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Written byTaylor Milam-Samuel
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8+ years writing for major outlets, including MarketWatch and Business Insider
Master’s in Education
Taylor Mlam-Samuel is a personal finance writer and credentialed educator. When she’s not helping readers better save and spend money, she can be found teaching.
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Edited byKatie Powers
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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Reviewed byMark Friedlander
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Corporate communications director for Insurance Information Institute
20+ years in insurance and communications
As Director, Corporate Communications for Triple-I, Mark serves as the non-profit’s national spokesperson, sharing information and education on a wide array of insurance issues.
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Data reviewed byAndrew Huang
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Chartered financial analyst
12+ years in data analysis and marketing
Andrew applies his vast knowledge of analytics and insurance industry trends to help inform Insurify’s content and marketing efforts.
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Updated July 31, 2024
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Table of contents
Pet insurance is a helpful way to protect against costly and unexpected vet bills. Accident and illness coverage costs an average of about $32 per month for cats and $56 for dogs, making it an affordable option for many pet owners.[1] But most insurance policies don’t cover pre-existing conditions.
A pre-existing condition is a health issue or illness your pet has before coverage begins. If your pet already has a condition, it’s important to understand whether an insurance policy includes coverage for treating it.[2]
In most cases, policies don’t offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, but a few exceptions exist. Here’s what to expect if you’re shopping for pet insurance coverage.
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What are pre-existing conditions in pet insurance?
If your pet has a condition or illness before coverage begins, insurance companies consider it a pre-existing condition. When you apply for coverage, pet insurers ask you to disclose your pet’s pre-existing conditions, and some companies require a copy of your pet’s medical history. Most companies consider symptoms and diagnoses when determining whether a condition is pre-existing.
For example, let’s say your cat’s blood work shows elevated hormone levels a few months before coverage begins. At the time, your vet can’t determine the cause. After coverage begins, a new vet diagnoses your cat with kidney disease, which relates to the previous hormone levels. Your insurer might not cover treatment since the symptoms appeared before coverage.
Pre-existing conditions fall into the following categories: curable, incurable, bilateral, and hereditary. Some pet insurers don’t offer coverage for any pre-existing conditions.
Almost any health condition can be pre-existing, but the following are common ones that pets experience:
Allergies
Arthritis
Diabetes
Hip dysplasia
Kidney disease
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How to find pet insurance that covers pre-existing conditions
Even though most insurance companies don’t cover pre-existing conditions, finding a policy that meets your needs might be possible. Here’s how.
Talk with your veterinarian
With years of experience in the industry, your vet can help you find coverage for your pet. Ask your vet if coverage makes sense for your pet, and if it does, ask for recommendations.
Calculate how long it’s been
Some insurance companies will cover curable conditions, like ear infections or broken bones, if your pet is symptom-free for six to 12 months. Figure out how long it’s been since your pet last had symptoms.
Search for exceptions
Finding coverage for your pet’s pre-existing conditions might be possible, but you have to search for it. For example, insurance from the American Kennel Club (AKC) covers pre-existing conditions after you have coverage for 365 days.
Review your pet’s history
Understand your pet’s medical history before applying for coverage so you can find the right insurance company. Figure out the timeline for symptoms and whether the condition is curable or incurable.
Pre-existing conditions pet insurance may cover
Pet insurance policies might cover curable or hereditary pre-existing conditions. Not every insurer offers coverage for those conditions, but some do.
Curable conditions can heal with treatment, which prevents future costs for insurers. Conditions pets inherit from their parents are hereditary. Insurers often cover inherited conditions if the pet doesn’t have any symptoms.
Here’s how to determine if you can get coverage for your pet’s curable or hereditary condition.
Curable
Curable conditions can completely heal with treatment, which means that pets can make a full recovery. Some insurers offer coverage for curable pre-existing conditions if your pet has been symptom-free for six to 12 months.
For example, imagine that your dog has an ear infection in January. The vet prescribes antibiotics. The infection heals, and your dog doesn’t show any more symptoms. You decide to shop for pet insurance in August. You can get coverage that includes ear infections because it’s been eight months since your dog’s symptoms.
