Pet Insurance That Covers Pre-Existing Conditions
Pets are often considered members of the family by their owners. When your pet gets sick, you might not be able to pay for the health care expenses out of pocket. No pet owner wants to have to choose between their pet's life and their finances. However, when disease, illness or accidents strike, many pet owners choose not to, or simply do not have the resources, to spend the money necessary to save it.
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Curable
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Some insurances offer family plans for multiple pets. Many pet insurance carriers list conditions that are considered curable and incurable. There is usually a waiting period of three to 12 months if your pet has experienced symptoms that are considered curable, such as respiratory, urinary tract, bladder infections, vomiting and diarrhea, prior to coverage. From the first day your pet is covered under your new insurance, if re-occurrence of these symptoms occurs during the stipulated waiting period they will not be covered. After the waiting period ends, any re-occurrence of the symptoms will be considered unrelated and will be covered.
Chronic
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There are some conditions that will not be covered by insurance. Pre-existing conditions considered chronic, such as cancer, thyroid disease, diabetes, allergies or skin lumps, will not be covered by insurance, and any conditions or symptoms that are deemed related to the chronic condition will not be covered. For example, if your pet has cancer, any cancer that metastasizes will be deemed as related and will not be covered.
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Warning
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Pure-bred animals are know for having certain genetic weaknesses inherent to the breed. Some insurance companies do not cover diseases or injuries that your pet is considered at high risk for due to the genetic predisposition of its breed. If you are the owner of a pure-bred animal, you need to know what your pet is at high risk for and whether your insurance company will cover it.
Medical History
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It is recommended that a medical history review be performed on your pet prior to coverage. This actually works in the owner's benefit because you do not want to be under the impression that insurance will cover a procedure and find out that it is not covered. The company for you and your pet will depend on your pet's health and how much you are willing to pay a month. The prices vary, often significantly, depending on the pet and plan coverage.
Pros
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Although pre-existing coverage and any complications they bring on are not covered by many companies, pets are still eligible for full accident coverage. Due to most companies' rules on pre-existing conditions, it is in the pet owner's best interest to take out insurance when the pet is young and before pre-existing conditions can develop. Most pets are eligible for insurance starting at around 8 weeks of age. In addition to insurance, you can consider health programs that give discounts on check-ups and prescriptions. These healthy programs that are often offered through vets.
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References
- Photo Credit sick and poor kitten waiting for your assistance image by Vladimir Melnik from Fotolia.com Puppies of the spitz-dog and cat in studio image by Ulf from Fotolia.com
