifetime per condition deductible
  • 24/7 customer service support
  • Lifelong coverage is available for animals under 14 years of age
  • 5-day waiting period for injuries and 30 days for illness (waived with a vet’s certificate)
  • Deductibles range from $0 to $1,000

Trupanion offers extra coverage (at a fee) for pet owners who want to extend their basic pet insurance coverage. This is known as a “Recovery and Complementary Care” package, and it covers alternative therapies, including acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, hydrotherapy, naturopathy, and more.

Alongside Recovery and Complementary Care, Trupanion offers a Pet Owner Assistance Package where you can get coverage outside the vet office for

Trupanion does not cover exam fees, wellness care, and pre-existing conditions.

Petsecure Pet Insurance

Petsecure is one of the best pet insurance companies in Canada. It was founded in 1989.

It offers four levels of insurance with coverage ranging from $1,000 to unlimited. The unlimited plan (Secure 4) also includes wellness coverage.

Features of a Petsecure pet insurance plan include:

  • Up to 80% reimbursement, including exam fees and taxes
  • Dental care coverage from $200 to $600 per year
  • Payout limit ranges from $1,000 to unlimited per accident or condition
  • No age limits for enrollment
  • 10%-15% discount on premium if you have three or more pets insured
  • 14-day waiting period for illnesses; 48 hours for accidents; 6 months for cruciate ligament injuries or intervertebral disc disease, and dental coverage

Petsecure does not cover pre-existing conditions, elective treatments, spray or neuters, pregnancy, whelping, special diets, and alternative medications without a DIN or NHP number.

Pets Plus Us Pet Insurance

Pet Plus Us offers two main pet insurance plans: Accident & Illness or Accident coverage.

If you are a member of Costco, you may have already seen that the retailer promotes this insurer to its members at a 10-15% preferred rate.

Features of this provider include:

  • Up to $15,000 coverage per year
  • 70% to 90% reimbursement, depending on the plan
  • The annual deductible is age-based

Pets Plus Us does not cover pre-existing conditions. There is also a 14-day waiting period for illnesses and 48 hours for accidents.

OVMA Pet Insurance

OVMA Pet Health Insurance is provided by the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association. They offer three coverage packages: Unlimited, Extended, and Comprehensive.

They cover up to 80% of your veterinary bill in case of accidents or illnesses, including any taxes and exam fees.

OVMA’s main features include:

  • Get up to $5,000 in coverage for accidents and illnesses with the Extended and Comprehensive plans, as well as up to $400 in yearly dental coverage
  • The Unlimited plan includes unlimited illness and accident coverage, $600 in dental care, and optional yearly wellness coverage
  • Special coverage is included for alternative and behavioural treatments
  • Save 3% after the first year and 5% after the second year

OVMA’s pet health insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions, treatments unrelated to accidents or illnesses, spaying or neutering, congenital conditions, and pregnancy.

Furkin Pet Insurance

Launched in 2021, Furkin is a Canadian pet insurance company designed by a team with more than 20 years of combined experience.

Furkin covers up to 80% of medical costs with coverage of up to $20,000 annually, which automatically renews each year.

Key features of Furkin pet insurance include:

  • Choose between 3 flexible annual deductibles
  • No lifetime limits on eligible conditions
  • Lifetime coverage on pets as long as they are enrolled before reaching 14 years of age
  • No matter how much you claim under $20,000, benefits automatically renew each year
  • Dogs and cats must be between 7 weeks and 14 years old to enroll, pets can continue to stay enrolled for their entire life even after they exceed 14 years old
  • Submit claims within 90 days of the treatment period
  • 48-hour waiting period for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and 180 days for cruciate ligament conditions

Furkin Pet Insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions or elective procedures.

Recommended

Sonnet Pet Insurance 

Sonnet is Canada’s first fully online insurance company. Alongside providing coverage for your pets, they also offer home and auto insurance.

It covers up to 80% of your pet’s bill in case of illness or accident. Sonnet covers little things like lost pet advertising, boarding and kennel fees, and more.

