Best Pet Insurance for Preexisting Conditions

It’s not easy to find the right pet insurance plan, especially if your animal has preexisting conditions. Read our guide to find the best pet insurance plans for preexisting needs.

Written by Brenda Woods Updated 11/18/2024

As a pet parent, the health and wellness of your furry friend is likely an ongoing concern. This is probably even more true if your pet has a preexisting condition, which may have led you to consider pet insurance.

Unfortunately, though, it may be tough finding pet insurance coverage for preexisting conditions. Read our guide below for tips on finding insurance that addresses your pet’s health needs and to learn what qualifies as a preexisting condition for a pet.

What Are Preexisting Conditions?

Preexisting conditions are injuries or illnesses to your pet that develop before buying an insurance plan or during the waiting period, which is the time between the purchase and the start of coverage. Preexisting conditions can be anything from allergies to hereditary conditions. Those who purchase an insurance policy after their pet starts exhibiting signs of illness can’t rely on their insurance provider to cover all medical treatments.

Pets with preexisting conditions usually qualify for pet insurance, but policies won’t typically cover those related medical expenses or vet bills. Insurance for pets with preexisting medical conditions might also be more expensive than insurance for pets without them. This is why it’s important to shop around and compare pet insurance rates before picking a wellness plan.

Types of Preexisting Conditions for Pets

Below are some common curable and incurable preexisting conditions for pets.

Curable Preexisting Conditions

Curable preexisting conditions are health issues that should heal completely with treatment. Many pet insurance companies cover curable preexisting conditions if your pet has been symptom-free for between six months and a year.

Kennel Cough: Kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease that dogs can contract at boarding facilities, doggy day cares, or dog parks. Dogs can spread kennel cough through direct contact, contaminated droplets, or contaminated surfaces.
Upper Respiratory Infections: Upper respiratory infections are a type of illness that features coughing, sneezing, and lethargy. These infections can be parts of other issues such as kennel cough or could be stand-alone ailments.
Cuts, Bruises, and Injuries: Cuts, bruises, and injuries are common among dogs who come into contact with other ones. Dogs can also incur these injuries if they touch sharp or dangerous objects such as barbed-wire fencing.
Broken Bones: Broken bones are common in dogs. They’re inconvenient for both pets and owners but heal over time with medication, proper bandaging, and therapy.
Urinary Tract (UTI) or Bladder Infections: A UTI or bladder infection occurs when bacteria enters the urinary tract. Dogs that have UTIs or bladder infections might urinate frequently or appear to experience pain while urinating.
Nonchronic Vomiting and Diarrhea: Vomiting and diarrhea accompany certain incurable conditions but can also be symptoms of brief but curable illnesses. Vomiting and diarrhea may be considered chronic if they’re recurring, but they’re nonchronic if they go away with proper treatment.

Incurable Preexisting Conditions

Incurable preexisting conditions are those that your pet will have for a lifetime. They include either chronic conditions or ones that don’t have a known cure, such as cancer.

Allergies: There’s no known cure for dog allergies, though vets can treat dogs to give them a strong quality of life.
Cancer: Cancer is common in dogs, and data suggests that up to 30% of dogs will develop cancer over their lifetimes. Insurance companies will consider a dog with cancer to have a preexisting incurable condition, even if the dog overcomes it.
Hip Dysplasia: Canine hip dysplasia is a skeletal condition that causes extreme pain and can lead to loss of function in a joint. It most commonly affects large-breed dogs.
Kidney Disease: Kidney disease, also known as renal or kidney insufficiency in dogs, can develop suddenly or over time. Cancer, hereditary conditions, and other factors may lead to kidney disease.
Epilepsy: Canine epilepsy is a neurological condition with no known cure. Plenty of treatments are available, though, and epileptic dogs can still live long and happy lives.
Diabetes: Dogs can suffer from either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes can be a manageable condition with treatment, but it could lead to serious illness or death if it goes untreated.
Arthritis: Arthritis makes walking difficult or painful for dogs and can affect the hips, back, and legs. While treatment for arthritis is available, there’s no known cure. Arthritis is most common in older dogs.

Pet Insurance for Preexisting Conditions

Pet insurance companies usually exclude pets with preexisting conditions from coverage since treating them is expensive and the life span of dogs is short. Insurance coverage for pets with preexisting conditions may only cover things such as preventive care and check-ups.

