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, your insurance company may not pay to treat it. That’s because most pet insurance plans won’t cover pre-existing conditions. But there are a few exceptions.

To find the best pet insurance companies for pre-existing conditions, we started with highly rated insurers. We then looked for companies that cover existing health issues in certain situations. (Typically, it's when the condition is curable and hasn’t needed treatment for a minimum amount of time.) These are the companies that came out on top.

AKC pet insurance stands out in the pet insurance industry. It covers both curable and incurable pre-existing conditions once your pet has been insured for 365 consecutive days. Say your cat needs medicine for chronic kidney disease. 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. However, AKC’s policies won’t work for every pet. If you enroll a dog or cat over 9 years of age, they’ll be eligible only for accident coverage.

» READ MORE: AKC pet insurance review

Best for broad coverage: ASPCA

ASPCA plans cover more than most others, including dental illnesses and behavioral therapies. Although ASPCA doesn’t cover most pre-existing conditions, curable health issues are the exception. They must be 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 covers most curable pre-existing conditions as long as they’ve been symptom-free without treatment 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 other pets such as rabbits, birds, guinea pigs and snakes.

Nationwide doesn’t cover most pre-existing conditions. However, 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 quick claims: Pumpkin

Pumpkin has a service called PumpkinNow, which speeds up processing for claims of $500 or more. You could get reimbursement in your bank account as soon as 15 minutes after filing your claim.

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

Other companies to consider

Some other pet insurers aren’t on our list because they have longer waiting periods for curable conditions. For example, the following companies cover curable issues once they’ve been treatment- and symptom-free for at least 12 months:

• Embrace.

• Figo.

• Healthy Paws.

• Lemonade.

• Prudent Pet.

Does your employer offer MetLife pet insurance? If you switch from another policy to a MetLife group plan, MetLife will cover any conditions that the previous plan covered.

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

Insurance companies have this rule to prevent you from buying a policy only after your pet gets sick. Say your pet showed symptoms of 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'll generally pay for checkups and other preventive care 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. Incurable issues are rarely covered. But some insurers may cover curable ones after the pet has gone a while without symptoms.

Curable pre-existing conditions can heal completely with treatment. Some insurers will cover curable conditions if your pet remains symptom-free for 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 your pet will have for a lifetime. These include chronic diseases or conditions with no known cure. Insurance typically doesn'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: The best pet insurance companies

A bilateral condition involves body parts that come in pairs, like hips or knees. Examples include hip dysplasia and luxating patellas. Pet insurance may not cover bilateral conditions 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. Your pet insurance company may decide that ligament problems are a pre-existing condition. Therefore, it might not cover a future ligament issue on the left side.

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

Many plans 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 vet records when you apply for a policy or file your first claim. These records provide insight into any pre-existing conditions. If the history is unclear, insurers might require a vet exam.

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 hard. Here’s how to navigate the process.

Look for exceptions. Companies like the ones above may cover curable conditions if your pet has been symptom-free for a specified period. Meanwhile, AKC may cover even incurable conditions once you’ve had coverage for a year. (AKC’s coverage varies by state.)

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

Self-insure. If you have an older pet with health issues, insurance might be unaffordable or simply not cover your pet's problems. In these cases, you might be better off setting aside an emergency fund for vet care.

These tips may not help if your pet is sick right now and you’re already struggling with medical bills. See how to pay for vet care in an emergency for more immediate advice you can try.