Pet Insurance That Covers Pre-Existing Conditions
Updated October 29, 2024 at 12:56 pm
It’s generally a good idea to sign up for pet insurance when your pet is young and healthy, as most pet insurance plans don’t cover pre-existing conditions. You can still get coverage at any time for conditions that haven’t presented themselves yet, but you won’t be able to get coverage for conditions your pet already had before you purchased your plan.
For example, if your dog has diabetes or your cat has arthritis, neither of those conditions would get covered if you didn’t already have an active insurance plan. That said, some providers make exceptions for curable pre-existing conditions fully treated before your coverage. Here’s a closer look at pet insurance that covers pre-existing conditions and how providers distinguish between incurable and curable conditions.
Key Takeaways - Pet insurance providers don’t cover incurable pre-existing conditions that your pet had before you purchased a plan, such as diabetes, arthritis or epilepsy.
- You may be able to get coverage for curable pre-existing conditions, such as an ear or respiratory infection, if your pet has been symptom-free for a certain period.
- The fine print of your pet insurance plan details what conditions your plan covers and which ones it doesn’t.
Our Methodology When evaluating pet insurance companies for this page, our team put primary focus on a few key details:
- Coverage of curable vs. incurable conditions: Most plans may differentiate between curable and incurable conditions to determine coverage. A few pet insurance companies may cover both curable and incurable conditions, so we made sure to prioritize these outliers as well.
- Waiting Periods: Regarding coverage for pre-existing conditions, some plans have timeframes within which a pet can be considered treated and symptom-free. In these instances, a condition may no longer be considered pre-existing, and coverage could be included. We elected to choose companies with waiting periods of 365 days or shorter.
- Costs: We selected plans with more reasonable costs associated with different levels of coverage. Some costs considered include monthly premiums, deductibles and reimbursement rates.
Pet Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions
Does Pet Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
Most pet insurance companies do not cover pre-existing conditions, also known as illnesses and diseases that afflict your pet before they are insured. This lack of coverage tends to be the industry standard in an effort to manage premium costs for all clients insured by a particular company. You’ll need to read a plan’s fine print to determine if this type of coverage is available.
It’s recommended that you enroll your pet in coverage as early as possible. This way, if your pet develops any chronic conditions later in life, those issues are more likely to be covered by your insurance.
What Are Pre-Existing Conditions for Your Pet?
A pre-existing condition is one that presented itself before you purchased your pet insurance plan or during your plan’s waiting period. If your pet showed symptoms, received a diagnosis or experienced treatment for an illness before your policy began, that’s a pre-existing condition.
Pet insurance companies typically cover accidents and illnesses that occur in the future, not ones that occurred in the past. However, some companies distinguish between incurable and curable pre-existing conditions.
An incurable pre-existing condition requires ongoing medical treatment and care, while a curable pre-existing condition has been successfully treated and may not recur. Pet insurance companies don’t cover incurable pre-existing conditions but may cover curable ones.
Note that you can still purchase a pet insurance plan if your pet has a pre-existing condition. You’ll get coverage for any accidents or illnesses that haven’t happened yet and may also be able to add coverage for wellness and preventative care. However, your plan won’t cover specific pre-existing conditions previously documented.
Vault’s Viewpoint: Is Pet Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions Worth It?
While most pet insurance companies do not cover pre-existing conditions, it’s still worth it for covering future accidents or illnesses. Additionally, some providers cover curable conditions, and to save on costs, you can opt for plans with lower annual limits, higher deductibles, or accident-only coverage. Lastly, if you have a younger pet with few pre-existing conditions, a full coverage plan could be beneficial for you, since the risk of costly conditions like cancer or orthopedic disease increases as your pet ages.
Curable vs. Incurable Pre-Existing Conditions
Curable Pre-Existing Conditions
Curable pre-existing conditions aren’t chronic or expected to recur. For example, let’s say your pet had an ear infection in the past but received successful treatment, and it won’t happen again. In this case, your pet insurance plan may cover future ear infections.
Some plans may also require that your pet has been symptom-free for a certain period, such as six months or a year. For example, the ASPCA® will cover curable pre-existing conditions if your pet hasn’t experienced symptoms for 180 days, except for knee or ligament conditions.
Along with ear infections, here are some examples of curable pre-existing conditions that your pet insurance would cover:
- Urinary tract infections
- Respiratory infections
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Gastrointestinal issues
| Curable Condition | Average Treatment Cost | Covered If Insured Before Diagnosis? |
| Urinary tract infections | $1,053+ | Yes |
| Respiratory infections | $200+ | Yes |
| Diarrhea | $200+ | Yes |
| Vomiting | $400+ | Yes |
| Gastrointestinal issues | $200 – $500+ | Yes |
Incurable Pre-Existing Conditions
However, pet insurance companies don’t cover incurable pre-existing conditions. These are conditions that will likely require continual vet visits and ongoing medication and may include:
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Cancer
- Orthopedic conditions
- Hip dysplasia
- Heart disease
- Allergies
- Arthritis
| Incurable Condition | Average Treatment Cost | Covered If Insured Before Diagnosis? |
| Allergies | $200 – $500+ | Yes |
| Diabetes | $1,600-$2,900+ | Yes |
| Arthritis | $255+ | Yes |
| Heart disease | $1,140+ | Yes |
| Cancer | $4,000+ | Yes |
Note that your pet insurance plan will cover the above conditions if your pet develops them after your policy begins. That said, every policy is different, so read the terms and conditions carefully to learn which conditions your provider considers curable versus incurable.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Bilateral Illnesses and Conditions?
Some insurance companies also don’t cover pre-existing bilateral illnesses or conditions. These are conditions that impact the left and right sides of the body, such as cataracts, hip dysplasia or cruciate ligament tears.
If your pet has one of these conditions on one side of their body, there’s a good chance they could develop the same issue on the other side. For example, if your dog has hip dysplasia on their right side before your insurance policy begins, you may not get covered in the future if they develop hip dysplasia on their left side.
When reviewing your pet insurance plan, check to see if bilateral conditions are among the conditions excluded from your coverage. If you don’t have an emergency pet fund or savings account to pay for out-of-pocket veterinary costs, check out these best credit cards for pet owners or consider one of the best emergency loans to cover your expenses.
Is Pet Insurance Worth It if Your Pet Has a Pre-Existing Condition?
Whether or not pet insurance is worth it in general will be up to each individual and their pet’s needs. If your pet has pre-existing conditions, purchasing pet insurance could still be worth it. Even if your pet has a pre-existing condition, it could be predisposed to developing other, unrelated medical conditions that could still be pricey. Investing in pet insurance can be worthwhile to manage medical expenses beyond your pet’s pre-existing condition.
Many pet insurance plans have add-ons you can put onto your policy to customize for your pet’s needs. You can choose to save with basic accident and illness insurance or pay for the add-ons and extras that you will give you and your pet the coverage needed.
Pet Insurance Policies That Cover Pre-Existing Conditions
Some pet insurance companies are more lenient with pre-existing conditions than others. Here are some providers that offer more flexibility with curable pre-existing conditions, along with details about their annual coverage limits, reimbursement rates and deductibles.
Lemonade
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
Lemonade pet insurance plans come with flexible, customizable options to build the best coverage you need for your pet. Its robust set of preventative care packages can make getting more comprehensive coverage for your pet a breeze.
Policy Highlights
Covers curable pre-existing conditions if your pet has been symptom- or treatment-free for 12 months, though rules can vary by state
Embrace
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
With Embrace pet insurance, policy holders will get to experience many perks outside of the normal coverage options if they meet certain criteria. For example, there’s a 10% multi-pet discount for insuring more than one pet under the same plan. You can also opt into the company’s Wellness Rewards program for even more perks and coverage benefits.
Policy Highlights
Covers curable pre-existing conditions if your pet has been symptom- and treatment-free for 12 months
ASPCA
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
The ASPCA pet insurance plan boasts having some of the most comprehensive coverage plans available in its popular Complete Coveragesm plan. This particular plan includes coverage for behavioral issues, dental diseases and alternative therapies. The ASPCA is also known as one of the more friendly insurance providers for older pets.
Policy Highlights
Covers curable pre-existing conditions (except knee and ligament tears) if your pet has been symptom- and treatment-free for 180 days
Paw Protect
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
Paw Protect, a pet insurance company powered by Embrace pet insurance, offers a few key extras that may be helpful to pet parents. One of these features is a 24/7 live vet chat, which can help guide you on different medical options for your pet in real time.
Policy Highlights
Covers curable pre-existing conditions if your pet has been symptom- or treatment-free for 12 months
AKC
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
AKC pet insurance is one of the only pet insurance companies that covers both curable and incurable preexisting conditions. People who breed pets can also invest in flexible breeder coverage and other customizable features with this insurance plan.
Policy Highlights
Covers curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after 365 days of continuous coverage.
Spot
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
Spot Insurance is one of the more well-known pet insurance companies on the market. It offers flexible plans with coverage for everything from exam fees and preventative care to prescription foods. Spot insurance has no upper age limit, so it could be a better fit for people looking for coverage for senior pets.
Policy Highlights
Covers curable conditions if your pet has been symptom and treatment-free for 180 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dog Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
Dog insurance doesn’t cover incurable pre-existing conditions that require ongoing medical care, such as diabetes, arthritis, allergies or cancer. However, some dog insurance plans may cover curable pre-existing conditions if your pet has already received treatment and hasn’t exhibited additional symptoms for six or 12 months. Curable pre-existing conditions may include ear infections, respiratory infections or vomiting. Read over your policy to find out about its specific coverage and exclusions.
How Does Pet Insurance Know if Your Dog Has a Pre-Existing Condition at the Time of Enrollment?
Pet insurance providers often require medical records or a veterinary exam to learn about your pet’s health before you enroll. Any documented symptoms, diagnoses or treatments that occurred before your plan begins would be pre-existing conditions.
Can Pet Insurance Ever Be Applied Retroactively?
Unfortunately, pet insurance cannot be applied retroactively. It only covers issues that occur after your policy start date. Some plans offer coverage right away, while others have a waiting period that spans a week or two (or longer).
Editorial Disclosure: We may receive a commission from affiliate partner links included on our site. However, this does not impact our staffs’ opinions or assessments.
