Best Pet Insurance in Canada
Pet insurance can help protect your pet (and your finances) if it gets sick or injured. To compare your options, check out the best pet insurance in Canada below.
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Many individuals and families throughout Canada have pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and other furry companions. While pet ownership continues to grow in popularity, so does the importance of getting pet insurance.
Pet insurance is a type of health insurance for animals, protecting their owners from financial loss should a pet get sick or injured unexpectedly.
The average expense for the first year of pet ownership can be around $2,900 for a dog and up to $1,950 for a cat, according to the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. A significant portion of these annual costs includes veterinary care—both expected checkups and unexpected health concerns.
Fortunately, Canadian pet owners have many choices for pet insurance to help protect their family members and save the hit to their wallet. Here is what you need to know about pet insurance in Canada, including the best companies to consider.
On this page:
- Best pet insurance in Canada
- What is the purpose of purchasing pet insurance?
- How to find a company that fits your needs
Best pet insurance in Canada
To find the best pet insurance in Canada, our editorial team reviewed over ten pet insurance providers and assigned them a score between 0 and 5. This score was based on policy information, external ratings, availability, and more.
After cutting the list down to those that catered to Canadian residents, we were left with the two best Canadian pet insurance providers below.
| Petplan | Trupanion | |
| Coverage | $2,500 – Unlimited | As much as unlimited |
| Deductible | $250 – $1,000 | $0 – $1,000 |
| Reimbursement | Up to 90% | Up to 90% |
| Minimum Age | 6 weeks | Not provided |
| Visit Lender | View Rates | View Rates |
Petplan
- Coverage: $2,500 – Unlimited
- Deductible: $250 – $1,000
- Reimbursement: Up to 90%
- Age Restrictions: Must be at least 6 weeks
In business for more than 40 years, Petplan Pet Insurance offers comprehensive pet health insurance plans for cats and dogs. The provider offers up to 90% reimbursement each year for covered conditions, as well as coverage for alternative therapies and rehabilitation treatments.
The company allows pet owners to select an annual deductible ranging from $250 up to $1,000, based on their budget needs, and they can utilize any veterinary office throughout Canada or the United States.
It has a 15-day waiting period from the effective date before it will cover your pet. Petplan also offers 24/7 customer service, fast claim reimbursements, and discounts for online purchases and subscriptions.
Trupanion
- Monthly Premium: As low as $22
- Deductible: $0 – $1,000 per condition
- Maximum Benefit Limit: Unlimited
- Age Restrictions: All cats and dogs under 14 are eligible for lifelong coverage
Trupanion offers animal insurance for dogs and cats of Canadian pet owners. Trupanion makes the process of selecting a health insurance plan for a pet easy, as it provides only a single option for coverage.
Pet owners receive up to 90 percent of the vet bill for eligible claims once the annual deductible is met, and there are no lifetime coverage caps. The provider also offers a vet direct pay benefit, which pays the bill directly instead of through reimbursement.
Trupanion has a waiting period of five days before covering injuries and 30 days for illnesses.
Additional Canadian pet insurance companies
The following companies have not yet been rated by our editorial team, but have been featured on a number of other lists of the best pet insurance companies in Canada.
Pets Plus Us Insurance
Through Pets Plus Us Insurance, pet owners can receive a comprehensive animal insurance policy that includes wellness care.
Pets Plus Us Insurance for Canada pet owners comes with an age-based deductible and an option to select an accident-only plan to keep the cost lower.
Another Canada insurance company, PC Insurance, transferred its pet insurance business to Pets Plus Us in 2018.
Petsecure
Another option for pet insurance for dogs and cats is Petsecure. The company offers up to 80 percent coverage for treatments, exam fees, and medical care, as well as preventative care options and alternative therapy coverage. Pet owners may also opt for medical device coverage. There is a 48-hour waiting period for coverage of accidents, 14 days for illness, and six months for dental coverage.
There are no benefit limits for certain plans, and pet owners can choose the level of coverage they want from four different plan types. Petsecure also offers dental care coverage as an add-on for most plans.
What is the purpose of purchasing pet insurance?
Pet insurance is designed to offer peace of mind and protect you from financial loss should your animal become sick or injured unexpectedly.
Most pet insurance policies pay up to a certain percentage of reimbursement for covered accidents and illnesses, meaning you are only responsible for the remaining percentage of the total veterinary bill.
In some cases, pet insurance also covers routine care for pets. Wellness exams, dental cleaning, neutering or spaying, or vaccines may be selected as part of some pet insurance policies for an additional cost.
Having this coverage in place is beneficial if you do not want to pay the full amount out of pocket each year. However, it is important to consider the cost burden each month for the coverage selected and compare it to the potential benefit paid.
How to find a pet insurance company that fits your needs
The first thing pet owners should do is consider the likelihood of needing coverage for their pets. While some animals are healthy throughout their lifetime, others may be more prone to developing conditions that require treatment or care.
In these cases, it is essential to get a pet insurance policy that provides enough coverage to be worth the cost. It’s important to be aware that pet insurance might not cover pre-existing conditions, so be sure to clarify upfront what medical conditions the plan covers.
Pet owners should review the ongoing premium charged for animal health insurance. If the benefits of the policy are not used periodically, the coverage may not be worth the price paid in premiums.
Some pet insurance providers in Canada offer a discount when the coverage is bundled with another policy, such as homeowners insurance or auto insurance. Be sure to ask about these discounts when taking out a policy.
Bottom Line
Pet insurance in Canada is not a requirement for pet owners. However, the protection it offers can bring peace of mind to pet owners and be a smart financial investment.
Pet insurance requires some research and due diligence before selecting the right policy. During your search, review coverage amounts, premiums, and exclusions for certain conditions. Be sure to base your decision on these factors, as well as your pet’s need for the coverage both now and in the future.