INSURANCE FOR PETS WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: All to Know

Pet insurance can be a valuable financial safety net for pet owners, helping to cover the costs of unexpected veterinary bills. However, many pet insurance companies do not cover pre-existing conditions. This can be a major concern for pet owners with older pets or pets with known health problems.

Fortunately, there are a few pet insurance companies that offer coverage for pets with pre-existing conditions. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about pet insurance for pets with pre-existing conditions, including what it means, its types, and our best picks.

What is the Pre-Existing Condition?

Pre-existing conditions are any medical issues that manifest or emerge before the start of coverage or during a waiting period. It means that your plan won’t pay for expenses directly related to any condition your pet has in their medical history or has displayed symptoms before the start of your coverage or during a waiting period. This doesn’t mean you can’t enroll your pet and obtain coverage for other accidents and illnesses.

What Is Considered a Pet’s Pre-existing Condition?

A medical problem that was identified before the start of the pet’s health insurance policy is known as a pre-existing condition. Therefore, it is a high risk for the pet insurer to cover a pet with a pre-existing condition. Compared to other policyholders, they will have to pay the pet’s family more medical benefits.

Pre-existing diseases are not covered by any pet insurance plans (even congenital conditions if they have already been detected).

#1. Reversible Pre-Existing Condition

First off, if a pre-existing condition is “curable” (after a waiting time), certain pet insurance carriers will cover it. Curable pre-existing conditions exist before the insurance policy begins, but the pet may be able to recover from them in due course.

Pets with treatable pre-existing illnesses could have:

Infections of the urinary tract
Otitis externa
Upper respiratory illnesses
Diarrhoea as well as further gastrointestinal issues

Following your pet’s recovery from the diagnoses above, you should be qualified for complete coverage.

#2. Persistent Pre-Existing Diseases

A chronic illness won’t go away and will impact the pet for the rest of their lives. There are opportunities for cost assistance, but no pet health insurance plan will cover such severe pre-existing diseases.

Among the most prevalent long-term illnesses in pets are the following:

Intolerants
Rheumatism
Respiratory issues
Cancer, such as sarcoma
Diabetic
Disc issues
Dysplastic hip
Overactive and underactive thyroid glands
Renal conditions
Lumbar luxation
Skin conditions
Cruciate ligament tears
Lens cataracts

#3. Genetic and Breed-Specific Issues

Pet insurance policies often cover breed-specific and genetic conditions; however, if a problem is discovered before enrollment, coverage will not be provided.

For this reason, getting pet insurance when your pet is still young and healthy is always the wisest course of action.

However, a major obstacle faces honourable pet parents who want to adopt older pets or save animals from being put to death: the failure to cover pre-existing diseases.

Why Pet Owners Face Difficulties Due to Pre-Existing Conditions

The issue is that most pet insurance providers won’t cover a pet with a pre-existing illness. Because these pets would undoubtedly require veterinarian treatment to handle these diseases, insurance companies view them as costly and dangerous investments. Furthermore, a few of these ailments may result in other health issues, and insurance companies would prefer not to take on the additional risk of having to cover those treatments.

The law forbids human insurance providers from treating people differently based on their pre-existing medical conditions. However, there are no legal restrictions on what pet insurance businesses can or cannot do about animals. This implies that if you’re attempting to get pet insurance and your pet has a pre-existing condition, you might not have much luck.

Sadly, many of these pre-existing diseases are typical problems that pets face. Furthermore, you might never be able to insure your pet for the entirety of his life if he develops an illness early in life.

Do Pre-Existing Conditions Get Coverage Under Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance typically excludes pre-existing conditions from coverage due to the high expense of treating pre-existing conditions and the comparatively short lifespan of a pet (dogs usually live 10 to 13 years, depending on the breed).

Pet insurance companies typically define pre-existing conditions as any disease or damage that occurred before the start of coverage, including any waiting period.

Do Any Pet Insurance Policies cover Pre-Existing Conditions?

There are a few exceptions to the rule that most pet insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. Everything comes down to what the insurance provider considers a pre-existing condition.

The following lists some of the most prevalent diseases and ailments, the circumstances under which they are deemed pre-existing and how that influences coverage decisions.

There are a few exceptions to the rule that most pet insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. Everything comes down to what the insurance provider considers a pre-existing condition.