Features of Sonnet pet insurance include:

  • Flexible payment options and competitive pricing
  • Illness or accident coverage up to $2,500 per occurrence
  • Dental care coverage up to $300 per year
  • Alternative and behavioural therapy is covered at no extra cost, up to $350 yearly
  • If provided or approved by your vet, get up to $300 per year in coverage for medical devices like prosthetics or ramps
  • Save 5% on pet insurance if you already have a home or auto policy with Sonnet
  • You have 6 months to submit a claim
  • 48-hour waiting period for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and 6 months for dental coverage, cruciate ligament injuries, or intervertebral disc disease

Depending on where you live, you can expect to pay $43 to $84 monthly for dog insurance and $27 to $50 each month for cat insurance.

Sonnet does not cover pre-existing conditions. It is only available to residents in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, B.C., and P.E.I.

BCAA Pet Insurance

Available in British Columbia, BCAA provides insurance coverage for your home, car, travel, small business, and more, in addition to pet insurance.

BCAA partnered with Pets Plus Us to offer two kinds of pet insurance coverage: Accident & Illness, and Accident.

You can add an optional Flex Care package that supplements the coverage included in the Accident & Illness policy, including pre-existing conditions, annual exams, and vaccines. It also allows you to spread the cost of your pet’s healthcare across 12 months.

Features of BCAA pet insurance include:

  • Customizable deductible and reimbursement amount that works for your pet’s needs
  • 24/7 emergency vet support and poison control hotline
  • Receive $1,000 in emergency medical coverage if your pet incurs a life-threatening injury while lost
  • BCAA members with existing coverage get 15% off pet insurance, and non-members save 7%
  • Claims can be submitted online with no clinic signature or vet stamp required

Get more information about BCAA pet insurance by visiting Pet Plus Us’s website.

The Personal 

The Personal is a popular insurance provider in Canada. It offers three kinds of dog and cat insurance: Bronze, Silver, and Gold Paw.

The Bronze Paw package offers up to $2,000 per accident and up to $2,000 per illness condition per policy year. Dental care is optional, with $500 in coverage per policy year.

Silver Paw provides coverage of up to $4,000 per accident and per condition per policy year. Get up to $700 in coverage for dental care per policy year.

Gold Paw gives you unlimited coverage for accidents and illnesses and up to $1,000 in dental coverage per policy year. Preventative care coverage is included.

Other features of The Personal include:

  • The Silver and Gold Paw packages offer up to $350 in coverage for medical devices and behavioural and alternative therapy
  • Pay one deductible per year of up to $350, depending on your pet’s age
  • They will cover 80% of pet care costs, less your annual deductible
  • The ContinueCare program provides coverage for any illnesses your pet may develop
  • No lifetime limit to the amount of coverage in your plan
  • You will be reimbursed within 5 to 10 business days

Any conditions or injuries not listed are not covered: veterinary diagnostics and treatment, prescription medications, X-rays, hospitalization, MRI/CAT scans and chemotherapy for accidents, and coverage to treat sickness, disease and any changes to your pet’s normal healthy state: veterinary diagnostics and treatment, prescription medications, X-rays, hospitalization, MRI/CAT scans and chemotherapy.

Desjardins Pet Insurance

With over 7.5 million members and clients, Desjardins provides home, auto, health, life, loan, and travel insurance in addition to pet insurance.

They reimburse 80% of your pet’s healthcare expenses, no matter which plan you choose.

The three plans are:

Gold Paw

  • Unlimited illness and accident coverage
  • Up to $1,000 in dental care coverage
  • Up to $350 per category in alternative and behavioural therapy and medical devices
  • Preventative care coverage included

Silver Paw

  • Up to $4,000 per accident and illness
  • Up to $700 in dental care coverage
  • Optional alternative and behavioural therapy and medical devices coverage

Bronze Paw

  • Up to $2,000 per accident and illness
  • Optional dental care coverage up to $500

Features of Desjardins pet insurance include:

  • Deductibles for dogs are $100, $250, or $350
  • Deductibles for cats are $100, $150, or $200
  • Pets can be insured at any age
  • Accident waiting period of 48 hours, 14 days for illnesses, and 6 months for dental care
  • Get 10% off your premium if you insure 3 or more pets and 15% off with 6 or more

Peppermint Pet Insurance

Peppermint offers pet insurance with four plan types: Lite, Base, Plus, and Prime.

