Pet insurance and pre-existing conditions 

What is a pre-existing condition?

A pre-existing condition is an illness or ailment that existed prior to the date you took out a pet insurance policy.

Pre-existing conditions are typically split into two different categories.

1. Chronic pre-existing conditions: These are conditions that are pre-existing and permanent. They're typically recurring and require constant care. For example, diabetes. If your pet has a permanent condition prior to taking out a pet insurance policy, it will be excluded from your cover.

Insurers exclude cover for chronic pre-existing conditions because otherwise, it'd be too easy for pet owners to take advantage of the policy by taking out cover only when they know their pet is sick or injured, and cancelling once they've made a claim.

2. Temporary pre-existing conditions: These are conditions that are pre-existing that have been healed with treatment. They typically no longer affect your pet and haven't done so for an extended period of time. For example, a broken bone that's since been healed is an example of a temporary pre-existing condition. If your pet has a temporary pre-existing condition, you will likely be covered. You may need a signed health check from your vet to confirm the condition is no longer relevant to your pet's health before your insurer agrees to cover you though.

Related conditions

Related conditions are problems that occur later as the result of an earlier injury or illness. For example if your pet has diabetes and then develops cataracts as a result of the diabetes, the cataracts will not be covered.

If your pet has had any pre-existing conditions, it can be good to review what other conditions can arise as a result of it. From there, you can see what your list of exclusions might look like and decide if it's worth having pet insurance at all.

What conditions are normally excluded?

This will vary by provider and it's often assessed on a case by case basis. Some common exclusions are:

How different pet insurers treat temporary pre-existing conditions

Brand	Condition	Apply
	You can apply to have pre-existing conditions reviewed if your pet's pre-existing condition hasn't shown any signs or symptoms in 18 months prior to your claim. Your vet will need to certify and provide veterinary records verifying that the condition is a temporary condition and hasn't shown noticeable signs for 18 months. Medibank will let you know in writing whether or not the exclusion still applies.	Get quote
	Your vet will need to provide veterinary records verifying that the condition is a temporary condition and hasn't shown noticeable signs for 18 months. Everyday will let you know in writing whether or not the exclusion still applies.	Get quote
	You may request a Pre-existing Symptoms and Conditions assessment before Your first claim (for example during the cooling off period). Where Pre-existing Symptoms or Conditions have been identified during an assessment, We may issue You an updated Certificate of Insurance or other report including online, which will list them.	Get quote
	Your vet will need to certify and provide veterinary records verifying that the condition is a temporary condition and hasn't shown noticeable signs for 18 months. PIA will let you know in writing whether or not the exclusion still applies.	Get quote
	Where it can be demonstrated that a pre-existing condition is fully cured and is no longer relevant to the ongoing health of your pet, that condition will no longer be excluded from cover for any future treatment.	Get quote

Table last updated October 2024

How to have a pre-existing condition reviewed

If you've noted down that your pet has been sick or injured before but want to ensure it's noted as a temporary pre-existing condition that no longer affects your pet, you may be required to get a vet health check. Your insurer will likely have their own form for this check so contact them to get a hold of it. Alternatively, your vet might have a form they use for this that may suffice. It's best to check with your insurer though.

For the vet to fill in the form, you'll likely need to take your vet in for a health check so the vet can verify they're healthy and provide their signature. From there, you can submit the form to the insurer.

What to do if you can't get cover for pre-existing conditions

If your pet is suffering from a chronic pre-existing condition that remains ongoing or recurrent then it's likely you won't find cover with a pet insurer. If your pet needs care and you can't afford it upfront, you could ask your vet about a payment plan. They may have various options available to make treatment more affordable in the short term.

If your pet is currently healthy but you like to future proof yourself, it can be a good idea to regularly put money aside so that you have an emergency fund for your pet's medical needs, should they require it further down the line.

Unfortunately, neither of these options provide the same support that insurance can, but if no one will cover you then it can be your next best option.

FAQs

• How can I get around pre-existing conditions for pet insurance?

  The short answer is: you can't. If your pet has a chronic pre-existing condition then they're not eligible for cover. If they've had a temporary pre-existing condition then they can likely be covered.

  If pet insurance can't cover you then it's worth getting in touch with your vet to see if they can help you by setting up a payment plan.

• Is anxiety a pre-existing condition for pet insurance?

  It can be; you'd have to check with your pet insurer about whether or not this condition is something you need to note down on your policy.

Written by

Peta Taylor

Publisher of Insurance

Peta Taylor is a publisher at Finder, working across all of insurance. She's been analysing product disclosure statements and publishing articles for over 2 years. Peta is passionate about demystifying complex insurance products to help users make well educated decisions with confidence. Peta is part of Finder's insurance awards team and works alongside editorial and insights experts to bring users the best insurance products every year. See full bio

Co-written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Editor, Insurance

Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio

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Gary Ross has written 644 Finder guides across topics including:

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