#1. Genetic and Congenital Disorders

Congenital and inherited illnesses are often covered by insurance providers, provided that your pet has not displayed any symptoms or received a diagnosis before the commencement of coverage. Policies for “hereditary and congenital coverage” are also offered separately by some providers.

Pets can inherit hereditary (genetic) problems from their parents and are prevalent, particularly in purebred animals. Here are a few instances:

A dysplastic hip
A dysplastic elbow
Entropion of a cherry eye
Lumbar luxation
Disorder of the intervertebral disc (IVDD)
Intolerants
Certain forms of cancer
Thyroid conditions
Diabetic

Your pet may not exhibit any symptoms at first, yet they are born with a congenital disease. Some instances are:

Sprains
Congenital cardiac conditions
Certain illnesses of the liver, like copper-associated hepatopathy and portosystemic shunts.
Nervous system problems
Syndrome of brachycephalic airways

#2. Reversible Prior Conditions

Any medical disease or illness your pet has received treatment for and recovered from is considered a curable condition. While some demand an entire year, most insurance carriers think an illness is healed after 180 days without symptoms. Among the ailments that can be cured are:

Otitis externa
Infections of the urinary tract
Viral upper respiratory infection
Diarrhoea or vomiting unrelated to a chronic illness

#3. Chronic Pre-Existing Diseases

These are conditions that need to be managed rather than healed. Pre-existing diseases that are incurable and were identified before the policy’s effective date are typically not covered by pet insurance policies. Some ailments that are considered incurable include:

Rheumatism
Certain forms of cancer
Intolerants
Diabetic
Dysplastic hip
Several forms of cardiac illness
Cruciate ligament tear
Seizures
Disc illness
Blockages in the urine, crystals, or idiopathic cystitis

#4. Bilateral Circumstances

A pet may experience a bilateral ailment, which affects both sides of the animal. Hip dysplasia is one instance that typically affects both the left and right hips.

Like any typical pre-existing disease, most insurance policies will not cover a bilateral health condition if the problem was identified before the coverage date. For instance, your policy will not cover either hip dysplasia if your pet had hip dysplasia on their left side before enrollment and then developed hip dysplasia on their suitable side years later.

Other varieties of bilateral conditions include:

Cruciate ligament tears
Insomnia
Vitiligo
Lumbar luxation
CAT scans

Bilateral conditions are not covered by insurance companies because there is a significant likelihood that a condition that affects one side of your pet’s body will also affect the other. To alleviate discomfort, a dog suffering from left hip dysplasia typically shifts their weight to their right side. They consequently have an increased chance of hip dysplasia on their right side. The underlying genetics that impact both sides of the body predispose pets to many bilateral illnesses.

Insurance for Pets with Pre-Existing Condition Companies

We’ve put together a list of pet insurance companies below that, with some restrictions, offer plans that cover a few pre-existing conditions. The list also includes all the information and prices you need to know to pick the best plan for your pet.

#1. Pets Best

Pets Best covers pre-existing conditions for accidents only. Pre-existing conditions like diabetes or lymphoma are not covered.

Recurrent mishaps or injuries, such as a broken leg, are covered by the plan. Therefore, it will be regarded as a distinct condition and be eligible for coverage if your pet gets into an accident and breaks a bone before you enrol in the insurance and then breaks the same bone after you’ve enrolled in the policy.

Any American veterinary clinic, speciality clinic, or emergency care facility can use Pet’s Best.

Policy alternatives:

Coverage for a year: $5,000, unlimited
Options for reimbursement: 70%, 80%, 90%
Options for deducting: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, and $1,000

#2. ASPCA

The ASPCA provides plans for accidents solely, as well as accidents and illnesses. Plans offered by the ASPCA also address behavioural and genetic problems. Your pet will be eligible for coverage if its pre-existing conditions are resolved, and it remains symptom-free for 180 days following insurance enrollment. The ASPCA does not cover knee and ligament disorders that already exist.

Any veterinary clinic, speciality clinic, or emergency care facility in the United States can use ASPCA.

Policy alternatives:

Maximum amount of coverage per year: $3,00,000,$5,000,$7,000, $10,000
Options for reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%
Options for deductions: $100, $250, and $500

#3. Embrace

Embrace provides plans for accidents solely, as well as accidents and illnesses. According to these plans, the ailment is considered curable pre-existing. It may be covered by insurance, provided that the symptoms do not worsen and are re-diagnosed within a year of the last noticeable symptom.

