Sometimes our furry friends get sick and have health conditions that stick with them for a long time.
It can be difficult to know, as a pet owner, whether or not you can get your pet's pre-existing conditions covered when you need it most.
How does a pre-existing condition or other health problems impact the type of pet insurance you can have?
If you're interested in learning more about pet insurance for your pet, keep reading to see what you can find out.
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What Are Pre-Existing Conditions in Pets?
Pet owners know that the health of their pets is just as important as the health of a human. When pets get sick or are having health problems, it can lead to worse and worse symptoms just like it does in people.
Pre-existing conditions in pets are the same as what you may think they are for humans. They would be conditions that a pet had before you purchased an insurance policy.
If the condition pops up during the waiting period before you actually have the pet insurance, but after you signed up, it still counts as a pre-existing condition as well.
Another thing to remember is that a pet insurer can say a condition that wasn't known about during the waiting period, but was still present, can be counted as pre-existing as well.
One of the best ways to know for sure what is considered a pre-existing condition and what is not is to go through the pet insurance policy very carefully with the help of a team member that knows the policy well. Do this before you make any decisions to know what you are getting.
A lot of the insurance companies out there that offer pet insurance will not cover pre-existing conditions, although some do for an extra price. It is always good to insure your pet as soon as possible to keep them safe, but also to avoid dealing with this problem in the future!
Why Wouldn't Pet Insurance Cover Everything?
It may seem like the insurance companies that don't cover pre-existing conditions are just being mean, but it actually makes sense.
The main idea behind insurance is that it protects someone from something that may happen in the future and cause loss to happen. If you have car insurance, for example, you're protecting yourself from something that hasn't happened yet and may not happen at all.
If every insurance company insured all pets that had a pre-existing condition, they would suffer from loss. They would lose money and although they care about our pets, they still are businesses that require profit to function.
If all insurance companies covered conditions that had been around previously, people would just wait until their pets were sick to get the insurance. That's not meant to be the purpose, so it makes sense that insurance companies want you to be more proactive.
It's hard for our pets to tell us when something is wrong. If they aren't feeling well, you can sometimes tell by behavior, but they definitely can't tell us with words. This is why taking your pet to the vet often is important and having your pet's medical history handy will help you in the long run.
Conditions in Pets That May or May Not Be Covered
Typically, health conditions that are not curable may not be covered. These are some of the examples of pre-existing conditions to consider when you are choosing a pet insurance policy. These would be conditions such as:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Hypothyroidism
- Orthopedic issues
- Cancer
- Allergies
If your pet has injuries that are a result of inhumane treatment, your pet is not going to qualify for pet insurance.
Incurable or terminal conditions likely will be excluded from coverage entirely, but may be partially covered with limited insurance. This means that you may get some financial assistance with them, but not always.
Conditions that may be covered would include:
- Dermatitis
- Respiratory infections
- Ear infections
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Urinary tract infections
Typically, you would have to wait at least 12 months for coverage for these conditions.
It is important to talk with your pet insurance provider or the potential options available in order to know for sure what your policy will cover and how it will work if you need to use it in the future.
The policy exclusions also depend on the pet breed, the company, and the policy you choose.
Is Pet Insurance Worth the Cost?
If you are wondering whether or not pet insurance is worth it, the answer depends on several personal factors.
You need to consider your pet, your budget, and the coverage available to you.
If you have a really large budget and a pet that requires a lot of care, insurance can add a lot of relief and happiness to your pet's life. For people that have small budgets and pets that do not have medical problems at this point, pet insurance is still beneficial to maintain a good optimum quality of life for a long time.
Even a simple accident can become expensive without pet insurance. You may think pet insurance is a scam, but when you have something come up and realize it results in a large vet bill, you may feel differently. Pet insurance cost is much less worrisome.
Pet insurance is great because it helps you focus on the health of your pet without having to be so concerned about the cost. This helps your pet get the care that they need for the entirety of their life.
When Should You Get a Pet Insurance Policy?
Anyone that has a had pet for an extended period of time knows that sometimes the vet bills can be really high. In fact, some people even go into debt to be able to afford this type of care.
Some people think pet insurance is silly, but it is actually kind of silly to think of it as a non-necessity. You have insurance for your own health, so why not your pet?
You never know when something bad is going to happen. You never know when your pet is going to get into something they shouldn't. You never know when your pet may develop a health condition.
Having a pet insurance policy is insurance for your pet, but it is also insurance for your bank account.
The Best Time to Buy Pet Insurance
You can easily get pet insurance for your pet as soon as you get the pet! This is considered one of the best times to get pet insurance because pre-existing conditions are unlikely if the pet is young.
Even baby pets, like puppies and kittens, can benefit from the use of a pet insurance policy because something can go wrong at any point.
If you are outdoorsy, consider how your pet can be harmed by this type of lifestyle. There are plenty of bugs, pests, plants, and other things that can impact their health.
If you are someone that doesn't get a lot of exercise, consider how this may impact your pet. They might not get a lot of exercise either and this may lead to problems down the road.
Getting pet insurance as soon as you get your pet is a smart choice because it covers you for the future. You get to have the relief of knowing that even if something happens later on, you are going to be covered and can continue caring for your pet.
Choosing a Canadian Pet Insurance Plan
When your pet has pre-existing conditions, it may seem silly to get a pet insurance plan if they won't be covered.
The fact is that pet insurance can still be beneficial to pets that have conditions because they may end up with more problems in the future. Their pre-existing conditions may even be covered with the right plan!
If you want to make sure your pet is able to live a long, happy, and healthy life, pet insurance is a great option to make this happen. It makes it easier to afford vet care for your pet and it also makes pet owners more likely to visit the vet often.
Many pet owners are curious about getting a pet insurance plan and don't know where to start.
If you want to learn more about getting a pet insurance policy today, be sure to check out our blog post about the benefits of getting a good plan for your furry friend.
