Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

No, pet insurance generally does not cover pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are illnesses or injuries that exist before enrolling in the insurance policy. It’s important to disclose any pre-existing conditions during the enrollment process, as they are typically excluded from coverage. Failure to report pre-existing conditions at enrollment can cause delays in claims processing and may result in your policy being cancelled.

Please note that specific coverage details and exclusions may vary depending on the insurance provider and the policy you choose. It’s important to carefully review your policy terms, ask questions to the insurance provider, and ensure you understand the coverage and limitations before enrolling in a pet insurance 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 or has an existing diagnosis when at the time your policy begins, it will be considered a pre-existing condition and generally will not eligible for coverage.

If your pet has a pre-existing condition, there is, on average, a 14 day waiting period for: Diagnosis, treatment, or surgery related to accidents, illnesses, and ligament and knee conditions. 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. 

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.

If your pets pre-existing condition has not shown symptoms and hasn’t required treatment for at least 180 consecutive days, it may be considered a new occurrence and not treated as a pre-existing condition under your pet insurance policy. Review your policy for the timeframe your pet must not have signs or symptoms of their condition to be considered cured.

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.

Still, there are pet insurance companies that do not extend coverage to incurable pre-existing conditions. However, there are exceptions with a few carriers. After maintaining your policy for 365 consecutive 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).

Pet Insurance Company	Accident Coverage	Illness Coverage
	14 Days	14 Days
	3 Days	14 Days
	14 Days	14 Days
	5 Days	30 Days
	2 Days	14 Days
	2 Days	14 Days
	1 Days	14 Days
	Immediate	14 Days
	14 days	14 days
	3 days	14 Days
	2 Days	14 Days
	2 Days	14 Days
	15 Days	15 Days
	14 Days	14 Days
	14 Days	15 Days
	2 Days	14 Days