Pet Insurance
Pre-existing Conditions Coverage

What are pre-existing conditions?

Put simply, a pre-existing condition is a medical condition diagnosed before a pet insurance policy begins or during a subsequent waiting period.

For example, an uninsured cat is diagnosed with diabetes. Once a pet parent enrolls them onto a pet insurance policy, diabetes would be considered a pre-existing condition and treated as such under the policy.

A pre-existing condition can also refer to symptoms or a related medical complaint recorded by a vet before a pet insurance policy begins or during a waiting period.

For example, an uninsured dog is taken to the vet for a limp. Once a pet parent enrolls their pet onto an insurance policy, any medical condition with limping as a symptom — such as hip dysplasia or patellar luxation — would be treated as a pre-existing condition.

With this in mind, it’s recommended to take out an insurance policy while a pet is still young, as they’re much less likely to have had any symptoms or medical conditions diagnosed by a vet.

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

Pet insurance providers are reluctant to include pre-existing conditions within coverage — this is to prevent pet parents enrolling a dog or a cat who is already sick or in need of veterinary attention onto a policy and immediately making claims.

If a pet has a pre-existing condition, it’s still possible to enroll them onto an insurance policy. However, any claims linked to the pre-existing conditions would usually be ineligible for reimbursement.

Some pet insurance providers do make an important distinction between incurable and curable pre-existing conditions, with recurrences of the latter eligible for reimbursement providing certain criteria are met.

Incurable and curable pre-existing conditions explained

An incurable pre-existing condition is a chronic illness or injury that can never be successfully treated. They usually require lifelong management to maintain a pet’s quality of life.

By contrast, a curable pre-existing condition is an illness or injury that can be successfully treated by a vet. It might reappear at a later stage of a pet’s life and it would depend on the specific pet insurance policy as to whether claims related to this recurrence would be eligible or not.

Incurable pre-existing conditions

Most insurers will have a list of incurable pre-existing conditions that are ineligible for reimbursements. This will differ from provider to provider, but pet parents can expect to see the following medical conditions.

Cancer

It’s estimated that 6 million dogs and 6 million cats are diagnosed with cancer each year, making it one of the most common medical conditions in pets. Cancer may be defined as an incurable pre-existing condition.

Arthritis

There are some cat and dog breeds more predisposed to arthritis, but it can be diagnosed in any variety. Arthritis cannot be cured, so it’s usually classified as an incurable pre-existing condition.

Diabetes

Another chronic medical condition that requires regular insulin injections and medication over the course of a pet’s lifetime — this means it falls within the definition of an incurable pre-existing condition.

Allergies

Pets can be allergic to a multitude of things, including different ingredients, pollen, dust mites, fleas and medication. Once diagnosed, an allergy will usually be considered an incurable pre-existing condition and ineligible for reimbursements.

Epilepsy

Epileptic seizures are very dangerous, so any susceptible pets will have to take daily medication and undergo regular veterinary assessments — these costs won’t be reimbursed if the diagnosis is made prior to a policy starting.

Heart Disease

There’s a long list of heart diseases that can be diagnosed in pets, including myxomatous mitral valve degeneration, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart arrhythmia — unfortunately, these are viewed as incurable pre-existing conditions.

Hip Dysplasia

A joint condition that can affect both cats and dogs, which leads to reduced movement and limping. Pet insurance providers usually define it as an incurable pre-existing condition.

Curable pre-existing conditions

Pet insurance providers that offer reimbursements for future incidences of curable pre-existing conditions will usually have a list of which illnesses and injuries qualify as such — these are some common examples.

Ear infections

This often occurs in pets with large or hairy ears, but it can usually be treated with medication or ear drops — as such, they’re often viewed as a curable pre-existing condition.

Urinary tract infections/bladder infections

Often signified by frequent urination or straining, UTIs and bladder infections are another frequently diagnosed — but easily treatable — condition.

Respiratory infections

Sneezing, coughing, fever — these are all symptoms of respiratory infections in pets, which can be cured with medication and rest if not too severe.

Gastrointestinal disorders

Many pets will undergo a gastrointestinal disorder at some point in their life, perhaps suffering from a bout of vomiting or diarrhea — the good news is that this usually clears up.

Broken bones

A broken bone can be painful for pets, but over time, it should heal — this is why many providers consider them to be a curable pre-existing condition.

How to find pet insurance with coverage for curable pre-existing conditions

Before enrolling a pet on an insurance policy, it’s important to check the provider’s approach to pre-existing conditions — you can do this by reading through a sample policy document or speaking to a representative directly.

Some insurance providers won’t reimburse any claims related to a pre-existing condition, but others will pay out for recurrences of curable pre-existing conditions.

However, certain criteria must be met. This is normally a time period for which a pet has to be free of symptoms or treatment from a previous incidence of the curable pre-existing condition. 

For example, Figo and Embrace will reimburse claims linked to a curable pre-existing condition, providing the pet has had no signs or symptoms related to the complaint in question in the previous 12 months.

It’s important to be truthful when it comes to supplying a pet’s medical information to an insurance provider. If a pet parent is later found to have knowingly supplied false information or made a dishonest claim, the insurance policy could be terminated. In severe cases, this could qualify as insurance fraud.

How to find pet insurance that covers incurable pre-existing conditions

There are very few providers that include incurable pre-existing conditions within the coverage, as it doesn’t make financial sense for insurers to pay veterinary bills for pets who are already ill.

However, there are some exceptions. For example, AKC Pet Insurance will offer reimbursements for both incurable and curable pre-existing conditions, but only after 365 days of continuous coverage.