Your dog has a medical condition and you’re faced with the reality that you may have to pay thousands of dollars to treat it. While you’ve always had dog insurance in the back of your mind, you’ve never followed through with it. The problem now is if dog health insurance for pre-existing conditions is available.
Pet Health Insurance Pre-Existing Conditions Covered?
No, pet health insurance will not cover pre-existing conditions. Pet insurance companies will not cover treatment for injuries or medical conditions prior to enrollment into a pet insurance policy.
But wait, before you leave swearing off pet insurance forever, there’s something you should know…
What do pet insurance companies regard as pre-existing conditions?
What Is Considered Pre-Existing Conditions
Many pet health insurance providers won’t cover any injuries or illnesses before the waiting period (the two weeks after enrolling in a pet insurance policy). However, there are a few that will cover curable conditions once resolved.
If your dog suffered from a curable pre-existing condition, but then suffered a reoccurrence, some pet insurers will cover the cost of treatment for the medical condition.
How Do Pet Insurers Know of Previous Health Conditions?
During the pet insurance plan enrollment process, the insurance company will request medical records from your veterinarian. They will review the records for lapses in care and require information from those times. This prevents people from dodging documentation of incurable pre-existing conditions by going to a different licensed vet.
What to Do About Pre-Existing Conditions and Pet Health Insurance
Unfortunately, since most pet insurers will not pay for active pre-existing conditions, as a pet owner, you’ll need to absorb the costs of veterinary care.
This does not mean that you should not consider obtaining accident and illness coverage in the future. There are many other illnesses and injuries that could occur, especially with older pets. Don’t ignore the lesson learned in this situation.
What To Consider When Getting a Pet Insurance Plan
With the knowledge that a pet insurance policy would have been a good idea when you start to shop for pet insurance providers, you should keep the following in mind.
- The waiting period after enrollment is usually about 2 weeks. This keeps pet parents from trying to use their new pet health insurance policy for an injury or illness that just occurred.
- It’s possible to save money by getting accident-only coverage or only illness coverage. Pet parents with younger pups may want to start with accident-only coverage and then add illness coverage when they have older pets.
- Most pet insurers have discounts available for multiple pets (including cats) and the military. Ask about potential discounts when discussing the details of a pet health insurance policy.
- While dog insurance doesn’t include routine care or preventative care coverage, many insurance companies have wellness plans that can be added to a policy. Ask about the wellness / routine care options that can be added as you decide on a pet insurance provider.
- Insurance companies have many coverage options available, so ask what you can include or disclude to meet your and your pup’s needs while remaining within your budget.
- If you have a dog that isn’t spayed or neutered, consider pet insurance for pregnant dogs. It’s a lot of money to care for a pregnant dog, but insurance can make it much more affordable.
Don’t Make the Same Mistake Twice
No pet owner should ever have to decide between vet bills and the life of their pet. Treatable or curable conditions like heart disease, hip dysplasia, and respiratory infections cost thousands of dollars, but you don’t have to pay that when you have health insurance for your pup.
Vet bills from veterinary care from a licensed vet are expensive because they are valuable. Let insurance companies worry about the money they deserve to extend your furbaby’s life.
When weighing the pluses and minuses of pet health insurance, always think about your peace of mind and financial future. Is the monthly cost of insurance worth both of them? For most pet owners, the answer is yes.
Additional Information on Dog Insurance:
Dog Insurance That Covers Hip Dysplasia
