Pet Insurance For Pre-Existing Conditions

It's crucial to consider the drawbacks of the policy, such as treatment for existing illnesses, when shopping for pet insurance.

Just like car insurance that does not cover accidents prior to coverage start, pet insurance usually won't cover any costs that are already present in connection with illnesses and injuries.

It is important to know what is considered a "pre-existing condition."

Does Pet Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?

In general, pet insurance restricts the coverage of pre-existing conditions due to the expense and comparatively limited life span of a pet (dogs live for an average of 10 to 13 years, depending on their race). The problem is that pet insurers do not have the option of charging premiums for several years to compensate for claims paid under prevailing circumstances.

Pet insurance providers generally assume that the pre-existing condition is a disease or accident, with some waiting period, that has begun before coverage.

"It's vital that even if your pet hasn't been diagnosed, the insurer can refuse coverage when it shows signs or symptoms of a pet before the coverage begins," says Alex Stone, founder of Petinsurer.com, a comparison provider for pet insurance.

For instance, your dog would not be protected by the plan if it limped until you had been waiting for a period and coverage commenced.

What Are Pet Pre-Existing Conditions?

Some pet insurance companies put pre-existing conditions into two buckets: curable and incurable conditions.

Curable pre-existing conditions. Curable prerequisites for pet insurance undertakings such as Embrace are covered as long as any recurrences take place at least 12 months after the last issue. ASPCA's pet insurance coverage would not take a pre-existing illness into consideration if curable and 180 days without symptoms (excluding knee and ligament conditions). Recurring after 180 days can be treated as a new issue.

Examples of curable conditions are:

  • Infections in the air
  • Infections in the ears
  • Infections of the urinary tract
  • Infections of the bladder
  • Diarrhea Failure
  • Vomiting

Incurable pre-existing conditions. In the other hand, pre-existing conditions are considered incurable by pet insurance providers such as:

  • Cancer
  • Conditions Orthopedic
  • Diabetes
  • Crystals of the bladder
  • Allergies
  • Heart sickness
  • Kidney disease
  • Blockages in urine
  • Epileptic disease
  • Arthritis
  • Dysplasia of hip

Many of these conditions require repeat veterinarian visits, ongoing medication and sometimes even surgery. Pet insurance would not protect the incurable pre-existing conditions.

Pay Close Attention to Bilateral Exclusions

A bilateral disease or damage has an effect on the left and right sides of the body, like hip dysplasia or a cross-ligament tear.

As the likelihood of a pet on the other side of the body is greater, many insurance firms are excluded from the plans bilaterally. In other words, the other side would not be protected later if the pet had been treated on one side of his body before the policy was initiated.

If your pet is bilaterally ill after coverage begins, it will be well guarded.

How to determine which insurable animal conditions

As a pet owner, you can have difficulty identifying what is considered a pre-existing condition and what will be included in your pet insurance plan. That's why pet insurance providers such as Embrace and Pets Best check a pet's medical history.

Reviews on medical records are intended to identify any issues not covered by your policy. You are going to know exactly what costs you are going to be responsible for.

After applying for a scheme, the medical examination will take place. When the analysis is complete, insurers also provide you with an option to cancel if you believe that your pet's coverage is not adequate.

Finding the Right Insurance for a Pet with Pre-Existing Issues

You will also get pet insurance, even though your pet has a pre-existing illness, and it will even cover conditions not related to the previous condition. Things have to be remembered here.

Be a proactive pet owner. "The injury or infection is to be treated as soon as possible, so that the matter does not deteriorate. Proper precautions can help avoid the appearance of other injuries or diseases related to the disease."

Maintain the vaccines of your pet up to date. Your pet is the last thing you want, because you didn't keep it up-to-date. Many insurers would refuse to claim if your pet becomes sick because they have not been vaccinated under the supervision of your doctor.

Compare pet insurance policies. While pet insurance may not cover incurable conditions, other medical costs will be covered. Compare the obvious elements, such as monthly prices and allowances, but also look at other aspects, such as waiting time, and when your pet gets older.

"You really have confidence that the insurer is your lifetime partner when you pick an insurance provider for your pet. This is really critical when it comes to claiming because if you move to a pet insurance company during your pet’s lifetime, any claims with your former insurance company will be handled by a new provider and therefore will not be protected," says Stone.

Early purchase pet insurance. "There must be financial burden vets bills for pet owners who have pets with pre-existing conditions. Accordingly, the early purchase of an insurable animal insurance policy will mitigate the costs of the same potential issue," says the Pets Best spokesman, Melissa Gutierrez.

Take alternative pet insurance. Companies such as Eusoh and Pawp provide insurance alternatives that provide a way to help cover the health costs of an animal. For example, Pawp provides up to $3,000 for emergency medical bills to a pet for up to $19 a month, including pre-existing conditions, to membership premium services.

See CompareInsurance Best pet Insurance ratings.