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A pre-existing condition is a health issue that is known before a pet insurance policy is effective. Depending on the type of condition, it can be difficult to get health coverage for your pet, as many insurers will exclude pre-existing conditions from their policies. With vet bills that can easily go into thousands of dollars, you may need to shop around for a specialist pet insurance provider that can help reimburse you for costs related to your pet’s health. We’ve looked at the top choices for coverage, discounts, reimbursements, and overall quality.
Pawp offers pet owners an emergency fund up to but not exceeding $3,000 annually. The platform is different from other traditional pet insurance agencies as it does not require you to provide a medical examination report before enrolling your pet. Whether your pet is healthy or has been diagnosed with a pre-existing condition, you can still enroll it and access the emergency fund when the need arises.
With no deductibles and low monthly premiums as low as $24, the digital platform will protect your furry friend during an incident and save money from large vet expenses. Although the agency does not provide any limitations on age, it is best to insure your pet while still young and be prepared in advance when an emergency occurs.
Pet Assure is not like other traditional insurance providers that reimburse you on claims. Instead, the digital platform offers a flat rate discount of 25% on all pet-related medical costs when you visit a participating veterinary doctor. The discount program applies to your vet bills checkout after every visit.
When you take out a pet insurance policy, it is common to have pre-existing conditions excluded from coverage. If your pet suffers from an accident or illness before taking out the policy, the related health costs will not be covered by insurance.
Pet insurance for pre-existing conditions is a specialist policy that helps to cover the costs of medical issues for pets if it is diagnosed before a policy is effective. Depending on the terms, the policy can help provide you with some coverage that can reduce the financial burden of your pet’s health needs.
A pre-existing medical condition is a health issue that was diagnosed before the effective date of your policy. They are typically categorized as curable and incurable conditions.
Curable pre-existing conditions can include ear infections, diarrhea, vomiting, bladder infections, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal problems, and respiratory infections. Many pet insurers can cover you for curable pre-existing conditions if your pet has been symptom-free for a specified period of time.
Incurable pre-existing conditions also referred to as chronic illnesses, are health-related issues that can require treatment and medication throughout the pet’s life. Common chronic conditions can include allergies, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, heart disease, kidney disease, and skin diseases. These are typically excluded from your policy.
In addition to curable and incurable conditions, be mindful to take into account bilateral exclusions in your policy. A bilateral condition occurs when a health issue affects both sides of the body, such as hip dysplasia and cataracts. If your pet has a pre-existing condition on one side of the body, it becomes more likely that the condition can develop on the opposite side, which won’t be covered after your policy starts.
Coverage for pre-existing conditions can vary between pet insurers. Some insurers have a blanket exclusion without exception. While other insurers provide coverage for specific pre-existing conditions if the medical issue has been cured and there have been no symptoms for a minimum of one or two years.
If your pet suffers from a specific medical condition, it’s a good idea to read the policy documentation and obtain confirmation from the policy provider before you take out your pet insurance plan.
When taking out a pet insurance plan, you’ll need to inform your provider of any health issues your pet has incurred before you take out a policy. Some insurers may ask you to ring customer service, to provide more information and tailor the policy to your pet’s needs.
Alternatively, it can be a good idea to take your pet to the vet for a medical examination, so that your insurer can conduct a medical history review and tell you precisely any conditions that are not covered.
If you do not inform your insurer of pre-existing conditions, you could risk exclusion of future claims from your policy.
While there are limitations to taking out pet insurance for pre-existing conditions, if your pet suffers from an accident or illness unrelated to the prior condition you could be covered.
For instance, if your dog has an allergy, medical treatment related to the allergy may be excluded. But if your dog later breaks a leg in an accident, this can be covered for emergency care according to the limits and terms of the policy.
Even if your pet suffers from a pre-existing condition, it can be worth it to take out pet insurance in the event that your pet develops another illness or has an accident unrelated to the pre-existing condition.
Vet bills can be very costly over the long term and while the pre-existing condition may not be covered, if your pet develops further health issues, this could become a financial burden on your household budget during a stressful and emotional time.
While no pet insurance plan can cover you for every health-related illness or accident, you can get the most out of your policy by comparing policies from multiple providers to ensure that you are getting the best pet insurance plan for your pet’s health needs.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when buying your pet insurance policy:
