We looked at pet insurance, but to be honest we thought it wasn’t worth it for the cost given the restrictions. The lower priced plans were so restrictive to be almost useless, and the higher priced ones were like really expensive! We priced it out and decided that it would be better to put the money every month into an interest-bearing account (like an ING one). And we weren’t too impressed with the one experience we had with the pet insurance that the dog came with, since they found any technicality they could to deny the claim we had.
– Annette

http://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet…o-Pet.aspx

K&K, I was looking up VPI for you since that’s what I have, to see if they have any available in Canada. I couldn’t find a yes or no, so I think your best bet would be to contact them and ask. I haven’t had to try them out yet, but it’s reasonably priced so we’ll see.

But I just had to post a link to them – because they have a pet Horoscope page!!!

Sammy is a Virgo (thank goodness. Slavery to a Leo would just have been too much.) It’s too cute, and accurate if you consider that this Spring we are bonding more. Just cracks me up.

I am totally unfamiliar with what Canada laws are regarding insurance- as that is how insurance is regulated in the US- often on a state by state basis which can make it confusing.

I have VPI for my 2 dogs and I insured them as puppies so have not had any issues with claims being rejected since they have medical history and past claims so they know my dogs have no medical conditions.  Previous claims on my dogs were minor one time things- sore spot on nose, frequent urination, bump on chest, skin rash.  It could possibly get trickier if they thought one of the dogs has a genetic condition that was causing claims- but I have been fine up to this point.

And of course I have also paid insurance on Cotton for over a year with absolutely no claim- but I get a policy discount (thru vet clinic) and a multi pet discount so I pay less than $10 a month.  And I just signed Schroeder up.  After driving Penny to the exotics vet and having the whole way to think “Crap, I never got pet insurance for her. What if they give me an estimate for $1500 or higher?   I can’t NOT agree to treatment, but I can’t afford that either- so I would have to put in on my credit card”.   I was kicking myself in the butt for not getting around to signing her up- when I first got her- it was a “trial” (who am I kidding, I never would have given her back Ioved her so much) and after that my husband lost his job- so that was another reason I delayed. 

But really the fact that I can not afford a large bill drove home that fact that I needed insurance- and even though Penny died- I signed up Schroeder ASAP. 

But my cats are not insured- since they are strictly indoors it is cheaper for me to pay their bills- since there small chance of trauma, etc.  But my dogs are active dogs that go to the dog park.  And bunnies are so sensitive I figured they are worth the premium, since you never know when something will crop up with a bunny no matter how much you shelter and protect them.  You really need to weigh the odds/risks and compare it to the premium.

I don’t know, either, if VPI insures in Canada as well, but I have them for Lizzy and Robbie, and it’s already paid for itself in Robbie. Remember that incident where he was staining his sheets somehow, but I couldn’t figure out how? Well, the vet couldn’t either. Did several expensive tests, including an Xray, and the final diagnosis was–“We have no idea”. They still reimbursed me (90% after the deductible). And they don’t really ask detailed questions–they never asked where Robbie came from (who knows?!). Just wanted age. I made something up.