Does pet insurance cover pre-existing allergies?

Allergies can affect your pet just like they can affect people. Pets can be allergic to many environmental factors such as dust, grass, pollen, dust mites, dander, mold, and even certain foods. These substances are typically harmless, but if your pets immune system mistakes them as harmful their body will respond with different symptoms such as excessive chewing or licking, itchy or scabby and crusty skin, watery eyes, or even vomiting and diarrhea. Pet allergies can make your pet miserable and significantly affect their quality of life but there are many ways your veterinarian can help you manage their symptoms. Unfortunately, if your pet has signs, symptoms, or a current diagnosis of allergies prior to enrolling into a pet insurance policy, they will likely not be covered.

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 depending on the policy terms.

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). It’s important to review your policy details to understand if your pet’s pre-existing allergies would be covered by your policy.

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.