6 Best Pet Insurance Companies for Pre-Existing Conditions

If your furry pal has a known health problem before you buy a pet insurance policy, chances are your insurance company won’t pay to treat it. That’s because most pet insurance plans won’t cover pre-existing conditions. But there are a few exceptions.

The best pet insurance companies for pre-existing conditions will cover previous health issues under certain circumstances — typically when the condition is curable and hasn’t needed treatment for a minimum amount of time. In addition, the companies below all have high NerdWallet star ratings based on coverage, consumer experience and other factors.

AKC pet insurance stands out in the pet insurance industry for covering both curable and incurable pre-existing conditions once your pet has been insured for 365 consecutive days. Say your cat needs medication for a chronic kidney condition. With AKC, you’ll need to pay for it yourself for the first year of the policy. After that, AKC will cover it in many states.

This is a unique feature, as most other pet insurance companies don’t cover incurable pre-existing conditions at all.

» READ MORE: AKC pet insurance review

Best for broad coverage: ASPCA

ASPCA pet insurance plans cover more than most others, including dental illnesses, behavioral therapies and complementary treatments like acupuncture. Although ASPCA doesn’t cover most pre-existing conditions, it makes exceptions for curable health issues that have been symptom- and treatment-free for at least 180 days. However, if your pet has had any knee or ligament issues in the past, those won’t be covered going forward.

» READ MORE: ASPCA pet insurance review

Best for straightforward waiting periods: Hartville

Hartville stands out for waiting periods that are easy to understand. A waiting period is the time between when you buy your policy and when the coverage takes effect. Hartville’s waiting period is 14 days for all accident and illness coverage, including orthopedic problems. (Some companies make you wait six months to a year for orthopedic injury coverage.)

Hartville will pay to treat all curable pre-existing conditions except knee and ligament issues as long as they’ve been symptom- and treatment-free for at least 180 days. Pre-existing knee and ligament problems are never covered.

» READ MORE: Hartville pet insurance review

Best for exotic pets: Nationwide

Nationwide is unique in providing coverage for not only dogs and cats but also a variety of other pets including rabbits, birds, guinea pigs and snakes. Although Nationwide doesn’t cover most pre-existing conditions, you can request a review if your pet hasn’t shown signs of a curable condition for at least six months. After the review, the company may agree to cover the condition.

» READ MORE: Nationwide pet insurance review

Best for high reimbursement rates: Pumpkin

All Pumpkin pet insurance plans reimburse 80% or 90% of your vet expenses once you’ve met your annual deductible, leaving you with fewer out-of-pocket costs than other, less generous plans. Pumpkin will cover most curable pre-existing conditions as long as they’ve been treatment- and symptom-free for 180 days. However, this doesn’t include knee or hind leg ligament problems.

» READ MORE: Pumpkin pet insurance review

Best for older pets: Spot

Spot may be a good pick if you have an older dog or cat, as it has no upper age limit for enrollment. The company generally doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. But if a condition is curable, and your pet has been symptom-free without treatment for 180 days, it may be covered. Knee and ligament conditions are an exception — they’re never covered if they occur before your policy’s start date or during a waiting period.

» READ MORE: Spot pet insurance review

Most pet insurance companies won't cover costs related to pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition refers to any illness or injury that occurred before you bought your pet's policy or during your waiting period.

Insurance companies put this rule in place to prevent you from buying a policy only after your pet gets sick. So if your pet showed symptoms of allergies or an ear infection before your policy started, pet insurance typically won’t pay to treat it.

Note that pre-existing conditions exclusions apply to accident and illness coverage. If you buy a wellness plan, it will generally pay for preventive care services like checkups and vaccinations regardless of your pet’s medical history.

» MORE: What does pet insurance cover?

Many pet insurance companies differentiate between curable and incurable pre-existing conditions. While incurable conditions are rarely covered, some insurance companies may cover curable ones after the pet has been symptom-free for a specific period.

Curable pre-existing conditions can heal completely with treatment. Some insurers will cover curable conditions if your pet remains symptom-free for a set amount of time, often six to 12 months.

Examples of curable pre-existing conditions might include:

• Respiratory infections.

• Urinary tract or bladder infections.

• Vomiting and diarrhea (non-chronic).

• Broken bones.

• Cuts and bruises.

• Kennel cough.

Incurable pre-existing conditions are those that your pet will have for a lifetime. These include chronic diseases or conditions with no known cure. Insurance policies typically don’t cover these conditions if they’re present before the policy starts or during a waiting period.

Examples of incurable pre-existing conditions might include:

• Allergies.

• Cancer.

• Diabetes.

• Arthritis.

• Chronic kidney disease.

• Hip dysplasia.

• Epilepsy.

• Heart disease.

» MORE: How much is pet insurance?

A bilateral condition involves body parts that come in pairs, like hips or knees. Pet insurance may not cover bilateral conditions like hip dysplasia if one side was affected before the policy began. If your pet previously had issues with one, insurers often exclude the other side, too, because the condition is likely to recur.

Say your dog tore her right cruciate ligament a year before you bought your policy. If she injured her left cruciate ligament later, after your policy’s effective date, the treatment may not be covered because the insurer considers ligament problems a pre-existing condition.

Hereditary conditions are diseases or disorders that your pet inherits from a parent, like Addison’s disease, elbow dysplasia or hypothyroidism. Congenital diseases are ones your pet develops at birth. (Some conditions may be both hereditary and congenital.)

Many pet insurance policies cover hereditary or congenital conditions as long as your pet hasn’t shown symptoms before coverage begins. Others have limitations or extra charges.

» MORE: Does pet insurance cover surgery?

Insurers will often ask for your pet's medical history or veterinary records when you apply for a policy or when you file your first claim. These records provide insight into any pre-existing conditions. In some cases, if the history is unclear, insurers might require a veterinary examination.

To avoid surprises, some insurers allow you to request a medical history review. This review gives you a full breakdown of what will be considered “pre-existing” for your pet. If your insurer differentiates between curable and incurable conditions, it can also tell you which of your pet’s issues might be covered after a symptom-free period.

Finding pet insurance for pets with pre-existing conditions can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Here’s how to navigate the process.

Look for exceptions. Some insurers may cover a condition they consider curable if your pet has been symptom-free for a specified period, usually six or 12 months. Companies like AKC cover all pre-existing conditions once you’ve had continuous coverage for a year, even if they’re incurable.

Review your pet’s medical history. This will give you a feel for what the insurance company might classify as pre-existing. Your veterinarian may be able to help clarify which conditions might be considered chronic or curable, and if pet insurance is worth it for your pet.

Enroll early. The sooner you sign your pet up for a health plan, the less likely they are to have existing issues.

Self-insure. If you have an older pet with one or more pre-existing conditions, pet insurance might be prohibitively expensive or simply not cover the medical problems your pet has. In these cases, you might be better off setting aside an emergency fund for health care expenses.