Why pet insurance is so important for you and your furry friend

8/22/2022

Let’s face it, September is a great time of year. For starters, the weather’s getting crisper, leaves are falling, and we can wear boots and jeans again.

Plus, if you’re a pet lover, September is officially National Pet Insurance Month! A time when veterinarians, rescue shelters, and other pet lovers raise awareness about the value of pet insurance like you find at BCAA.

So why is pet insurance so important for you and your furry friends? Here are five excellent reasons:

Reason 1: You can expect the unexpected

We can already tell that you’re a great pet owner, simply by reading this story. Still, even the most thoughtful pet lover can’t protect their pooch or cat from every injury or illness they might face. An injury or illness can happen in an instant, even if you take every precaution and make sure your pet eats well, exercises, and lives a healthy lifestyle.

Beyond their regular checkups, each trip you make to the vet will be unplanned. There’s no way around it. Vet bills are rarely appreciated or planned, which makes it difficult to properly budget for in advance. Get pet insurance, however, and you’ll be prepared for the unpreparable.

Just like other insurance policies, it’s best (and more affordable long term) to get it as early as possible. The longer you wait, the greater the chance your pet may develop a pre-existing condition that won’t be covered by insurance. If you insure them while they’re still a healthy puppy or kitten, you can reduce the likelihood they’ll be excluded for a pre-existing condition that they may develop when they’re an adult.

playing with dog in living room

Reason 2: Pet care can get expensive

At some point in their lives, every pet is going to need medical help. It makes sense to prepare for it now with pet insurance. Concerned about cost? Think about how expensive it can be to deal with you or your family’s health problems. If you didn’t have health insurance, your out-of-pocket costs for medical treatments, therapy, equipment, and medicine could quickly become overwhelming.

The same applies when the patient has four legs and a tail. To recover from injury or sickness, our pets need a similar level of care that we do—and your vet’s bills could reflect this by adding up pretty fast.

Reason 3: It helps you avoid making stressful financial choices

Perhaps best of all, pet insurance gives you peace of mind. It can be incredibly useful to help you avoid delaying treatment for your pet due to financial concerns. When you know that a procedure is covered (so you’re not forced to spend a chunk of your savings, or go into debt), you can focus on caring for your pet without financial worries.

woman and dog in kitchen

Reason 4: You get options to match your budget

Pet insurance isn’t one size fits all. You have options for your pet’s coverage, based on what makes sense for your pet (and you). Did you know that BCAA Pet Insurance offered in partnership with Pets Plus Us covers all breeds regardless of their age?

Accident Plan	Accident & Illness Plan	Flex Care
You can choose our Accident policy that has a $5,000 annual limit, comes with a $100 annual deductible and covers 80% of your pet’s vet bills for treating injuries from accidents. This plan covers:	Get our Accident & Illness plan, and you can choose between annual limits of $7,500 and $15,000 and set your deductible between three aged-based options. You can also decide if your policy will cover 70%, 80%, or 90% of your vet bills. This plan covers:	You can also choose to add the Flex Care option to your policy for a little more each month. This add-on covers:
Anesthesia Drugs Consultations Emergency care Exams Hospitalization Specialist referrals by a licensed vet Surgery	Alternative therapies Behavioural therapies Diagnostics Hereditary conditions Hospitalization Illness Injuries and accidents Prescription medications Surgery	Annual exams Blood profiles (including collection) Dental treatments Gland expressions Treatment for a condition that’s excluded in your Accident & Illness policy

dog playing in pile of fall leaves

Reason 5: You and your pet get special benefits

We’re already proud of our pet insurance coverage that we just listed above. But it doesn’t stop there, either. These additional benefits go a long way towards ensuring that your pet stays safe and healthy:

PetHelpFone™: You can talk with experienced veterinary nurses 24/7. All PetHelpFone™ calls are triaged and will refer back to your vet during business hours or to your nearest emergency hospital.
Compassionate Care Line: A professional in-house counsellor is available to help you deal with serious illness, injuries, and bereavement.
Pet Poison Helpline®: This is a 24/7 poison-control service that helps you treat your pet if they might have been poisoned.
Emergency Medical Coverage: Get $1,000 in pet insurance coverage if your pet suffers a life-threatening injury while they are lost.
You’ll also get a free subscription to Modern Dog or Modern Cat Magazine.

Let’s protect your pet (and your purse) today

We’re committed to offering you expert advice and best-in-class protection for your pet. Protect your pet’s health, your peace of mind, and your wallet with BCAA’s Pet Insurance, in partnership with Pets Plus Us. Better yet, BCAA Members get 12% off pet insurance*.

September’s the purrfect time to protect your furry friend, so get a quote on BCAA Pet Insurance today.

^{*BCAA Members with a Basic, Plus or Premier Membership plan receive a preferred rate of 12% off. BCAA GO Members and Non-Members receive a preferred rate of 7% off. For full details, please visit www.bcaa.com/pet.}
^{All pet insurance plans have limitations and exclusions. Specific products, features, rates, and discounts may vary by province and territory, eligibility, and are subject to change. Medical Conditions that are noted, symptomatic or diagnosed prior to enrollment, or during a waiting period are pre-existing to Coverage and not eligible for reimbursement. Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits and exclusions may apply. This advertisement is an outline only; policy terms and conditions 'User Guide' will prevail. For all terms and conditions visit: https://www.petsplusus.com/service-claims/brochures-guides.} ^{© 2022 All rights reserved. Pets Plus Us Pet Insurance policies are underwritten by Northbridge General Insurance Corporation, distributed by PTZ Insurance Services Ltd. & Société d'Assurances Collectives (Sodaco) Inc. in Quebec. Sodaco is registered with Autorité des marches financiers as a property and casualty insurer (Reg#603622) https://lautorite.qc.ca/en/general-public/registers/register-insurers-deposit-institutions-and-trust-companies. Pets Plus Us Pet Insurance is available in all provinces and territories. Pets Plus Us®, Pets Plus Us & Design and related words and logos are trademarks and the property of PTZ Insurance Services Ltd.}
^{BCAA trademarks are owned by, and use is authorized by, the Canadian Automobile Association. Pet insurance is sold and administered (including with respect to claims) by PTZ Insurance Services Ltd. (PTZ), a licensed insurance agency and is underwritten by Northbridge General Insurance Corporation (Northbridge). The insurance transaction is between the customer and Northbridge. B.C.A.A. Holdings Ltd., dba BCAA Insurance Agency, receives commissions from PTZ for referrals of potential customers for pet insurance. PTZ receives fees and commissions from Northbridge for sales and administration of pet insurance.}