Pethealth expands U.S. presence

Oakville, Ontario-based Pethealth Inc. has expanded its U.S. presence through two new distributors. The nation’s largest pet insurance provider has signed agreements with the U.S. largest union benefits provider, Union Privilege. Pethealth’s PetCare insurance program will be exclusively marketed to members of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations starting at the beginning of the year through a three-year deal.As well, Pethealth has formed an alliance with Association Group Insurance Administrators (AGIA), which markets and administers insurance products for Affinity Group Inc. (AGI). AGI’s clubs include about 2 million members, owners of recreational vehicles. This campaign is expected to start in the spring of 2003.”The AGI membership demographic is an exciting new sector for Pethealth to promote its PetCare insurance programs to,” says Mark Warren, president & CEO of Pethealth. “The deal further supports Pethealth’s strategic commitment to penetrate the U.S. pet insurance market through partnerships with well established, industry leading organizations.”Pethealth already has partnerships with Petfinder.com and Petco Animal Supplies Inc. in the U.S., as well as several Canadian alliances. It is underwritten by ING Canada and Kingsway General Insurance in Canada, and by Kingsway sister company Lincoln General Insurance in the U.S.