Get up to $5,000 in coverage per accident or illness, plus $350 in coverage for medical devices and alternative and behavioural therapy.

The top features of Peppermint’s plans include:

  • 48-hour waiting period for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and 6 months for cruciate ligament injuries & intervertebral disc disease
  • Get up to 80% reimbursed per occurence
  • The coverage limit for illnesses renews each Annual Policy Period, while the limit for accidents does not
  • No age or breed restrictions

Peppermint does not cover flea control, spaying or neutering, pregnancy, food, and more.

CAA Pet Insurance

*This is no longer being offered for purchase.

CAA members can purchase pet insurance for cats and dogs to cover illnesses and accidents.

CAA Pet Insurance is underwritten by Petline Insurance Company which also underwrites Petsecures’ pet insurance policies and those offered by The Personal, Desjardins, Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), Peppermint, and the Toronto Humane Society.

CAA offers three plans: Compact, Intermediate, and Luxury. Features include:

  • 80% to 100% coverage available
  • Up to $4,500 annual coverage limit
  • Special coverage for alternative treatments and medical devices
  • 14-day waiting period for illnesses and 48 hours for accidents
  • Age-based deductibles

CAA Pet Insurance does not cover special diets, pre-existing or foreseeable conditions, or treatment for umbilical hernias.

Compare the Best Pet Insurance Providers in Canada

Insurance Company % Reimbursed Illness Coverage Accident Coverage Dental Coverage Other Benefits 
Fetch Up to 90% Get a quote Get a quote Get a quote No upper age limit, exam fees for illness or injury are covered
Trupanion Up to 90% Get a quote Get a quote Get a quote Vet Direct pay
Petsecure Up to 80% $1,000 to unlimited $1,000 to unlimited $200 to $600 4 coverage plans, no upper age limit, 10% to 15% discount if you insure 3 or more pets
Pets Plus Us Up to 90% $7,500 or $15,000 per year $5,000 per year Get a quote Blue Ribbon benefits like emergency medical coverage and 24/7 helpline, optional Wellness package
Sonnet Up to 80% Up to $2,500 Up to $2,500 Up to $300 per year Save 5% if you already have insurance with Sonnet, alternative and behavioural therapy covered at no extra cost
BCAA Up to 90% Get a quote Get a quote Get a quote Optional Flex Care package, BCAA members save 7% to 15% off
Furkin Up to 80% Up to $20,000 Up to $20,000 Up to $20,000 Lifetime coverage on pets enrolled before 14, no limits on eligible conditions, 3 flexible annual deductibles
The Personal Up to 80% $2,000 to unlimited $2,000 to unlimited $500 to $1,000 Pay only 1 deductible per year, no lifetime limit, short reimbursement period
OVMA Up to 80% Up to $5,000 or unlimited Up to $5,000 or unlimited Up to $600 3% and 5% savings after the first and second years, special coverage for alternative and behavioural treatments
Desjardins Up to 80% $2,000 to unlimited $2,000 to unlimited $500 to $1,000 No age limits, get 10% to 15% off with multiple pets
Peppermint Up to 80% Up to $5,000 Up to $5,000 Get a quote $350 in coverage for medical devices, behavioural and alternative therapy, no age or breed restrictions

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?

Your pet insurance premiums will vary depending on the age, breed, and sex of your pet, your location, level of insurance coverage, deductible, annual limit, extra perks and add-ons, and percentage of reimbursement.

If you are looking for premium estimates, the OVMA indicates you may spend $638 per year on a kitten (or $53.17/month) and $1,160 per year on a puppy (or $96.67/month).

These numbers are average, and your premiums may be much higher or lower.

Some terminologies you should be familiar with include:

Premium: The monthly or annual fee you pay to obtain a pet insurance policy.

Deductible: This is the out-of-pocket amount before your insurance coverage kicks in.

Reimbursement: This is the percentage of your veterinary bill covered by the insurer for an eligible claim. It may range from 70-100%. Always confirm how long it takes an insurance company to reimburse your costs.

Co-pay: In addition to your deductible, you may have to pay a fixed dollar amount each time you submit a claim.

Co-insurance: This is the percentage of the veterinary bill that is your responsibility after you have paid your deductible. For example, if your coverage is 80%, your co-insurance is 20%.

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