Pet Insurance Options for Pre-Existing Conditions
There is hope!
Hi there 👋 — I expect you’ve come here wondering if there are any insurance companies that cover pre-existing conditions, if it’s possible to get coverage for your pet with pre-existing conditions, what conditions are unlikely to be covered… or is pet insurance worth it if your pet has a pre-existing condition?
Sound about right? Great, you’ve come to the right place.
This article will cover:
- Pre-Existing Health Conditions in Pets
- Curable Pre-Existing Conditions
- Chronic Pre-Existing Conditions
- Breed-Specific and Genetic Conditions
- Buying Pet Insurance When Your Dog Or Cat Has a Pre-Existing Condition
- Handling the Costs of a Pre-Existing Condition
Look, there’s been a dramatic shift in the way pet owners think about their pets. More and more, “pet parents” are treating their furry friends like any other member of the family.
This trend has led more people to purchase health insurance coverage for their pets, not only to reduce vet fees but also to ensure they get the best veterinary care possible. In fact, more than two million pets had health insurance coverage in the United States and Canada by the end of 2017… and that number has grown in the past few years.
But this has also brought to light an all-too-familiar issue — one that is also central to the topic of human healthcare — the challenge of obtaining insurance with a pre-existing condition.
But, don’t fret — there are options for pets with pre-existing conditions!
Pre-Existing Health Conditions in Pets
A pre-existing health condition is a medical condition that was diagnosed before the pet’s health insurance took effect. So, from the perspective of the pet insurer, covering a pet with a pre-existing condition is high-risk. They’ll likely have to pay out far more in medical benefits to that pet’s family than to other policyholders.
Now, the reality is that no pet insurance plans cover pre-existing conditions (including congenital conditions if they are already diagnosed). However, you can still get your pet insured AND reduce the costs of treatment for pre-existing conditions. Let me tell you as a pet parent of a young cat with a pre-existing auto-immune disease — this is fantastic news.
Curable Pre-Existing Conditions
First off, some insurance providers do actually cover pre-existing conditions if they’re “curable” conditions (after a waiting period). Curable pre-existing conditions are present before the insurance policy kicks in, but it is possible for the pet to recover from them in time.
Curable pre-existing conditions in pets may include:
- Urinary tract infections
- Ear infections
- Upper respiratory infections
- Diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems
If your pet has been diagnosed with any of the above, once they’re cured you should be eligible for full coverage.
Chronic Pre-Existing Conditions
Now, a chronic condition is one that cannot be cured and will affect the pet throughout their lifetime. Such chronic pre-existing conditions are not covered by any pet health insurance plans (but there are assistance options).
Some of the most common chronic medical conditions in pets include:
- Allergies
- Arthritis
- Some breathing problems
- Cancer (including sarcoma)
- Diabetes
- Disc problems
- Hip dysplasia
- Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
- Some kidney diseases
- Patellar luxation
- Skin diseases
- Torn cruciate ligaments
Veterinary costs are no joke.
Each issue is potentially thousands of dollars.
The sooner you get insured the less “pre-existing” health issues you’ll have. If you sign up for insurance before your pet develops a chronic condition, you can dramatically reduce the costs of your vet bills.
NOTE: Many of the best plans found on Pawlicy Advisor have no annual coverage limit!
Breed-Specific and Genetic Conditions
While most pet insurance policies cover breed-specific and genetic conditions, they will not cover these conditions if they are diagnosed before you enroll in insurance coverage.
Again, this is why the best course of action is always to obtain pet insurance while your pet is young and healthy. This way, your pet will be covered by your insurance policy if they fall ill, get in an accident, and even if a chronic condition does develop.
Nonetheless, non-coverage of pre-existing conditions presents a significant challenge to those noble pet parents who wish to adopt older pets as well as those who wish to rescue animals from euthanasia.
If you’re struggling with this situation, don’t despair! Even if you’re shopping for pet health insurance and your pet has a pre-existing condition, you do have options.
Buying Pet Insurance When Your Dog Or Cat Has a Pre-existing Condition
Just because your pet has a pre-existing condition doesn’t mean you don’t qualify for pet insurance, nor does it mean you should forgo obtaining insurance. If your pet develops any other illness, not being covered could lead to significant out-of-pocket costs to get your pet the care they need.
PRO TIP: Pawlicy Advisor intelligently scans the fine print of over 300+ insurance comparison options to find the ideal pet insurance plan for you. It’s completely free, completely customized toward you and your pet, and amazingly powerful. I highly recommend you use Pawlicy Advisor’s insurance recommendation engine.
(The plan Pawlicy Advisor recommended for me and my cat, Greyson, is nearly identical to the one I’m currently using… except Pawlicy Advisor’s recommendation is 42% cheaper, and 55% cheaper than average.)
Pawlicy Advisor partners with leading pet insurance providers to give an objective, data-driven recommendation to cover accidents, illnesses, hereditary problems, dental diseases, and even prescribed medications. You’ll find plans with low deductibles, and you can use any veterinarian you like.
And as an added bonus, enrolling multiple pets (like Greyson’s sister, Babs) through Pawlicy Advisor grants me additional savings:
Most importantly, Pawlicy Advisor will find the ideal plan even if your pet has a pre-existing condition. It’s one of the questions you’ll answer in the analysis set up.
Handling the Costs of a Pre-Existing Condition
Even though you can’t get insurance coverage for your pet’s pre-existing condition, there are other ways you can prepare for the costs of treatment and reduce your overall vet bills.
Remember I mentioned my own cat, Greyson, having a pre-existing condition?
Pawlicy Advisor has an option to help you reduce the costs of your pet’s treatment regardless of whether they have a pre-existing condition or not. Because of a special partnership with PetAssure, you can get 25% off all your vet bills when you sign up for their Veterinary Discount Plan. Hallelujah!
Keep in mind you can only use this plan with participating vets, so don’t hesitate to call your local veterinarians to ask if they participate before enrolling.
Lastly, it’s important to prepare financially if your pet has a pre-existing condition that isn’t covered by insurance. Research the average yearly and lifetime costs of your pet’s condition, then put money aside so you can cover your vet bills for preventive care, wellness visits, and emergencies.
I highly recommend trying Pawlicy Advisor’s policy analyzer to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck when it comes to pet insurance.
*P.S. This is Greyson:
