Meta Description: Are you allowed to purchase pet insurance after your pet has been diagnosed with a health issue? You can gain an insight into the subject of pre-existing conditions and their influence on the policy, as well as the elements that are not protected, and the most suitable courses of action.
đŸ Introduction
Pet insurance is a true relief when financially difficult times come, yet does it apply if your pet is already recognized as a patient? Is it additionally possible to be included in the insurance coverage of a new occurrence of such illness? Can I be partly instrumental in the expense by a forward-looking policy? These are the questions everyone faces when the pet is insured.
The solution is not oneâit is based on how companies set pre-existing conditions and what kind of compensation you are eligible for.
We will now go through this subject.
What Does a Pre-Existing Condition Mean?
A pre-existing condition is a health issue, injury, or illness that your pet showed signs of or was treated for before your pet insurance policy came into effect.
For example, these can be:
- Known diseases (e.g., diabetes, arthritis, cancer)
- Undiagnosed complaints (e.g., vomiting, limping)
- Seasonal ailments
- Old operations or wounds
As âalready knownâ is the term that insurers use to refer to those conditions which they will usually exclude from coverage even if the official diagnosis was made later.
đ« Does Pet Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
In most cases, no. Regular pet insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. The rule holds good though the following was the case:
- The condition was not good or got cured
- The pet, although not officially diagnosed, exhibited symptoms
- You did not know about the condition when you made the application
Example:
If your cat had a urinary tract infection last year, most insurers will exclude urinary-related treatments going forward, even if the infection returns.
Do Some Pre-Existing Conditions Get Automatically Covered?
Certain insurance companies define treatable not severe pre-existing conditions as curable pre-existing conditions. These conditions include the following:
- Were treated successfully
- Have not shown symptoms for a certain time (usually 6â12 months)
Conditions That Could Be Reconsidered for Coverage:
- Ear infections
- Respiratory infections
- Minor gastrointestinal issues
The assumption is that as long as the symptoms are absent for a defined period, some insurers (such as ASPCA, Spot, or Embrace) may allow the subsequent claims for those specific issues.
đ How Does Getting Insured Right After Diagnosis Affect Me?
As soon as you apply for insurance plans immediately after a diagnostic, the condition in question will be under the “pre-existing” category and therefore, excluded. Here are the exceptions:
- You can still get coverage for new and unrelated illnesses or accidents.
- It still might be cost-effective in the long run.
Illustration:
If your pet’s latest diagnosis is hip dysplasia, its treatment won’t be coveredâbut should his leg break next year or a new disease develop, the latter would be admitted (after the waiting time).
Options You Might Consider for Pets with Pre-Existing Conditions
In case your pet is uninsurable due to certain conditions, look at the following alternatives:
1. Pet Wellness Plan
- Goes beyond the regular care and includes services such as vaccinations, dental checkups, and routine exams.
- The wellness plan does not look at the history of the pet’s health.
2. Discount Pet Health Programs
- Affords low cost of services through the networks
- Not subjected to underwriting or exclusions
3. Savings Fund
- There is to be a separate emergency account for pet medical situations.
- Particularly advantageous for chronic or recurrent cases
4. Specialty Coverage
Some companies provide special medical insurance plans for pet injuries only, subject to limitations, which nevertheless cover the pet against new health conditions, that is, even with previously existent issues
Professional tip: Obtain Pet Insurance in the Initial Stages of Your Pet’s Life
Pet insurance enrollment is highly recommended when your pet is just a little fluffy ball of health. The sooner you can enroll:
- The less health problems your pet will have (thus, fewer exclusions)
- The cheaper the monthly premium
- And the more complete the coverage will be
Thereafter when a health problem is recorded, it is almost 100% that it will not be paid for by an insurer.