Does pet insurance help cover pre-existing conditions?

Pet insurance helps provide dogs and cats with coverage for the treatment of an accident or an illness, which can help pet owners budget for these unexpected vet bills. But what if your pet had a health condition before their pet insurance coverage started? Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

If you’re wondering about this, you’re likely not alone. A common question posed by pet owners when they are shopping for pet insurance is whether coverage for pre-existing conditions is included in a pet insurance plan. It can be helpful to understand what a pre-existing condition is and how different pet insurers define pre-existing conditions in dogs and cats so that you can have a plan for your pet’s medical needs.

What is a pre-existing condition?

A pre-existing condition is any condition that showed signs or symptoms before your policy became effective, even if the condition wasn’t formally diagnosed by a veterinarian. Pre-existing conditions in pets can be chronic illnesses, or even long-term repercussions from an injury that happened before your coverage began.

Examples of pre-existing conditions in pets

A pet health condition can be considered pre-existing if it existed prior to the start of your pet insurance coverage, even if it wasn’t diagnosed. Here are some examples of common pre-existing conditions found in pets (and why they may be considered pre-existing):

• Allergies if your pet had ear infections or dermatitis before you enrolled
• Diabetes if your pet had excessive urination or lost a lot of weight (without any dietary changes) before you enrolled
• Hip dysplasia if your pet was bunny hopping, limping or having trouble climbing stairs before you enrolled
• Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tears if your pet has already endured a CCL tear

Is there pet insurance that covers pre-existing conditions?

Pet insurance providers do not cover pre-existing conditions in dogs and cats. This extends to chronic issues that require regular treatment or medications but also issues that may have spontaneous flare-ups.

Some providers may say they cover pre-existing conditions that are curable after the condition has been cured. Some providers list a certain amount of time that must pass between symptoms (without the symptom being masked by treatment) for the condition to be considered “cured.” The standards are different among providers, so it’s important to read all the fine print while shopping for pet insurance.

If you choose to enroll with Trupanion, any condition that can be fully resolved will not be considered pre-existing once evidence is provided that it has been resolved. For example, if your pet was diagnosed with giardia before you enrolled, and you were able to provide evidence that the giardia was completely resolved, any future incidents where your pet contracted giardia would then be eligible for coverage.

That said, if the condition appears resolved because symptoms are being masked by treatment, that doesn’t mean the condition has been cured — it would still be considered pre-existing. An example of this might be a cat who had kidney stones before enrolling in a policy but did not experience kidney stones while they were on a prescription diet used to help prevent urinary blockages. If this cat experienced kidney stones again, it would be considered pre-existing to the policy.

Can I still get pet insurance for a pet with a pre-existing condition?

A diagnosis of a pre-existing condition does not mean that you cannot purchase insurance protection for your pet to help cover new issues that may come up in the future. You can typically enroll your pet in a pet health insurance plan to get coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of future conditions that didn’t start before purchasing the coverage.

For example, if your 5-year-old cat is diagnosed with allergies prior to her pet insurance plan’s effective date, that would not be covered. However, she could still be covered for diabetes if that condition didn’t start until after the policy’s effective date. That means while her allergy testing or medication would not be covered by her pet insurance plan, any covered treatments or medications related to her diabetes would be.

How to get the most out of your pet insurance

Enrolling your pet in pet insurance early can help provide coverage for potential illnesses or injuries. Not only is early enrollment beneficial to help protect your pet from the pre-existing condition exclusion, but younger pets are also more prone to accidents and injuries.

Young pets are generally high-energy and tend to be curious, so they may explore the world in risky ways leading to accidental foreign body ingestions or physical injuries. If your pet is already fully grown, consider protecting them with pet insurance sooner rather than later, as older pets can be more susceptible to illnesses.

Researching exclusions with pet insurance providers

Pet insurance providers may have different plan options and exclusions. Before enrolling in pet insurance, it can be helpful to learn more about pet insurance exclusions by contacting sales and support teams directly with your questions. Reviewing the fine print listed on pet insurance company websites or in a sample policy may help you better understand your coverage and any details when it’s time to use it.

Choosing the right pet insurance policy for your pet

While pet insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, understanding the specifics of what is considered a pre-existing condition and how different insurers handle these cases can help you make a more informed decision.

Choosing to help protect your pet with quality pet insurance may help you manage costs for future, unexpected accidents or illnesses, even if your pet has a pre-existing condition. Contact your local State Farm agent with questions about enrolling your pet with Trupanion.