With the rise of pet ownership over the past few years, the animal healthcare industry is booming, to say the least. After all, as pet owners, there’s nothing more important than finding the best way to take care of our companions.
Best Pet Insurance in Canada
- Written by
-
NC
- Nadya Camerino
- Edited by
- Zack Fenech
Why you can trust us
The team at WealthRocket only recommends products and services that we would use ourselves and that we believe will provide value to our readers. However, we advocate for you to continue to do your own research and make educated decisions.
It is very common for owners to buy their pets quality items, such as organic foods, collars, or even toys, and proper healthcare is just as important. In a world where pets offer a bonded undying love, it is hard to imagine life without them.
This WealthRocket article covers the best pet insurance in Canada, with various options from insurance companies, in addition to basic information on how pet insurance works.
The Best Pet Insurance Companies in Canada
Canada provides pet lovers with quite the selection of pet insurance options. Below, we’ve included the best pet insurance companies, with options to help you find a policy that works for you and your furry friend.
1. Trupanion
Voted one of Canada’s top pet insurance companies, Trupanion prides itself on its simple pet insurance plans, designed to help all pet owners feel at ease.
Offering only one comprehensive plan, Trupanion’s attention to detail cannot be more reasonable. It formulates insurance plans according to your pet’s breed and age. The pet insurance provider offers a consistent lifetime monthly fee structure with no unexpected rate changes.
Birthdates do not affect the monthly premium, nor do rates rise each year. Pets between the ages of 8 weeks and 14 years old are eligible to reap the amazing benefits offered.
When enrolling your pet, it is important to keep in mind that there is a waiting period of five days before covering injuries and 30 days for illnesses.
Another way that Trupanion stands out is with its willingness to cover some alternative treatment methods, such as acupuncture for pre-existing conditions, both congenital or hereditary conditions, such as hip dysplasia.
Deductibles are handled slightly differently with Trupanion. For one, coverage deductibles are paid once per condition, meaning eligible claims come with lifetime coverage.
Ideally, for persistent health issues, like allergies, the company works directly with the veterinary clinic, reimbursing fees at 90% with no payout limit. Your dog or cat is safe with Trupanion.
Trupanion
Rated 4.8/5 stars.
- Insurance Provided Pet Insurance
- Provinces Available All Provinces
- Founded 1999
2. Petsecure
Animal and veterinary care costs can pile up. Luckily, the employees at Petsecure understand that anxious feeling when your pet has been affected by an unexpected illness or accidental injury.
As one of Canada’s oldest and most established pet healthcare insurers, Petsecure offers the best security options available. They are also underwritten by Petline Insurance Company
This Canadian owned company employs 150 people, composed of pet owners and bilingual experts ready and willing to help every step of the way. With four policies to choose from, pets are eligible at merely eight weeks old.
Coverage plans range from $1,000 per illness or accident to complete protection, depending on the chosen policy.
The allotted waiting period is 48 hours for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and six months for dental coverage.
Petsecure promises to reimburse 80% for medical treatments. The additional wellness package may seem expensive, but based on Canadian veterinarian costs for dental, vaccinations, and flea control procedures, it is fairly reasonable. The pet insurance company also offers a loyalty-like program that promises a multi-pet discount.
Petsecure
- Insurance Provided Pet Insurance
- Provinces Available All Provinces
- Founded 1989
3. Healthy Paws
Voted one of Canada’s top-rated insurers for the last decade, Healthy Paws has a track record of paying out 99% of processed claims in just two business days.
With a one plan program, this company only has a pet’s healthcare in mind.
Healthy Paws’ affordable policy fees start as little as $15 per month while covering up to 90% of vet bills and, unlike many pet insurance companies, have no maximum limits on claim payouts.
Healthy Paws has an award-winning customer service team ready to explain how their pre-condition deductibles can last a lifetime. Members can rest assured, as their customer services are among the most lauded among Canadian pet owners.
Healthy Paws strives to reduce as much stress as possible, and processes claim easily through their website or through their mobile app with real-time tracking.
The commitment does not stop there. Healthy Paws proudly offers medical attention to homeless pets.
