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.
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.
Coles pet insurance will also cover cured pre-existing conditions. All you need to do is show proof from your vet that the condition is fully cured and you'll be covered for claims related to that illness in the future.
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.
Switching to a different insurance company could cost you money in the future.
There is a tendency to try and swap to a cheaper insurance company. But what you need to keep in mind is that the definition of pre-existing conditions, as well as the policies, vary from company to company. Before making the decision on a change of insurance companies, be sure you do your research and seek clarity on what your pet may not get covered for.
Dr Kate Adams, Bondi Vet
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| Response | WA | VIC | SA | QLD | NSW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 72.55% | 68.44% | 65.75% | 77.39% | 77.34% |
| 1 | 13.73% | 18.25% | 17.81% | 14.07% | 13.9% |
| 2 | 10.78% | 12.17% | 15.07% | 7.04% | 7.25% |
| 3 | 2.94% | 0.38% | 0.5% | 0.6% | |
| 4 | 0.38% | 1.37% | 1.01% | 0.3% | |
| 5 | 0.38% | 0.6% |
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:
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If your pet has a pre-existing medical condition, here's what you can do.
While they won't be covered for the recurrence of a specific illness, for example arthritis, they will still most likely be insured for an unrelated problem, for example an ear infection that develops after your insurance is in full swing.
If your pet has several pre-existing conditions and you're finding it hard to get cover, one way of minimising your likelihood of being hit with even larger vet bills is to purchase accident-only insurance. This covers a wide variety of health emergencies, ranging from snakebites to fractured bones.
If you've been hit with a pre-existing exclusion but your pet has gotten better and shown no signs of the condition for at least 18 months, you may be able to apply for a pre-existing condition review. These are considered temporary conditions and they normally resolve with treatment. However, you will generally find that chronic conditions and some other specified conditions will not be categorised as a temporary condition and will always be excluded from cover.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There is no single list of conditions that all insurers place in the "pre-existing" category, but the problems below generally make the grade.
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Hello,
My dog has a reduced vision and the vet has referred him to an eye specialist. I am going to see the eye specialist today. My dog a 6 year old labrador is very healthy and goes to the vet yearly for vaccinations only. No health problems at all.
Will any pet insurance company in Australia will cover this condition. What is the best option I have.
Deepika
Hi Deepika,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Your pet’s reduced vision may or may not be covered depending on the level of cover you take for your pet. So best to check this first with the insurer and if possible check the T&Cs/PDS of the policy first.
There are different brands you can choose from above list, you may click the name of your preferred insurance to know more the details and click on the green “Get Quote” to request for a quote from their official site.
Best regards,
Rench