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What is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance offers a way to help protect your furry friends' health.. Veterinary expenses due to unexpected accidents or illnesses can add up quickly, but pet insurance can help provide a financial safety net. With various risks often present, pet insurance helps ensure you can relax, knowing your beloved dog or cat is covered.
Why is pet insurance important in British Columbia?
Wildlife Encounters
British Columbia is renowned for its abundant wildlife, including bears, moose, coyotes, wolves, and cougars, which are integral to the region's natural beauty and ecosystem. However, this diverse wildlife can pose significant threats to pets. Encounters between domestic animals and these wild creatures can result in severe injuries. Coyotes and wolves, often seen in suburban areas, also pose risks, especially to smaller pets. Pet parents in British Columbia must remain vigilant and take proactive measures to protect their pets from potential wildlife encounters.
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Extreme Temperatures
The climate and environment in British Columbia can present unique challenges for pet parents, given the region's wide range of weather conditions. Hot summers can pose risks of heatstroke and dehydration for pets, especially for those with thick fur or brachycephalic breeds, which have difficulty regulating their body temperature.¹ Conversely, frostbite and hypothermia are real dangers during winter months. Overall, the varying climate in British Columbia requires pet parents to be attentive and proactive in adapting their care routines to the changing weather conditions, helping ensure their pets can remain healthy year-round.
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Salt and Sand Irritation
During the winter months, pet parents in British Columbia need to be vigilant about the salt and sand used on sidewalks to melt ice and provide traction. These substances can easily get lodged between a dog's paw pads or toes, causing irritation and discomfort. Prolonged contact with salt and sand can lead to sore paws and dermatitis, a skin condition characterized by redness, itching, and inflammation. Additionally, if a pet licks their paws to clean off the salt or sand, they risk ingesting these substances. Ingestion can result in mouth irritation, stomach upset, and potentially dangerous electrolyte imbalances.²
Read moreWhy Spot Plans?
Spot offers pet parents the ability to choose the plan option with the best level of coverage for their pet. With four coverage tiers, ranging from accident-only plans to accident and illness plans, you have the power to select a plan that matches your pet's needs and your budget.
Spot's Wellness Riders
Spaying or Neutering:
Coverage available for an extra cost as part of our optional wellness add-ons.
Core Vaccines:
Help your pet stay healthy throughout their life with coverage for essential routine vaccinations.
Sources:
“Hot weather hazards...” BCSPCA, https://spca.bc.ca/news/dogs-sensitive-hot-weather/, Jun. 29, 2023.
“Protect your pet against harmful weather...” BCSPCA, https://spca.bc.ca/news/winter-weather-safety/, Jan. 12, 2024.
British Columbia Pet Insurance Information by City
Find city-specific information about Pet Insurance in the state of British Columbia.
Pet Insurance FAQs
Have questions about pet insurance and how it works? Let’s dig up an answer.
Do All Vets Take Spot Pet Insurance?
You can visit any licensed veterinarian, specialty clinic, or emergency clinic in the US or Canada.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
Pet insurance can put money back in your pocket for veterinary costs needed to diagnose, treat, and manage an eligible condition. Exams and rechecks, x-rays, ultra-sounds, bloodwork, surgeries, stitches, medication, and prescriptions, and even prescription diets are all examples of costs that can be claimed for if they are used to treat or diagnose a covered condition.
What is a Pre-Existing Condition?
A pet’s illness or accident is considered pre-existing if the condition was onset before the policy coverage effective dates, or during a waiting period. This means if the first signs or symptoms of a condition showed up before coverage started, it would be considered pre-existing to coverage, even if it was not formally diagnosed. The most common reason why an illness or an accident is not covered by any pet insurance provider is if the condition was present before coverage started. For coverage to be available with almost all types of insurance, the problem must be new and unexpected.
For example, if typical symptoms of allergies (itchy skin, ear infections) were present before the coverage was effective or appeared within the waiting period of the policy, the allergies and related conditions, such as itchy paws and pyoderma, would be pre-existing to coverage.
How are My Premiums Calculated?
In general, your premium is based on your pet’s age, your pet’s breed, and where your pet lives. Some other factors that impact your premium are the plan you choose, if you have included preventative care coverage or not, and the discounts for which you are eligible.
What if I Miss a Payment?
When a premium payment does not go through successfully, we will send you an email letting you know. If you know you’ve missed a payment please give us a call at 1-888-501-7768, or log in to your account at https://members.spotpetinsurance.ca/ to update your payment details. Premiums must be kept up to date for your policy to remain active.