Pet insurance may cover the following curable conditions:
Bladder infections
Broken bones
Bruises and cuts
Diarrhea
Ear infections
Gastrointestinal disorders
Kennel cough
Respiratory infections
Urinary tract infections
Vomiting
Hereditary
Hereditary conditions are genetic, and pets inherit the condition from their parents. Congenital conditions are similar, but your pet develops the condition at birth.
If your pet hasn’t experienced symptoms, you can usually find coverage for hereditary or congenital pre-existing conditions. Some insurers charge an extra fee, impose coverage limitations, or won’t provide coverage at all.
Here are common hereditary and congenital conditions that can appear in different breeds:
Cherry eye
Congenital heart disease
Hernia
Hypothyroidism
Intervertebral disc disease
Liver disease
Polycystic kidney disease
Portosystemic shunt
Excluded pre-existing conditions
Finding pet insurance coverage for incurable or bilateral pre-existing conditions is nearly impossible. Incurable pre-existing conditions are chronic conditions without a cure. Cancer is a common incurable pre-existing condition. Bilateral conditions occur in body parts with pairs, like eyes or hips. Cataracts are an example of a bilateral pre-existing condition in a pet’s eyes.
Here’s what you can expect if your pet has an incurable or bilateral pre-existing condition.
Incurable
Incurable conditions are chronic diseases or conditions without a cure. Most insurers won’t cover incurable pre-existing conditions for pets if symptoms occur before coverage begins.
AKC is one of the only companies that offer coverage for incurable pre-existing conditions after you have 365 consecutive days of coverage.
Here are some common incurable conditions:
Allergies
Arthritis
Bladder crystals
Cancer
Diabetes
Epilepsy
Heart disease
Hip dysplasia
Hyperthyroidism
Kidney disease
Lipomas or skin lumps
Orthopedic conditions
Urinary blockages
Bilateral
A bilateral condition occurs in body parts with matching pairs, like elbows or knees. Most insurers don’t cover bilateral conditions once your pet has symptoms or a diagnosis on one side of the body.[3]
For example, let’s say your dog has hip dysplasia on its left side. After paying for surgery to fix it, your dog doesn’t have any symptoms for two years. If you decide to shop for pet insurance, you’ll learn that most insurers won’t cover care or treatment for hip dysplasia in either of your dog’s hips since it’s a bilateral condition.
Here are common bilateral pre-existing conditions:
Cataracts
Cruciate ligament tear
Glaucoma
Hip and elbow dysplasia
Patella luxation
Uveitis (inflammation inside the eye)
Coverage options for pets with pre-existing conditions
If your pet has a pre-existing condition, you still have options for pet insurance. The first step is to figure out what type of condition your pet has: curable, incurable, hereditary, or bilateral. Some policies have exclusions for certain types of pre-existing conditions but not others.
As you find the best fit, make sure you understand the policy limitations, including waiting periods. Waiting periods can last up to 30 days, and you can’t use the policy during that time. Insurers use waiting periods to prevent insurance fraud so that pet owners can’t immediately get coverage to treat a current known condition, like a broken bone.
Several insurance companies offer coverage with modifications, which means your pet might qualify for coverage with a pre-existing condition. Here are a few quality insurers to consider:
AKC: AKC is one of the only insurers that provide coverage for incurable pre-existing conditions. But you must have consecutive coverage for 365 days before using the policy for a pre-existing condition.
Embrace: Embrace offers coverage for pets with curable pre-existing conditions as long as they’re symptom-free for 12 months. The company doesn’t have coverage for incurable pre-existing conditions.
Nationwide: Pet owners can get coverage for curable pre-existing conditions with Nationwide, but you can’t get coverage for incurable conditions. Your pet must be symptom-free for at least six months.
Figo: Figo covers curable pre-existing conditions as long as your pet hasn’t had symptoms related to the condition for at least 12 months.
