The Personal Pet Insurance Program Review 2024

The Personal Pet Insurance Program offers comprehensive coverage for unexpected illnesses and injuries, as well as preventive care, including:

• Exam fees
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Diagnostics, including X-rays and MRIs.
• Prescription medications
• Specialist referral
• Chemotherapy
• Dental care, including annual cleaning and teeth and gum problems (included with the Silver and Gold Paw plans).
• Medical devices (included with the Gold Paw plan).
• Alternative therapies, including homeopathy, massage therapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic services and physiotherapy (included with the Gold Paw plan).
• Behavioural therapies (included with the Gold Paw plan).
• Preventive care, including annual exam and vaccinations, annual routine blood work wellness profile, flea control medication, fecal exam and deworming, annual routine wellness urinalysis, annual heartworm test, heartworm prevention medication (included with the Gold Paw plan).
• Available across Canada and while travelling on vacation in the U.S.

The Personal Pet Insurance Program gives pet parents extra benefits that can be added to a policy for an additional cost. These benefits include:

• For Bronze Paw: Optional $500 dental care.
• For Silver Paw: Optional $350 (per category) for alternative therapy, behavioural therapy and medical devices.

Like all pet insurance companies, The Personal Pet Insurance Program does not cover pre-existing conditions, defined as “any condition that starts or shows symptoms, with or without a confirmed diagnosis” prior to enrollment or within any applicable waiting period.

In addition, The Personal Pet Insurance Program does not cover:

• Flea control
• Food, including prescription and therapeutic diets
• Spay or neuter surgery
• Euthanisia, unless recommended as a result of an insured accident or illness.
• Expenses resulting from pregnancy and associated conditions.

Pet insurance companies have what’s called a waiting period, which is the amount of time before your policy is effective and you can be reimbursed for claims.

With a Personal Pet Insurance Program policy, there is a 48-hour waiting period for accidents and a 14-day waiting period for illnesses and behavioural therapy. You’ll also have to wait six months for dental coverage and six months for claims relating to cruciate ligament injuries or intervertebral disc disease. There is no waiting period for preventive care coverage on the Gold Paw Plan.

Maximum annual limit options

• Bronze Paw: $2,000 per accident, $2,000 per illness, optional $500 dental
• Silver Paw: $4,000 per accident, $4,000 per illness, $700 dental, optional $350 alternative/behavioural therapy
• Gold Paw: Unlimited per accident, unlimited per illness, $1,000 dental, $615 preventive, $350 (per category) alternative/behavioural therapy

Deductible options
$100 *

Reimbursement options
80%

* An age-based deductible adjustment is applied to your policy as your pet gets older. Your $100 deductible increases to $250 at five years of age and $350 at 10+ years.

The Personal Pet Insurance Program does not offer any multi-pet or other discounts.

Underwritten by Petline Insurance Company, the Personal Pet Insurance Program launched July 20, 2012, offering pet insurance to members and employees of participating professions including the Canadian military community, engineers, firefighters, health care professionals and many others. The Personal Insurance Company is owned by Desjardins General Insurance Group Inc.

The Personal Pet Insurance Program advertises group insurance benefits. Search the company’s website to see if your organization is partnered with The Personal.

To find the best pet insurance we reviewed each company’s policy wording and used data provided by PetInsurer.com to score each pet insurance company based on the following:

Pet insurance rates: 40% of score. We calculated average rates for plans with $5,000 or unlimited coverage, a $100 deductible and an 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.

Special waiting period: 10% of score. Many pet insurance companies have a special waiting period for problems such as cruciate ligament issues and hip dysplasia. Plans that had no waiting period, a waiting period of six months or less, or the ability to have the waiting period waived scored higher.

Direct payment to vet: 10% of score. Pet insurance companies that have the ability to pay a vet directly earned points.

24/7 vet health line: 10% of score. Insurers that provide access to a 24/7 vet health line scored in this category.

Routine wellness plans: 10% of score. Insurers that offer wellness plans, either included with a plan or as a rider, earned points.

Dental coverage for illness: 10% of score. While most insurers cover dental accidents, not all insurers cover dental illnesses, such as gum disease or cleanings. Plans with more extensive dental coverage scored higher.

Pet ownership assistance: 5% of score. Insurers that include coverage for pet owner expenses, such as advertising and reward for lost pets, boarding for medical emergencies, end of life expenses and/or vacation cancellation, scored in this category.

Any discount: 5% of score. Insurers that offer any kind of discount, including a multi-pet discount, healthy pet discount, loyalty discount, etc., earned points.