Hi friends,
I wanted to share our recent experience with pet insurance, especially after our recent accident with Argos. We’ve always been strong advocates for pet insurance, so when we first got Odyssey, we enrolled her with CAA Pet Insurance. It was a great choice for us, particularly during a challenging period when Odyssey had Giardia almost every month for three months. The claims process was smooth: our vet submitted the paperwork, and we received refunds quickly and easily.
Later, we switched to Fetch Pet Insurance to save on costs. However, as we noticed that we rarely used it, and eventually canceled our policy.
For the Odyssey litter, we partnered with Petline Insurance to offer families a free one-month trial. We chose Petline because their coverage included dental cleanings, which was important for us since Odyssey built up tartar on her teeth quite quickly.
A few months ago, we decided to get insurance for both Argos and Odyssey through the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) Pet Insurance, which is underwritten by Petline. We opted for OVMA because their pricing was reasonable for both dogs, and they offered dental support. We pay $289 per month for both dogs, with Argos having the premium package that provides unlimited support with no cap on our 80% coverage. We also opted for the lowest deductible available.
We were fortunate that, just after our policy’s probation period ended, Argos needed emergency surgery for a foreign body removal. Unfortunately, the paperwork process was complicated. There was an issue with the email address, and my paperwork was incomplete due to missing notes from a previous vet visit. After several back-and-forths, it took us five business days to resolve these issues.
Then, a few days later, Argos was hit by a car. I contacted OVMA to expedite the claim. They quickly prioritized our case once they learned about the accident. They set up a pre-authorized payment form, which meant the insurance would cover the vet fees directly, and I would only need to pay the 20% co-payment. This was a huge relief.
From this experience, I’ve learned a few things:
OVMA’s pet insurance can be tricky to navigate, with strict paperwork requirements and no follow-ups on incomplete applications.
There were issues with my banking information, and getting reimbursement took two calls and two business days.
For smoother processing, the emergency vet office recommended Trupanion, Fetch, and Petline Insurance.
These recommendations come from a clinic that handles many emergency cases, often referred by other clinics when they are closed or at full capacity.
Hope this helps if you’re considering pet insurance options!
Best,
A Dog's Odyssey
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