Does pet insurance cover chronic conditions?

Yes, pet insurance policies generally cover chronic conditions unless they are pre-existing or diagnosed within the policy’s waiting period. These are long-term or recurring conditions that require ongoing treatment and medical management. Diagnostic tests, treatments, medications, and other necessary expenses related to chronic conditions are typically covered. If your pet has a pre-existing condition, there is, on average, a 14 day waiting period before your coverage begins. The waiting period begins on the first effective date of the applicable coverage. Any condition that occurs during an applicable waiting period is a pre-existing condition. 

If the pre-existing condition has been cured and hasn’t received any treatment or shown symptoms for at least 180 consecutive days, this may be considered a new occurrence and not treated as a pre-existing condition. Check your specific policy for the timeframe your pet must not have signs or symptoms of their condition to be considered cured.

There are two prevalent categories of pre-existing conditions: Curable and Incurable. The majority of pet insurance providers offer coverage for curable pre-existing conditions that have remained symptom-free for a consecutive period ranging from 180 days to 12 months.

Curable pre-existing conditions typically involve temporary health concerns that were successfully addressed and resolved prior to your insurance purchase. These can encompass issues such as respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, as well as episodes of vomiting and diarrhea.

In contrast, many pet insurance companies do not extend coverage to incurable pre-existing conditions. However, there are exceptions with a few carriers. After maintaining your policy for 365 days, there are many policies that may provide coverage for pre-existing conditions that other companies might deem incurable, such as allergies and chronic ear infections (subject to availability in certain states).

Example Chronic Condition	Average Recurring Monthly Cost
Diabetes: Diabetes is a common health issue in both dogs and cats. Managing your pets’ diabetes can be expensive.	Prescription Insulin: $70 – $150 Prescription Diabetic Food: $150 When you also consider the special food and regular vet visits, the overall expenses for treating diabetes in dogs can really add up.
Liver Disease: The cost of treating liver disease in a pet can vary based on the diagnosed condition, their overall health, and the type of care they require.	Ongoing Treatment And Medications: $250 Initial care and treatment can range from $500 – $2500 depending on your pets condition. Additional tests and follow up care can reach in the hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Cancer: There are many types of cancer a pet may develop in their lifetime. The cost of cancer treatment varies by type of cancer, diagnostic tests and procedures, and type of treatment required.	Ongoing Treatment: $150 – $600 If your pet needs chemotherapy, the cost per dose can range from $150 – $600. Treatment can last for a few months to a year depending on your pet’s condition. The overall cost of treating pet cancer can range from $10,000 – $30,000.