Bilateral Exclusions in Pet Insurance

A bilateral condition involves body parts that come in pairs such as hips, ears, eyes, and knees. Most pet insurance companies won’t provide coverage for bilateral conditions if they develop before you enroll in your policy.

Issues such as hip dysplasia or ligament conditions are subject to bilateral exclusions. If your dog suffered a torn ligament in its right front knee before you enrolled in a policy, for example, the insurance company might not cover treatment for the other knee down the road. Make sure to understand any company’s rules on bilateral exclusions before committing to a policy.

Determining Insurable Pet Conditions

Most insurance companies will run a medical history review on your pet to determine which conditions are preexisting curable conditions and which are preexisting incurable conditions. This review will likely include a deep dive into your pet’s veterinary records. After the insurance company completes a review, it will contact you with coverage options and let you decide if coverage suits your pet’s needs.

Finding the Right Pet Insurance Policy

Be proactive when shopping for the best pet insurance for preexisting conditions and aim to find a plan that suits your financial goals and gives your pet excellent care. Insurance companies will request all records relating to your pet’s veterinary care and treatment during the application process, so make sure to have all necessary paperwork ready. Stay up to date with vaccinations too since some insurance companies will deny claims if your pet gets sick due to missing them.

Get free quotes from different insurance companies, compare pet insurance costs, and keep track of potential deductibles and policy effective dates. Have a list of important questions prepared and keep track of exclusions from each pet insurance policy.

Popular Pet Insurance Companies

Each pet health insurance provider has its own policy on coverage for preexisting conditions. Below are the industry’s top pet insurance companies and some of their coverage policies:

AKC: Provides coverage for certain incurable and curable preexisting conditions after an initial waiting period of one year after enrollment.
Figo: Covers preexisting conditions if the conditions are curable.
Nationwide: Covers curable preexisting conditions if a pet has been symptom-free for six months.
MetLife: Covers some curable conditions with a wait time that depends on your policy.
Spot: Provides coverage for curable preexisting conditions after a wait time of 180 days without symptoms.

Consider the cost of the pet insurance plan you’re looking at and the reputation of the company in question when deciding on pet insurance. Read online reviews to see what other customers say about a certain company’s customer service and coverage.

Our Conclusion

Preexisting conditions can complicate the search for pet insurance since many carriers only offer coverage for pets with curable conditions. Research pet insurance companies and policies as much as you can before buying. Ask plenty of questions and keep a list of different policies and their related prices.

Keep records of your pet’s medical treatments including preventive care, any diagnosis your pet has received, and information relating to specific ailments. The pet insurance agency will need this information before providing you with coverage details. If you put in enough effort and research carefully, you can find the perfect insurance coverage for your furry friend.

FAQ About Pet Insurance for Preexisting Conditions

How do pet insurance companies know about preexisting conditions?

Pet insurance companies find out about your pet’s preexisting conditions by reviewing medical records from your veterinarian. They’ll evaluate any diagnosis your pet has had in the past and any predisposition to genetic conditions.

Can symptoms be considered preexisting conditions?

Symptoms can be considered preexisting conditions if those symptoms are directly connected to a diagnosis. If your pet has leg pain and a doctor diagnoses your pet with hip dysplasia, for example, that symptom can be considered a preexisting health condition.

Can I get pet insurance after a diagnosis?

Whether you can get a pet insurance plan after a diagnosis depends on the insurance company in question. Most pet insurance companies offer coverage for your pet after a diagnosis, but they might not cover treatment related to that diagnosis.

Can I get reimbursed for previous wellness services?

You might be able to get a reimbursement for previous wellness services, but you have to refer to your policy details to know for sure whether it was eligible.

What if a condition hasn’t been diagnosed yet?

If your pet has a condition that hasn’t been diagnosed yet, you may be eligible for the pet insurance policy of your choice. The pet insurance provider will still run a medical history check on your pet and can limit the illness coverage your pet receives.

Is pet insurance worth it?

Pet insurance may be worth it for pet owners who’d rather pay monthly premiums rather than cover unexpected and possibly expensive medical bills. Pet insurance covers many of the potential medical needs that your animal could face, though it won’t be worth it if your pet stays treatment-free.

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