INSURANCE RESOURCE CENTRE
Frequently asked questions.
Have questions about pet insurance or CAA's Pet Insurance partner? We’ve got the answers.
Learn why it’s beneficial to get pet insurance from CAA's provider Pet Plus Us, and what a plan can cover, including pet wellness, teeth cleaning and even pre-existing conditions.
Pet Insurance 101
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance is coverage designed to provide pet owners with financial protection for veterinary care and various related medical costs. By helping you deal with unexpected costs, pet insurance puts you in a better position to make decisions about your pet’s medical care without putting cost first.
What does pet insurance typically cover?
Pet insurance often covers treatment required due to accidents and injuries such as fractures, lacerations or swallowing foreign objects. Insurance plans that also include illness coverage will help you deal with the costs of common ailments such as digestive issues, allergies, cancer and infections. These policies include the cost of the diagnostics and treatments associated with the eligible accidents or illnesses.
What isn't covered by pet insurance?
Most pet insurance plans do not include coverage for routine, preventative or wellness treatments. Examples of excluded treatments include spaying and neutering, annual checkups, vaccinations, flea and tick control, heartworm medication, ear cleaning and microchipping or dental care. That’s why CAA’s Pet Insurance provider, Pets Plus Us®, offers the option to add on Flex Care coverage to the Accident & Illness plan. It covers annual checkups, vaccinations and more.
Do I really need pet insurance? What if I put money aside monthly towards unexpected veterinary costs?
While this type of savings plan might seem appealing, remember that veterinary expenses can be costly. If you put aside the monthly premium into a savings account for your new pet and if he or she falls ill a few months later, it’s possible that there won’t be enough savings to cover the required care. Pet insurance from Pets Plus Us can be customized to fit your needs and budget. It can also help protect you against significant veterinary costs quickly and easily.
Is pet insurance the same thing as provincial medical care?
The short answer is no, pet insurance is not the same as our personal health insurance. Although most of us consider our pets as family members, coverage for their medical costs falls into the category of property insurance. This is different from our personal medical care, which is also typically provided via provincial universal health care programs.
How much does pet insurance cost?
The premium for pet insurance depends on the type and amount of coverage you choose, the type of pet you have and the cost of veterinary care in your area.
Click here to enter your details to receive a no-obligation, free quote from CAA’s Pet Insurance provider, Pets Plus Us, today.
Getting to Know CAA’s Pet Insurance Provider: Pets Plus Us (PPU)
What kinds of pets are covered?
CAA’s Pet Insurance partner, PPU, offers pet insurance for all dog and cat breeds.
How old does my pet have to be before I can get insured?
You can enrol your pet in a PPU plan any time after they have reached eight weeks of age. There are no upper age limits for new enrolments with PPU, though pets over a certain age are required to complete some senior requirements. Call 1-833-323-2452 to learn more about starting a plan for your mature pet today.
Does CAA's Pet Insurance partner cover pre-existing conditions?
Pets Plus Us does not cover pre-existing conditions. A pet’s illness or accident is considered pre-existing if the condition happened 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. For coverage to be available with almost all types of insurance, the problem must be new and unexpected.
One of the benefits of choosing CAA’s Pet Insurance provider is that you’ll know exactly what your policy does and doesn’t cover when you first enrol, instead of when you submit a claim.
How soon can I use my pet insurance?
The waiting period for Pets Plus Us plans is 48 hours beginning on the policy start date. Illness coverage on Pets Plus Us Max and Pets Plus Us More has a 14-day waiting period that begins on the policy start date.
Can I use my own veterinarian?
You can take your pet to any licensed veterinarian in Canada or when travelling in the United States –even specialists and emergency care providers. CAA’s Pet Insurance partner, Pets Plus Us, reimburses the cost of care from a US-licensed veterinarian in Canadian dollars, should something happen while you are travelling. Currencies will not be exchanged.
What is a deductible?
With CAA’s Pet Insurance partner, a deductible is the annual amount you are responsible for paying before receiving reimbursement under your policy. Because the deductibles are annual, you only need to pay the deductible once per term, and only if you submit an eligible claim. It is not an extra charge.
What is co-insurance?
Co-insurance is the percentage of eligible veterinary fees that you pay for. With a Pets Plus Us plan, it’s known as “your share.” If you have a Pets Plus Us Accident plan, your share is 20% of costs before the annual deductible. With the Accident and Illness plan, you can choose your share from 10%, 20% or 30% – as well as your deductible. This allows you to set the terms of your plan to meet your needs and budget.
What is accident coverage?
The Pets Plus Us Accident plan helps you pay for the cost of veterinary care if your pet becomes hurt or injured because of an accident. Common accidents include falling from a balcony, cutting a paw, or being hit by a car.
What is accident and illness coverage?
The Pets Plus Us Accident and Illness plan helps you pay for the cost of veterinary care if your pet becomes hurt or injured because of an accident. It also includes coverage in case your pet becomes sick or develops an illness or chronic condition. Examples of common illnesses include dietary indiscretion, allergies and cruciate ligament ruptures. Accident and Illness plans offer broader coverage than an Accident plan.
What is Flex Care?
Flex Care coverage is available as an optional add-on to the Accident and Illness plan. For a little more each month, it covers treatments including annual exams, vaccines, flea and tick prevention, nail trimming, dental, pre-existing conditions and more.
Can I purchase Flex Care coverage on its own?
Flex Care coverage is only available as an optional add-on to a Pets Plus Us Accident and Illness plan.
Will CAA's Pet Insurance partner drop my coverage if my pet gets old or sick?
As long as your pet has PPU coverage and premiums are paid, their policy will never be cancelled due to age or claims. Pets Plus Us understands that pets can develop a chronic illness and need lots of care (just like humans), so all PPU plans come with a 4Life Guarantee. That means that once your pet is enrolled for coverage, his or her benefits are automatically guaranteed to renew each year.
Does CAA's Pet Insurance partner pay the veterinarian directly?
Pets Plus Us insurance plans are reimbursement plans. This means you are responsible for paying your veterinarian for all services and treatments upfront. You then submit your claims to Pets Plus Us for processing to be reimbursed for eligible expenses paid to your veterinarian. Pets Plus Us can also mail a cheque directly to your vet, made payable in the clinic’s name. Make sure you speak with your vet before selecting this option – claims made payable to your vet clinic are subject to our claims processing and cheque mailing times.
Do I get a benefits card to show my veterinarian?
You don’t need a health or benefits card to show your veterinarian. Instead, Pets Plus Us will reimburse you directly for the eligible treatment your pet receives once a claim has been submitted.