Does pet insurance cover hereditary or congenital conditions?

Some pet insurance policies offer coverage for treating and managing your pets hereditary or congenital conditions. These are conditions that your pet may be genetically predisposed to or are present at birth. Hereditary conditions are unique to certain breeds and can impact their health. Congenital and hereditary conditions are conditions that your pet is born with. Some of these conditions may include umbilical hernias, cleft palates, or more serious conditions, such as a porto-systemic shunt. These conditions don’t quite fall under the “illness” or accident” categories and many insurance policies offer coverage for congenital and hereditary conditions to fill in the gaps.

Pet insurance policies enforce a waiting period before covering pet accidents or illnesses. The waiting period begins on the first effective date of the pet insurance policy and can be between 2 and 14 days long depending on the specific policy terms. In general, any condition that occurs during an applicable waiting period is a pre-existing condition and won’t be eligible for coverage.

However, pet insurance policies that cover hereditary and congenital conditions may have a separate waiting period from their accident and illness waiting periods. It’s important to review your pet insurance policy, terms, and conditions to understand if your policy covers hereditary and congenital conditions and when coverage begins.

It’s important to remember that congenital conditions are present from birth, even if symptoms show up later on in life. These can encompass a variety of conditions like heart disease, nervous system conditions, and liver or kidney disease. Learn more about how genetics can influence your pet’s well-being on our website. It’s important to review your pet insurance policy terms carefully to understand if your pets hereditary or congenital condition is covered.

Let’s explore how a pet insurance policy that covers hereditary and congenital conditions can help with the associated veterinary expenses. For example, treating hip dysplasia without insurance costs $4,000 but an insurance policy with an 80% reimbursement rate reduces your cost to $1,200. Medical treatment and surgery for porto-systemic shunts without insurance may cost $4,500 but with an insurance policy with an 80% reimbursement rate treating your pet would only cost $1,300.

Estimated Vet Bill for Hip Dysplasia

Total Vet Bill $4,000	You Pay This At Time Of Service Need help with up front expenses? Check out Vet Spend
Insurance Coverage -$2,800	Insurance Reimbursement (Here’s The Math) Total Vet Bill: $4,000 Your Deductible: – $500 Eligible For Reimbursement: = $3,500 Reimbursement Rate: x 80% = $2,800
Your Final Cost $1,200	You Saved 70% With Insurance!

Estimated Vet Bill for Porto-Systemic Shunt Treatment

Total Vet Bill $4,500	You Pay This At Time Of Service Need help with up front expenses? Check out Vet Spend
Insurance Coverage -$3,200	Insurance Reimbursement (Here’s The Math) Total Vet Bill: $4,500 Your Deductible: – $500 Eligible For Reimbursement: = $4,000 Reimbursement Rate: x 80% = $3,200
Your Final Cost $1,300	You Saved 71% With Insurance!

Can you get pet insurance retroactively?

Pet insurance can be purchased anytime however coverage cannot be provided retroactively. If your pet exhibits signs of an illness or injury prior to obtaining the policy or during the waiting period, it is classified as a pre-existing condition and is generally not eligible for coverage.

Please note that specific coverage details and exclusions may vary depending on the insurance provider and the policy you choose. It’s essential to carefully read the policy terms, ask questions to the insurance provider, and ensure you understand the coverage and limitations before enrolling in a pet insurance policy.