Prior to beginning the process of acquiring pet insurance, it is crucial to comprehend what constitutes a pre-existing condition and how to save money on a coverage. The Getty Images/iStockphoto collection
When your beloved buddy suffers from a sickness or injury, pet insurance can help you cover costly veterinary costs. Depending on your policy’s selections, your insurer may reimburse you for up to 90% of qualified veterinary expenses.
Unfortunately, if your pet has a pre-existing ailment, it may not be covered by your pet insurance. According to, it may be advisable to enroll your pet in pet insurance when they are still young so that they are covered if they acquire a problem that requires treatment in the future.
If you’re contemplating pet insurance, contact a professional who can provide you with a free quotation so you know just what to expect.
Prior to beginning the process of acquiring pet insurance, it is crucial to comprehend what constitutes a pre-existing condition and how to save money on a coverage.
Insurance for pets and preexisting diseases
As its name implies, a pre-existing condition is any illness or injury that existed prior to the policy’s effective date. Due to the considerable risk that preexisting diseases pose, pet insurance carriers typically do not cover them. Many pre-existing conditions can be costly, and given the shorter lifespan of pets compared to people, pet insurers may not have the time to collect the monthly premiums required to offset claim payouts for pre-existing conditions.
When you file a claim, your insurer will seek your pet’s veterinarian records in order to examine the claim and determine whether or not the ailment existed before you purchased pet insurance. When applying for a coverage or reporting a claim, always be honest and forthright, as intentionally misleading your insurer could be deemed insurance fraud.
How animal owners can save cash
The presence of a pre-existing condition in your pet will not preclude you from obtaining pet insurance. You will not be covered for the pre-existing condition, but you will be covered for new, unrelated conditions.
Even if your pet has a pre-existing condition, you have a few choices for reducing your animal care expenses. There are discounts available for some senior citizens, veterans, and other groups.
Another alternative is to seek assistance from charitable groups that may assist with the cost of veterinary treatment. The Humane Society provides a comprehensive list of nonprofit organizations that offer financial aid to pet owners, including breed-specific organizations.
And don’t hesitate to consult with an expert in pet insurance who can assist you in creating a policy that is both cost-effective and dependable.
If your pet does not have a pre-existing condition, there should be minimal, if any, barriers to coverage. However, you should work with an affordable pet insurance provider that offers a variety of services for their plans. Some coverage options may be offered by one pet insurance provider but not by another. Consequently, it is prudent to compare multiple pet insurance policies to obtain the greatest deal. Utilize the table below to begin.
Consider these possibilities if you’re trying to reduce your premiums.
Raise your deductible: Your deductible is a major element in determining your insurance prices. In general, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium will be, as you will be responsible for a greater portion of the upfront cost of pet care.
Minimize your reimbursement percentage: You can reduce your monthly premium by reducing the reimbursement proportion you receive for your veterinarian’s bills. The majority of insurance cover between 70% and 90% of veterinary expenses.
Choose a reduced benefit amount: Additionally, you can minimize your monthly price by modifying your coverage. By going from unlimited coverage to $5,000 worth of yearly coverage, we may reduce the premium on a sample policy from $92.21 per month to $45.70 per month when analyzing Spot insurance.
Select an accident-only policy: Typically, accident-only policies offer the most cost coverage. Accident-only coverage is available for as little as $15 per month for dogs and $7 per month for cats.
Make the most of discounts: Most pet insurance providers offer discounts ranging from reduced prices for veterinarians and their workers to savings for several pets. Spot gives a 10% discount on additional dogs added to an existing coverage. Lemonade also offers a discount for bundling pet insurance with other plans, such as homes or renters insurance.
Consult with your vet: Your veterinarian is knowledgeable with your pet’s health, as well as the health of related breeds and types. They can assist you in tailoring a policy so that you only pay for the coverage that you require.
Curable vs. incurable pre-existing diseases
A curable ailment is any symptom, sickness, or condition for which your pet has been effectively treated and may eventually qualify for coverage. Commonly treatable illnesses include ear infections, urinary tract infections, and upper respiratory infections.
In contrast, preexisting illnesses such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, and epilepsy that are incurable can never be healed. Instead, pet owners and doctors seek to manage these illnesses and make life as comfortable as possible for our animal companions.
You cannot obtain coverage for an incurable pre-existing ailment, but you may be able to insure a curable condition provided you meet the conditions of your insurance carrier. The majority of pet insurance demand at least six months without symptoms for an illness to be considered cured. A pre-existing condition that has been symptom-free and untreated for at least 12 months is deemed cured by Lemonade. This condition “may be eligible for coverage in states that qualify”
Don’t forget
Even without a diagnosis of a specific ailment, symptoms may be considered pre-existing if they were observed prior to registering in your pet insurance policy and they are incurable. Say, for instance, that your pet’s veterinary records demonstrate hip dysplasia symptoms, such as a decreased range of motion or weakness in the hind legs, from before you purchased insurance. If your dog is later formally diagnosed with hip dysplasia, your insurance may interpret the previously reported symptoms as a pre-existing condition and deny coverage. If the signs indicate a treatable illness, your coverage will likely pay the therapy.
If your dog or cat is in good health and shows no signs of illness or disease, consider purchasing pet insurance now while you have more coverage options and affordable rates. If a health problem develops in the future, you will likely continue to be covered at your existing rate.