Dealing with pet insurance when your beloved pet has pre-existing health conditions can be challenging. Many pet owners face claim denials and coverage limitations due to conditions that developed before their pet enrolled in the policy.
Pet insurance is a critical tool for managing veterinary costs, but these pre-existing conditions complicate coverage. In this guide, we will explore how pre-existing conditions are defined in the pet insurance industry, how they affect coverage eligibility, and what options are available for pets with existing health issues.
Understanding these details is very important for making an informed decision about protecting your pet’s health while managing costs effectively.
Understanding Pre-Existing Conditions In Pets
Pre-existing conditions are injuries, illnesses, or symptoms that occur before a pet insurance policy is active or during its waiting period.
These include any health issues noted in your pet’s medical records prior to enrollment. Examples of pre-existing conditions include:
- Curable Conditions: Bladder infections, diarrhea, ear infections, respiratory infections, and vomiting.
- Incurable Conditions: Allergies, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and kidney disease.
How Pre-Existing Conditions Affect Pet Insurance Coverage
Most pet insurance policies exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions. This means any health issue diagnosed or showing symptoms before the policy’s start date will not be eligible for claims.
Many insurers differentiate between curable and incurable conditions. Curable conditions (e.g., ear infections or minor injuries) may become eligible for coverage after a symptom-free period, whereas incurable conditions (e.g., arthritis or chronic allergies) are excluded permanently.
Coverage Options For Pets With Pre-Existing Conditions
If your adorable pet has a pre-existing condition and you are struggling to get good coverage for them, then here are some of the best pet insurance options for pets with pre-existing conditions.
This table summarizes key features, including coverage specifics and waiting periods.
| Provider | Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions | Waiting Period for Curable Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| AKC Pet Insurance | Covers curable and incurable conditions after 365 days. | 365 days |
| Embrace | Covers curable conditions after 12 months symptom-free. | 12 months |
| Pets Best | Covers curable conditions after 180 days symptom-free. | 180 days |
| ASPCA Insurance | Covers curable conditions after 180 days without symptoms. | 180 days |
| Pet Assure | Covers pre-existing conditions immediately but limited to approved vets. | None |
| Nationwide | Covers cured pre-existing conditions after veterinary review | Case-by-case evaluation |
| Trupanion | May cover recurring conditions if symptom-free for 12+ months | 12+ months |
| Healthy Paws | Offers coverage for new conditions while managing pre-existing issues | Condition-dependent |
| Pumpkin | Provides partial coverage options for some curable pre-existing conditions | 180 days symptom-free |
| Figo | Offers graduated coverage for some conditions after extended waiting periods | 12+ months, varies by condition |
Let’s learn more about these options so that you can make an informed decision.
1. AKC Pet Insurance
AKC Pet Insurance stands out with its unique approach to pre-existing conditions by covering both curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after a year of continuous coverage. This makes it an exceptional choice for pets with established health issues that would be permanently excluded by other providers.
Its policies also include customizable deductibles and coverage limits, allowing pet owners to balance premium costs with coverage needs while waiting for pre-existing condition eligibility to begin.
2. Embrace
Embrace offers a compassionate approach to pre-existing conditions by providing coverage for curable conditions if your pet remains symptom-free for at least 12 months. This provider distinguishes itself with diminishing deductibles that decrease by $50 each year you don’t receive a claim reimbursement, creating financial incentives for preventive care.
Additionally, Embrace offers optional wellness rewards for routine care expenses, creating a more comprehensive coverage strategy for pets with health histories.
3. Pets Best
Pets Best allows coverage for curable pre-existing conditions after a 180-day symptom-free period, making it a good choice for many pets with temporary health concerns. Their policies feature unlimited annual coverage options without caps on specific conditions, creating long-term security for ongoing treatments.
Pets Best also offers direct veterinarian payment options in some cases, removing the burden of upfront costs for expensive treatments related to newly covered conditions.
4. ASPCA Insurance
ASPCA Insurance covers curable pre-existing conditions after a waiting period of 180 days without symptoms, ensuring that pets can receive necessary care for recurring but treatable issues. Their plans include coverage for alternative therapies and behavioral treatments that might complement traditional medical approaches for pets with complex health conditions.
The provider also offers multi-pet discounts, making it more affordable to insure multiple animals with varying health histories.
5. Pet Assure
Pet Assure provides immediate coverage for pre-existing conditions but requires visits to specific veterinarians within their network, offering a different approach to care. Unlike traditional insurance, Pet Assure functions as a discount program providing 25% off all in-house medical services with no exclusions for any condition, regardless of when it developed.
This makes it an excellent supplementary option for pets with extensive pre-existing conditions while maintaining traditional insurance for catastrophic coverage.
6. Nationwide
Nationwide offers coverage for some pre-existing conditions through their specialized whole pet plans with wellness. Their unique approach includes a veterinary review of resolved conditions, allowing coverage for issues that have been fully cured for a specified period.
Nationwide also provides comprehensive coverage options for exotic pets with pre-existing conditions, a rare offering in the pet insurance market that expands protection beyond cats and dogs.
