Pet insurance for pre-existing conditions

Pet insurance doesn't usually automatically cover pre-existing conditions, but many insurers do take your pet's personal circumstances into account. In some cases, if your vet advises that your pet's condition is now fully cured and is no longer relevant to their ongoing health, your pet can get covered for that ailment.

🐶🐱 What is a pre-existing condition for pets?

A pre-existing condition is an illness or ailment that existed prior to the date you took out a pet insurance policy for your dog or cat. It's generally something that you or your vet were aware of or that any reasonable person in similar circumstances would be aware of.

It doesn't matter whether the condition has been treated or diagnosed by a vet or not. If there are any noticeable signs your pet was unwell prior to being insured, then the condition causing the problem will be defined as pre-existing.

Can you get pet insurance for pre-existing conditions?

• Generally no, you can't get pet insurance for pre-existing conditions. If a condition exists or occurs before you take out a policy, it's likely to be excluded from cover as a pre-existing condition.

However, there are exceptions. Some insurers can cover pre-existing conditions on a case-by-case basis.​ For example, Vets Choice states that ​if your pet hasn't shown any signs or symptoms of a curable condition for a specific period of time (usually 18 months), you can apply for that pre-existing condition to be waived.

Even if you can't get cover for a pre-existing condition, pet insurance is still worth getting, not least because if your pet develops another illness while you hold a policy, you'll be covered. It can also help pay vet bills for accidents and some even cover routine care treatments like dental and vaccinations.

Request cover for your pet's pre-existing condition with these providers

Pre-existing conditions are typically assessed on a case-by-case basis. The likelihood of getting covered is up to each provider and also depends on whether the pre-existing condition is considered temporary or chronic. You can submit a request with the following providers:

Policy	Accidental Injury	Illness	Maximum Yearly Benefit	Paralysis Tick Benefit	Reimbursement Rate	Apply
Medibank Ultimate Pet Care			$15,000	$1,200	80%	Go to Site
Knose Dog Cover			$25,000	$25,000	70%, 80% or 90%	Go to Site
PIA Major Medical Cover			$15,145	$1,200	80%	Go to Site
Vets Choice Elite			$15,000	$2,500	100%	Go to Site
Kogan Pet Luxury			$15,000	$2,000	80% or 65%	Go to Site
Petsy Dog Accidental Injury & Illness Cover (Vet Select)			$25,000	$1,500	100%	Go to Site
Pet Secure Accident & Illness Cover			$12,000	$500	75% or 85%	Go to Site
RSPCA Ultimate Plus Accident & Illness Cover			$20,000	Up to $20,000 annual limit	80%	Go to Site
Bow Wow Meow Ultimate Care Plan			$20,000	$3,000	80%	More info
Woolworths Comprehensive Cover			$24,000	$1,500	80%	More info
Guide Dogs Premium Care			$20,000	$2,000	85%	More info
Real Premium Accident & Illness Cover			$12,000	$1,200	80%	More info
Guardian Platinum Accident & Illness Cover			$12,000	$1,200	80%	More info
Prime Sovereign Accident & Illness Cover			$14,000	$1,200	85%	More info
Australian Seniors Top Accident & Illness Cover			$12,000	$1,200	80%	More info
Bupa Ultimate Cover			$20,000	No specified limit	80%	More info
Petbarn Total Cover			No overall annual policy limit	No specified limit	100%	More info
Pounce Premium Cover			$20,000	$1,500	85%	More info
PROSURE Platinum Accident Injury & Illness Cover			$14,500	$1,000	80%	More info
1300 Comprehensive			$15,000	$500	75%	More info
ahm Accidental Injury & Illness Cover			$10,000	$1,000	80%	More info
HCF Pet Premium			$12,000	$1,200	80%	More info
HIF Top Cover			$15,000	$1,250	80%	More info
Petinsurance.com.au Accidental Injury & Illness Cover			$10,000	$1,000	80%	More info
PetMed Young Pets			$18,000	$1,000	80%	More info
RAC Dog Insurance			$12,000	No specified limit	80%	More info
RACQ Pet Insurance			$12,000	No specified limit	80%	More info

What you can do if your pet has a pre-existing condition

If your pet has a pre-existing medical condition, here's what you can do.

Can you take out pet insurance after diagnosis?

• Yes, you can take out pet insurance after the diagnosis of an illness, but you won't be able to claim for any treatments related to that condition — rather, it'll be listed as a pre-existing condition by your insurer and excluded from cover. When you make a claim, insurers will ask for the medical history of your pet. You can get this information from your vet.

Does lifetime insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Some insurers offer a lifetime cover guarantee. This means that they'll pay benefits towards treatment for your pet's chronic and/or recurring conditions as long as you keep your policy.

So as long as you get insurance before your pet has developed any conditions and continue paying premiums, your pet should be covered.

What are bilateral conditions?

In pet insurance, bilateral conditions typically fall under the umbrella of pre-existing health problems. The term "bilateral" refers to parts of your pet's body that have a "left" and "right" version, such as its ears or limbs. Bilateral conditions can affect the left side of your pet's body, the right side or both.

As an example, this means that if your pet suffers from dysplasia in its left hip, then dysplasia in its right hip will not be covered because it is considered to be pre-existing. This is despite the fact that only the left hip was previously affected.

What about insurance for older pets?

You can still get pet insurance for older dogs and cats, but they won't be covered for any pre-existing conditions they have.

Most insurers won't let you take out a policy after your furry friend reaches a certain age, usually 9 years old, but there are a handful that can cover your pet after they reach this age. You can find them here.

Are congenital conditions covered?

• Yes. Fortunately, most insurers agree to cover both congenital and hereditary disorders as long as there is no clinical indication of these affecting your pet's health until after the waiting period has elapsed.

Hereditary and congenital conditions are something that your furry friend is predisposed to since birth, rather than developing as a result of illness or injury. By definition, such conditions already exist at the time you purchase an insurance policy and may not affect your pet's health until later in life.

Remember though, you won't be covered for specific health problems mentioned in the list of exclusions on your insurance certificate, so check the product disclosure statement (PDS) before taking out a policy.

What conditions are normally excluded?

There is no single list of conditions that all insurers place in the "pre-existing" category, but the problems below generally make the grade.

Icons made by Freepik, Smashicons from www.flaticon.com