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Learn More: Best Pet Insurance Companies and Plans
Is pet insurance worth it if your pet has a pre-existing condition?
Pet insurance is often worth it, even if your pet has a pre-existing condition. Depending on the type of curable or hereditary condition your pet has, you might find coverage that includes the condition.
If the condition is incurable, you might still want coverage. It depends on the cost of treatment for the pre-existing condition and the prognosis. For example, you probably want to skip coverage if your pet has a terminal disease with a short lifespan. But it might make sense if your pet has a condition that requires inexpensive or one-time treatment, like allergies or a cruciate ligament tear.
Even if your pet has a pre-existing condition, a policy can still help pay for unrelated health issues and emergencies.
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Alternative ways to manage pet health costs
If you decide to skip pet insurance, you can manage pet health costs in other ways. Consider the following options:
Grants for emergency care: Organizations like RedRover Relief Urgent Care and Frankie’s Friends can help low-income pet owners pay for emergency care or lifesaving treatment.
A savings account: If you don’t have insurance, you can create a dedicated savings account for future pet expenses, especially if your pet is currently healthy. Save money every month and only use the fund when your pet needs care.
Low-cost clinics: Most cities have low-cost clinics through animal welfare groups or local shelters. If your pet needs emergency care or expensive treatment, check the pricing at a low-cost clinic first.
Community funds: In exchange for a monthly fee, some organizations, like Pawp, reimburse members up to $3,000 per year for veterinary expenses.
Pet insurance pre-existing conditions FAQs
It can be challenging to determine whether you can get coverage for your pet with a pre-existing condition. The following information can help answer your remaining questions.
Can pet insurance companies find out about pre-existing conditions?
Pet insurance companies require applicants to disclose pre-existing medical conditions during the application process. If you don’t, it’s insurance fraud. Some insurers also request medical records or a recent veterinary exam.
What counts as a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition is a symptom or diagnosis that exists before insurance coverage begins. For example, let’s say your pet receives treatment for a limp before you have insurance. If the limp becomes a cruciate ligament tear that requires surgery after you have coverage, you can’t file a claim for treatment because the symptom existed before coverage began.
Does Pet Assure cover pre-existing conditions?
Pet Assure is a veterinary plan that provides a 25% discount for veterinary procedures. You must work with an in-network Pet Assure provider and pay a monthly fee. Even if your pet has a pre-existing condition, you can still receive discounts on care.
Can pet insurance retroactively cover pet care expenses?
You can’t apply for pet insurance retroactively. You must have an active policy and complete the waiting period to receive a reimbursement. If you haven’t taken those steps, you must pay out of pocket.
Related articles
- Cost of Owning a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel : Purchase, Vet Bills, and More
- Cost of Owning a Golden Retriever : Purchase, Vet Bills, and More
- Cost of Owning a Bichon Frise : Purchase, Vet Bills, and More
- Cost of Owning a Siberian Husky : Purchase, Vet Bills, and More
- Cost of Owning a French Bulldog : Purchase, Vet Bills, and More
- Cost of Owning a Belgian Malinois : Purchase, Vet Bills, and More
- Life Insurance for Your Pet
Sources
- North American Pet Health Insurance Association. "Section #3: Average Premiums."
- MetLife Pet Insurance. "Disclosure of Important Policy Provisions."
- Embrace Pet Insurance. "Pet Insurance and Pre-existing Conditions."
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Taylor Milam-Samuel
Taylor Milam-Samuel is a writer and credentialed educator who is fascinated by how people earn, save, and spend their money. When she's not researching financial terms and conditions, she can be found in the classroom teaching.
Taylor has been a contributor at Insurify since February 2023.
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Featured in
Corporate communications director for Insurance Information Institute
20+ years in insurance and communications
As Director, Corporate Communications for Triple-I, Mark serves as the non-profit’s national spokesperson, sharing information and education on a wide array of insurance issues.
Chartered financial analyst
12+ years in data analysis and marketing
Andrew applies his vast knowledge of analytics and insurance industry trends to help inform Insurify’s content and marketing efforts.
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