How the two deductible styles change what you pay in a bad year, and what each provider we checked states.
Drafted with AI tools from our own cost data and the sources linked on this page. A veterinarian has not reviewed this guide. See our editorial policy.
An annual deductible is paid once per policy year, then reimbursement applies to everything after it. A per-condition deductible is paid again for each separate condition. Of the 7 providers in our roster that state their style, 7 describe an annual deductible, but the amounts and age bands differ widely.
The deductible is the amount you pay before the insurer starts paying. Two styles exist, and the difference only shows up in a year with more than one problem.
You pay it once per policy year. After that, each claim in the same year is reimbursed at your percentage. One bad year with three separate problems costs you one deductible.
Local currency, before tax. Figures are the typical range in our index on 2026-11-05, not a quote from any one clinic.
| Country | Typical range | Currency | Highest city | Lowest city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $2,500–$6,000 | CAD | Vancouver $4,890 | Regina $3,700 |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $2,125–$5,100 | USD | San Francisco $5,060 | San Antonio $3,180 |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | £1,450–£3,480 | GBP | London £3,330 | Belfast £2,095 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | A$2,375–A$5,700 | AUD | Sydney A$4,845 | Hobart A$3,715 |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | €1,550–€3,720 | EUR | Dublin €3,295 | Waterford €2,370 |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | NZ$2,050–NZ$4,920 | NZD | Auckland NZ$3,905 | Invercargill NZ$3,135 |
Same procedure, same country, eight Canadian cities. Rent, wages and how many clinics compete locally do most of the work.
You pay it again for each new condition, and sometimes again each year the condition continues. A year with three unrelated problems costs you three deductibles. The trade is usually a lower monthly premium.
We could verify the style for 7 of the 8 providers in our roster, and 7 of those describe an annual deductible.
Not verified for: Fetch Pet Insurance. Blank means we could not confirm it on their public pages, not that it is missing from the policy.
The amount matters as much as the style. Several providers set the deductible by the age of the pet, so it rises as your dog gets older.
Not verified for: Fetch Pet Insurance, Petsecure, Sonnet Insurance, Spot Pet Insurance Canada. Blank means we could not confirm it on their public pages, not that it is missing from the policy.
Take a foreign body surgery, which runs from $2,500 to $6,000 in Canadian dollars in our national index (a modelled range, not a quote). With an annual deductible you subtract it once, then your plan's reimbursement percentage applies to the rest. If the same dog then needs an unrelated treatment later that year, a per-condition deductible would apply again; an annual one would not.
You can test the effect with our insurance calculator, which lets you change the deductible and reimbursement and shows modelled results.
Insurer terms checked 2026-10-25 from each insurer's own public pages. Terms change: check the policy before buying.
We build a national typical range from published clinic price lists, veterinary association fee surveys and real bills owners submit to us, then apply a city multiplier for local rent, wages and clinic density. Non-Canadian markets scale the same base by national price level. Figures are estimates in local currency before tax, never quotes. Once three verified bills exist for a city and procedure, the real bills replace the estimate.
Full method and correction policy: our methodology page. Spotted a price that is wrong? Send us the invoice and we will fix it.
Neither is better for everyone. An annual deductible is gentler in a year with several problems. A per-condition style can mean a lower premium. Compare the full year cost for your breed.
On an annual style, yes: you pay it again at the start of each policy year. Check whether your policy year matches the calendar year.
Usually the monthly premium is lower, because you carry more of the first costs yourself.
No. It means we could not verify the term on the provider's public pages. Ask the provider and read the policy document.
90% reimbursement, no payout limits, pays the vet directly at many Canadian clinics.
Get a quote →Covers exam fees, dental disease and behavioural therapy; flexible deductibles.
Get a quote →Canadian-owned since 1989, four plan levels, dental included on all plans.
Get a quote →Disclosure: some links are referral links. They never change your price. We list insurers we would consider ourselves, not whoever pays most.
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