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What is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance can help safeguard your furry family’s health. Just like you may insure yourself and your loved ones, you deserve help getting peace of mind for your loyal companions. Vet bills for unexpected accidents or illnesses can quickly become overwhelming. That's where pet insurance can help. With numerous potential threats lurking around the corner, pet insurance can help you rest easy knowing your beloved pooch or kitty is covered.
Why is pet insurance important in Saskatchewan ?
Extreme Temperatures
The province can experience harsh winters and is considered one of the cooler regions in Canada. Pets living here can be at an increased risk of developing hypothermia if exposed to the cold for too long. Likewise, scorching hot summers can potentially lead to heatstroke in pets. Having pet insurance can help ensure that in unexpected cases of weather-related emergencies, eligible veterinary care costs are covered, helping you get peace of mind and seek prompt treatment for pets affected by extreme temperatures.
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Wildlife Encounters
Pet insurance can be an important tool for pet parents in Saskatchewan, particularly due to the potential encounters with wildlife like coyotes, bears, and wolves. These encounters can result in unexpected injuries to pets that require veterinary care.
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Flea and Tick Infestations
Fleas, ticks, and parasites can pose a significant threat to pets in Saskatchewan, potentially causing various health issues that may require immediate veterinary care. Western Canada has recently seen an increase of parasites in the intestines of coyotes, wolves, and foxes, which can be passed along to our pets.1 Pet insurance and preventive care add-ons can help cover the eligible costs associated with treatments and preventive measures for tick and flea infestations. This can help pet parents prioritize their pets' health with less worry about the financial strain that can be linked to combating these prevalent pests.
Read moreWhy Spot Plans?
Spot helps provide pet parents the flexibility to choose their pet’s coverage from one of four tiers. Tier 1 offers accident-only coverage, while tiers 2 – 4 offer accident and illness coverage for your pet. With multiple coverage options to choose from, pet parents have help finding the plan that best fits both the needs of their pet and their budget.
Spot’s Wellness Riders
Spaying or Neutering: Covered for an extra cost, as part of the optional wellness add-ons.
Core Vaccines: Staying up to date with vaccines helps your pet stay healthy as they develop and age.
Wellness Exams: Routine exams and screenings give your vet the opportunity to detect health issues in the early stages.
Sources:
“New diagnostic tools protect dogs...” Saskatoon StarPhoenix, https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/new-diagnostic-tools-protect-dogs-and-humans-from-deadly-parasite-u-of-s-research, Aug. 1, 2023.
The information presented in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute or substitute for the advice of your veterinarian.
Saskatchewan Pet Insurance Information by City
Find city-specific information about Pet Insurance in the state of Saskatchewan .
Pet Insurance FAQs
Have questions about pet insurance and how it works? Let’s dig up an answer.
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.
What Does My Claims Status Mean?
Every claim goes through a few steps in the assessment process. Here is a helpful guide to explain what your current claim status means.
Claim in Process: All of your documents and claim details are in our system. We call this step "pre-processing".
Claim in Review: Your claim is with our claims adjusters.
Claim on Hold Waiting for Docs: Uh-oh, something was missing from your claim submission. Don’t worry – we're on the case. We will either reach out to you or your pet's vet clinic for more information.
1st reminder / 2nd Reminder / Final reminder: If we’re in the process of collecting missing information, we want to keep you updated. We may reach out to you a few times to remind you.
Completed: Your claim is complete. This means our adjusters have finished your claim and you will receive your formal Explanation of Benefits from us shortly.
Canceled: Your claim has been canceled and removed from processing.
Canceled - Duplicate: When we receive duplicate claims or when all invoices for a claim are duplicates, the claim will be canceled.
Claim Closed: When something was deemed missing from your claim, and we were unable to connect with you or your vet clinic for 30 days, your claim will be closed. You will have the opportunity to resubmit your claim when you have the missing documents.
Do You Have a List of Veterinarians I Have to Use?
You can take your pet to any licensed veterinarian in Canada or when traveling in the United States— even specialists and emergency care providers. Spot Pet Insurance programs reimburse in Canadian dollars the cost of care from a licensed veterinarian in the US should something happen while you are traveling- currencies will not be exchanged.