With every free quote requested, a donation to Healthy Paws’ charity Every Quote Gives Hope™ is donated. Proceeds go towards pet adoption organizations that largely provide life-saving vaccines, spay or neuter surgeries, as well as advanced treatments for medical conditions.
A loyalty all animal lovers can stand behind.
Healthy Paws
Rated 4.7/5 stars.
- Insurance Provided Pet Insurance
- Provinces Available All Provinces
- Founded 2009
4. Pet Plus Us
Pet owners all know it is not always easy raising their furry best friend.
Pet Plus Us tries to embrace that community, helping Canadians across each province and territory with the struggles and pleasures that come with pet ownership.
With two insurance policies to choose from, this company offers both include having accidents covered. However, only one offers insurance potential future illness.
Along with the age-based deductible, coverage is flexible to ensure the services are affordable to all pet parents, with reimbursements ranging from 70% to 90%.
On top of helping with our animals, Pet Plus Us places a focus on the human side of pet healthcare.
Decisions regarding our four-legged friends can feel daunting and scary. Fortunately, human counseling is one of the many perks.
Sometimes all it takes is a sounding board, a newsletter, or some research in their pet information library. Regardless, a community of pet-loving human individuals is waiting to help support your animal-friendly journey.
Pets Plus Us
Rated 5/5 stars.
- Insurance Provided Pet Insurance
- Provinces Available All Provinces
- Founded 1988
What is pet health insurance?
Quite similar to life, auto, and home insurance, pet insurance is insurance for pets. It’s really that simple!
Pet insurance helps pet owners cover the costs of unexpected expenses with their pets. These expenses typically cover the costs of veterinary bills but can include other unforeseeable expenses.
Typically, the pet owner makes a small payment to the insurance firm. This payment is known as a premium and acts as coverage to reduce many future veterinary costs throughout their pet’s life.
Pet insurance can help greatly lower or eliminate having to pay hefty lump sums if your pet experiences a sudden or unexpected illness or injury.
How does pet health insurance work?
Easy, start with the basics! Pet insurance companies offer competitive monthly plans called policies.
Policies are options that provide coverage. These coverage fees will vary depending on your pet’s gender, age, and species, and will offer different degrees of financial protection depending on your pet’s specific circumstances.
Some pets, especially older pets or rescues, require a checkup to validate their health, or a waiting period will apply between signing up and beginning of coverage. Next, there are deductibles.
To put it simply, a coverage deductible, or a small portion of the veterinary bill, is the pet owner’s responsible for covering. An annual deductible is what the insurance owner pays the insurance company every year.
Instead of being responsible for the entire sum of the invoice, insurance companies will take care of the larger portion. Note that regular checkups are not covered simply because the coverage deductible may be a larger sum than the vet’s visit.
Nadya Camerino
Nadya is a freelance personal finance writer based in Montreal, Que. with three years of experience as a content writer and SEO content optimizer. An avid dog lover, Nadya is constantly on the hunt for the best pet insurance rates. When she’s not seeking more bang for buck or saving on pet insurance…
Frequently Asked Questions
Pet insurance companies in Canada usually cover traditional pets, such as cats and dogs. Owning a fish is a great alternative to furry four-legged friends, but insurance for an aquatic animal is not something all companies provide.
Although it is impossible to find insurance coverage from fins to gills, all exotic animals require specific insurance not offered by many companies.
Pet insurance costs across Canada depend on the type of pet, its species, breed, and age. For instance, male dogs tend to be the most expensive, where female cats remain the cheapest to insure.
What does differ from province to province are veterinary costs. This heavily depends on the province’s location and population in which you reside, with factors specific depending on the province.
For instance, pet insurance in Ontario will come at a different rate than in Alberta or any other province or territory.
Reimbursements may appear to differ from one province to the next, but claims respectively honored, regardless of the province.
If you spot a gaze of trash pandas in your backyard, don’t worry about getting them insured.
Raccoons are resilient, especially in an urban setting. You could attempt to shoo them away, but generally, they are not afraid of people or even motorized vehicles.
They only have eyes for garbage food. The best thing to do is call your local city’s animal control and get a locking lid for your trash bin.