Spot Pet Insurance Review 2024

Spot offers three levels of insurance coverage in case of medical emergencies with annual limits of $5,000, $10,000 and unlimited. This coverage includes:

• Accidents, including bone fractures, dental fractures, lacerations, swallowed objects and toxic ingestions.
• Behavioural issues, such as excessive anxiety, tail chasing and behavioural modification medications.
• Hereditary and breed-specific conditions, including hip dysplasia, heart disease and intervertebral disc disease.
• Illnesses, such as cancer, respiratory infections and diabetes.
• Exam and diagnostic fees.
• Lab tests, X-rays and ultrasounds.
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Prescription medications
• Therapeutic diets (50% of the cost to a $500 maximum).
• Physical and rehabilitative therapies.
• Alternative treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, herbal therapy, supplements and laser therapy.
• Medical devices
• Trip cancellation due to your pet’s medical emergency (up to $500 per incident).
• Advertising and reward for a lost or stolen pet (up to $500 per incident).
• Emergency boarding kennel fee if you are hospitalized (up to $500 per incident).
• Additional living expenses if your home is damaged and your pet cannot stay with you in your temporary home (up to $500 per incident).
• Accidental death if your pet dies unexpectedly before receiving treatment (up to $500).
• End-of-life coverage, including euthanasia and cremation or burial costs, up to $200 if your pet dies from an insured medical condition.

Spot offers two wellness plans that can be added to any accident and illness plan. Pet parents will be reimbursed to the scheduled maximum amount and there is no waiting period, deductible or co-insurance applied.

Routine (+$17/month)

• Fecal screen: $15
• Heartworm test: $25
• Microchip and/or urinalysis: $30
• Spay or neuter and/or wellness blood test/pre-anaesthetic blood test: $90
• Wellness exam: $60
• Canine DHLPP vaccine/titer: $20
• Rabies vaccine/titer and/or canine Lyme disease vaccine/titer: $20

The total annual benefit per dog is $260.

Advanced (+$35/month)

• Dental cleaning: $125
• Fecal screen: $20
• Heartworm/flea prevention: $75
• Heartworm test: $25
• Microchip and/or urinalysis: $30
• Spay or neuter and/or wellness blood test/pre-anaesthetic blood test: $115
• Wellness exam: $80
• Canine bordetella vaccine/titer: $20
• Canine DHLPP vaccine/titer: $20
• Rabies vaccine/titer and/or canine Lyme disease vaccine/titer: $20

The total annual benefit per dog is $530.

Like all pet insurance companies, Spot does not cover pre-existing conditions, also called foreseeable conditions, defined as “any condition that starts or shows symptoms, with or without a confirmed diagnosis” prior to enrollment or within any applicable waiting periods.

In addition, Spot does not cover:

• Costs related to fertility, breeding, pregnancy, birth or nursing.
• Conditions that can be prevented by spaying or neutering your pet, such
  as prostate problems and mammary tumours.
• Elective or cosmetic procedures, such as tail docking and ear cropping.
• Non-essential or non-medical boarding or hospitalization.
• Dental illness, such as periodontitis, root canals, retained deciduous teeth and abscessed teeth.
• Preventable behaviours after the third incident, including porcupine quills, fight and bite wounds, poisoning, foreign body ingestions and motor vehicle injuries.
• Experimental and innovative treatments.
• Dogs older than 10 years of age (when applying for a new policy).
• Medical conditions that arise due to failure to follow a preventive care plan, such as vaccinations and heartworm treatments.
• Expenses related to illness that occurred because your pet drank stagnant or contaminated water.

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.

There is a next day waiting period for accidents, which is shorter than the standard 48-hour waiting period. There is also a standard 14-day waiting period for illnesses. Spot will not pay a euthanasia, cremation or burial claim if your pet passes away before day 15 of the policy.

Maximum annual limit options
$5,000
$10,000
Unlimited

Deductible options
$100 *

Reimbursement options
90% to 70% **

* Applies an age-based deductible as your pet gets older.
** Applies an age-based reimbursement as your pet gets older.

How the age-based deductible and age-based reimbursement works:

The deductible and co-insurance is based on your pet’s age at the beginning of each policy term. It’s important to note that the highest deductible ($300) is lower than other pet insurers that also apply an age-based deductible as your pet gets older.

(*) Save $30/year by paying annually.

Spot allows you to customize your quote to select the preventive care options and annual limits that meet your needs.

The default quotes are as follows with a $200 deductible:

Bronze plan:  $5,000 annual limit, no preventive care coverage.

Silver plan: $10,000 annual limit, routine preventive care coverage.

Gold plan: $10,000 annual limit, advanced preventive care coverage.

Platinum plan: Unlimited annual limit, advanced preventive care coverage.

When getting a quote for pet insurance, Spot offers a 5% discount for entering a microchip number,

In addition, Spot advertises a “few discounts” that “vary by province” (along with products, features, coverage limits and rates) so interested policy holders should call and speak to an advisor to find out what (if anything) is available.

Spot Pet Insurance is a Miami, FL-based company that launched in Canada in 2022. As a digital-first pet insurance company, Spot positions itself as a responsive, innovative and customer-centered provider of accident and illness protection for dogs and cats.

For companies that partner with Spot as part of their benefit program, employees will earn a 10% discount on every policy, plus a 5% discount when two pets are enrolled or when the pet is microchipped.

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.