7. Trupanion
Trupanion specializes in lifetime condition coverage with no payout limits per condition after waiting periods are satisfied. For pre-existing conditions, they may provide coverage for recurring issues if the pet remains symptom-free for over 12 months, depending on the specific condition.
Trupanion also offers direct payment to veterinarians at the time of service, eliminating out-of-pocket expenses for eligible conditions and reducing financial strain during treatment.
8. Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws focuses on providing unlimited lifetime coverage for new conditions while maintaining exclusions for pre-existing issues. Their approach includes specialized case management for pets with complex health needs, helping owners navigate care options even for uncovered conditions.
They also offer consistent premiums based on your pet’s enrollment age rather than increasing with each renewal year, providing predictable long-term costs.
9. Pumpkin
Pumpkin provides innovative coverage options with the potential for partial coverage of some curable pre-existing conditions after 180 symptom-free days. Their plans include preventive care packs that cover essential vaccines and annual testing, helping to prevent new conditions while managing existing ones.
Pumpkin also offers transparent coverage explanations and educational resources about managing pre-existing conditions effectively.
10. Figo
Figo features graduated coverage options for certain pre-existing conditions based on symptom-free periods, requiring 12+ months without treatment or symptoms. Their plans include access to 24/7 virtual veterinary consultations, providing guidance for managing both covered and pre-existing conditions.
Figo also offers a pet cloud digital platform for organizing medical records and treatment histories, simplifying documentation for pre-existing condition reviews.
Strategies For Managing Pre-Existing Conditions
The most effective strategy for avoiding pre-existing condition exclusions is enrolling pets in insurance as early as possible, ideally when they’re young and healthy.
Work with your veterinarian to establish proper documentation. Before enrolling in a new policy, consider requesting a comprehensive examination to document your pet’s current health status.
Maintaining regular veterinary care can help manage existing conditions and prevent new ones from developing. Regular check-ups, appropriate preventive medications, and attention to any early symptoms can minimize health complications and associated costs over time.
Tips to Cover The Pre-existing Conditions Of Your Pet
Sealing with pre-existing conditions requires strategies when looking for financial protection for your pet’s healthcare. Here are some tips you must use to ensure this.
- Enroll Early: The best way to avoid issues with pre-existing conditions is to insure your pet when they are young and healthy before chronic issues or major illnesses develop.
- Understand Policy Definitions: Know how an insurer defines “pre-existing,” “curable,” and “incurable.” Pay close attention to waiting periods for accidents, illnesses, and specific conditions like cruciate ligament issues.
- Focus on Curable Conditions: Many providers (like Embrace, Pets Best, ASPCA, and Pumpkin) will cover conditions deemed “curable” after a specific symptom-free period (often 6-12 months). This is valuable for past infections or minor injuries.
- Consider AKC for Incurable Conditions: If your pet has a chronic, incurable condition (like allergies, diabetes, arthritis), AKC Pet Insurance is unique in potentially offering coverage for these after a 365-day waiting period.
- Look into Discount Plans: Programs like Pet Assure aren’t insurance but offer immediate discounts on vet bills, including for pre-existing conditions, though only at participating clinics. This can be a supplementary option or an alternative if insurance isn’t viable.
- Maintain Thorough Vet Records: Keep detailed records of your pet’s health history. A vet exam just before enrolling can establish a baseline and help clarify what is or isn’t pre-existing according to the policy terms.
- Review Policy Exclusions Carefully: Always read the full policy details, paying special attention to the exclusions section, particularly regarding pre-existing, bilateral, or hereditary conditions.
Related Reads:
Conclusion: AKC Pet Insurance is The Best Pet Insurance For Pets with Pre-Existing Conditions
Looking for pet insurance with pre-existing conditions requires careful research and planning. While most insurers exclude these conditions from coverage, options like AKC Pet Insurance and Nationwide offer ways to cover some pre-existing issues.
The most effective strategy is early enrollment before health problems develop. For pets with existing conditions, a combination of dedicated savings, preventive care, and selective insurance coverage can provide financial protection while ensuring quality healthcare.
Understanding policy details and exclusions before purchasing is essential for making informed decisions about your pet’s healthcare financial planning. Get your pet insured today!
FAQs
You can still get insurance, but most policies won’t cover the pre-existing condition itself. New, unrelated conditions will typically be covered.
Pets Best doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. Increasing coverage might cause previously covered conditions to be reclassified as pre-existing.
Pet Assure isn’t mentioned in the search results, but most discount plans (rather than insurance) typically don’t exclude based on pre-existing conditions.
AKC Pet Insurance covers pre-existing conditions after a 365-day waiting period. Nationwide may cover cured pre-existing conditions after review.
Any illness or injury that began showed symptoms or was diagnosed before policy enrollment or during waiting periods, regardless of whether it was treated.
There’s no specific information about Chewy pet insurance in the search results regarding their pre-existing condition policies.
Insurance may not be cost-effective for older pets with numerous pre-existing conditions or when premium increases outpace the value of potential claims.