Whether an injury occurs on the same side or the other, Embrace will not cover incurable pre-existing conditions, such as orthopaedic ones.

Any veterinary clinic, speciality clinic, or emergency care facility worldwide can use Embrace.

Policy alternatives:

Limit on annual coverage: Indefinite
Options for reimbursement: 70%, 80%, 90%
Choices for deductions: $100

#4. Nationwide

Nationwide provides comprehensive pet insurance as well as significant medical insurance, covering both diseases and accidents. Pre-existing illnesses, injuries, or accidents that are treatable are covered by Nationwide as long as they have been treated and have not shown symptoms for six months. For coverage of meniscus (knee) injuries or cruciate ligament injuries, there is a one-year waiting period.

Nationwide is accepted anywhere in the world at veterinary clinics, speciality clinics, and emergency rooms.

The Nationwide Whole Pet plan’s policy options are listed below.

Policy alternatives:

$10,000 is the annual coverage maximum.
Options for reimbursement: 50%, 70%, and 90%
Choices for deductions: $250
The only plans offered by Fetch by The Dodo Fetch are for accidents and illnesses.
After a year of symptom-free living, Fetch will cover treatable pre-existing diseases.

#5. Fetch by The Dodo

Fetch provides simply an illness and accident plan. After a year of symptom-free living, Fetch will cover treatable pre-existing diseases. If the ailment reappears within the first year, there will be a second one-year exclusionary period. Fetch will not pay for a pre-existing ailment if it reappears within the second exclusionary period and is treatable.

Any veterinary clinic, speciality clinic, and urgent care facility in the United States can use Fetch.

Policy alternatives:

$5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 is the annual coverage limit.
Options for reimbursement: 70%, 80%, 90%
Options for deductions: $300, $500, and $700

#6. MetLife

MetLife provides policies for accidents only, as well as illnesses. If a pre-existing ailment is treatable and has not returned for 180 days or a year, MetLife will cover it.

Policy alternatives:

Annual maximum for coverage: $5,000, $10,000, or $2,000
Options for reimbursement: 70%, 80%, 90%
Options for deductions: $50, $100, $250, and $500

#7. Spot

Spot offers two types of plans: accident-only and accident and illness. If your pet has been cured and has not had treatment for pre-existing conditions for 180 days, you can use both plans for future coverage. Pre-existing knee and ligament disorders are not covered by Spot.

The spot is accepted at all American veterinary clinics, speciality clinics, and urgent care facilities.

Policy alternatives:

$2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000 is the annual coverage maximum. Infinite
Optional reimbursements: 80%, 90%, and 70%
Options for deductions: $250, $500, $750, $1,000

Can you get Pet Insurance if Your Pet is Already Sick?

Sure, A pre-existing condition in your dog or cat won’t prevent you from getting pet insurance. Your new plan will not pay for treating that specific problem, but it will cover future diseases and injuries.

What Happens if You Have Pet Insurance and Your Pet Dies?

If your pet needs to be put down by a veterinarian or passes away due to disease or injury, you could be able to pay for the purchase price or donation of the animal, depending on the sort of insurance coverage you have for it. Your insurance policy’s coverage for death from disease or injury will determine this.

Is Diarrhea a Pre-Existing Condition Pet Insurance?

Pre-existing medical issues are not continuously covered by insurance. Certain insurance companies do pay for treatable illnesses like infections, diarrhoea, and vomiting. Pets need to be free of symptoms for a year or two. Pet insurance is still available for sick animals.

What is a Curable Pre-Existing Condition?

They are treatable pre-existing Illnesses.

Temporary conditions become covered if your pet has been free of symptoms and treatment for a year following the last incident. Curable pre-existing conditions include, for example, Airway Infections. Bladder/urinary tract infections.

Conclusion

Knowing the specifics of your pet insurance coverage is crucial when thinking about getting insurance to help with medical expenses. It’s critical to understand how pre-existing conditions are handled by pet insurance policies, mainly if the plan you’re thinking about covers them. You can still protect a pet with pre-existing conditions against future diseases or injuries even though no pet insurance company covers known medical disorders.

INSURANCE FOR PETS WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: All to Know

What is the Pre-Existing Condition?