Pre-Existing Conditions and Pet Insurance What You Need to Know

What exactly is a pre-existing condition?

In simple terms, a pre-existing condition is any illness or injury that showed up or started showing symptoms before your pet insurance kicks in. This could also include anything that pops up during the policy’s waiting period.

Think of it as the stuff that happens before your coverage starts insurance isn’t a time machine, unfortunately.

But here’s the good news: Having a pre-existing condition doesn’t mean you can’t get insurance for your pet. It just means those particular issues won’t be covered. Everything else? Fair game for coverage.

Examples of Pre-Existing Conditions

Let’s bring this to life with a couple of relatable scenarios:

Imagine you bought home insurance today. It’s not going to cover the basement flood from two months ago. That’s just not how it works.
If your doggo breaks a paw before you get pet insurance, you’ll have to pay for the treatment yourself. Future issues related to that same injury? Probably not covered either unless your policy allows exceptions for cured conditions.

Key Tip: Every pet insurance provider treats pre-existing conditions a little differently, so read the fine print like it’s the last chapter of a thriller.

Why Aren’t Pre-Existing Conditions Covered?

Here’s the simple truth: Insurance is meant to protect against the unknown, not the “already happened.” Covering past issues would be like trying to insure a car after it’s been in a fender bender nice try, but no dice.

That said, some policies, like ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, make exceptions for curable conditions. If your furry buddy is symptom-free for 180 days (excluding those pesky knee and ligament issues), they’ll consider it a fresh start.

Curable vs. Incurable Conditions

Curable Conditions

Certain conditions can be covered later if your pet stays symptom-free for a while. Examples include:

Ear infections
Bladder infections
Diarrhea
Respiratory infections
Urinary tract infections

Providers like Embrace and ASPCA may give the green light for these if enough time passes.

Incurable Conditions

Some issues stick around for life, and unfortunately, most pet insurers won’t cover them. These include:

Arthritis
Allergies
Cancer
Diabetes
Hip dysplasia
Kidney disease

Ongoing treatments, medications, and surgeries make these tricky (and expensive) conditions to manage but worth every effort for our beloved pets.

Do You Need a Vet Exam to Enroll?

Not always. Some pet insurance providers may require a vet checkup or medical records before signing you up, but others, like ASPCA, don’t bother. Just be aware that any undiagnosed symptoms before coverage like your pup limping before you enroll could still count as pre-existing.

What do insurance companies consider pre-existing conditions?

Insurance companies see pre-existing conditions as any health problems you had before getting a new health insurance plan. This includes issues you know about or don’t, as well as past treatments or medications. Common examples are diabetes, heart problems, cancer, asthma, and mental health issues.

These conditions can affect your insurance, like needing to wait before some benefits start or not covering certain treatments. It’s important to share all your health issues when you apply to avoid your claims being rejected later.

What are the 4 factors that go into determining your monthly premium for pet insurance?

Your pet insurance cost depends on a few things. First, your pet’s breed and age matter because some breeds are more likely to have health problems.

Second, the type of plan you pick affects the price basic plans are cheaper, but plans that cover more issues and treatments cost more.

Third, where you live also makes a difference since vet costs vary by area. Lastly, your deductible and reimbursement rate play a role. Choosing a higher deductible and a lower reimbursement rate means your monthly cost will be lower, but you’ll pay more out of your pocket if you make a claim.

Final Takeaway

Pet insurance is there to help with the surprises life throws your pet’s way not to cover the baggage they already have. But don’t let that stop you from enrolling. After all, even a policy with exclusions beats footing the bill for every vet visit on your own.

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