Are You Qualified for Pet Insurance? The 11 Situations You May Be In
If you are reading this article, it means that you’re looking for pet insurance. Before you commit to a pet insurance policy, just know that your pet may or may not qualify for it. Pet insurance exists to reimburse pet parents for part or a majority of veterinary expenses.
Which situation are you in? And does your pet qualify for pet insurance?
My pet has a pre-existing condition, do I qualify?
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My puppy or kitten never had insurance, do I qualify?
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My pet has a surgery coming soon, can I sign up for a policy to cover it?
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I have a much older pet with no serious issues, do I qualify?
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I just adopted from a rescue, does my pet qualify?
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My vet recommended surgery, can I sign up for a policy to cover it?
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I just purchased a puppy from a breeder, do I qualify?
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My pet never had a checkup, do I qualify?
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My pet will have a hereditary condition in a few years, can I sign up for pet insurance before it shows up?
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My pet has a bad limp from an incident a week ago.
Can I get insurance to cover this?
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I feel my pet is going to come down with a condition?
Can I get insurance for the vet visit?
Answer
My pet has a pre-existing condition, do I qualify?
Unfortunately, most pet insurance companies will not cover pre-existing conditions. This goes for the most well-known coverages. You may find one that does cover pre-existing conditions, but the monthly premiums for those services may be pricier. Always check the FAQ section of every pet insurance company because they will state their policy on pre-existing conditions. Back to top
My puppy or kitten never had insurance, do I qualify?
This is usually the best situation to be in. Most pet insurance companies will love to have a newborn healthy pet added to their coverage. Puppies and kittens haven’t experienced too much of life’s conditions, so they are kind of on a “clean health slate”. Even though this is the best place to be in to get insurance, some policies will require a checkup with a veterinarian in order to get full coverage. Back to top
My pet has a surgery coming soon, can I sign up for a policy to cover it?
Unfortunately, the scheduled surgery does classify as a pre-existing condition. Part of the reimbursement process requires pet insurance policies to audit expenses. And they will definitely check the first expenses of any customer or pet. And if they see a huge first expense, they will audit every medical record and procedure of that pet with extreme prejudice.
And if there is any recommendation of the upcoming surgery or any procedure relating to the upcoming surgery, it will disqualify any reimbursement and it may jeopardize your policy and possibly put you in a position to be up for insurance fraud.
In other words, pet insurance is for procedures and services for conditions in the future, not for conditions in the past (before you got your policy). Back to top
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I have a much older pet with no serious issues, do I qualify?
Yes, your older pet will qualify. Pet insurance companies will always check pet records and veterinary recommendations in the past. Also, premiums for older pets are always pricier than for younger pets, so make sure you shop around for the best policy where you can customize deductible, maximum reimbursable and coverage. Back to top
I just adopted from a rescue, does my pet qualify?
Yes, your pet qualifies for coverage. Many times, rescues partners with pet insurance companies to get their adopters the best deals and discounts. Some pet insurance companies require a veterinary checkup before a policy begins, so always check with your rescue or shelter organization for any checkups, services or procedures that occurred. You must have all of these recorded before signing up for any policy – Pet insurance audits are pretty thorough; Any slip or omission of records can hurt your chances for reimbursement. Back to top
My vet recommended surgery, can I sign up for a policy to cover it?
Unfortunately, a prior recommendation will count as a pre-existing condition. Along with that, any performed service or procedure related to the recommended surgery will deem the condition to be a pre-existing condition. Pet insurance companies will audit your first expense and if there are veterinary recommendations to have a surgery before your policy begins, this will nullify any reimbursements.
Also, if your immediate first expense after qualifying is a veterinary visit and if that visit recommends surgery, it may raise eyebrows. Back to top
I just purchased a puppy from a breeder, do I qualify?
Yes, your pet does qualify. Just be sure to get a checkup with a veterinarian before signing up for pet insurance. Also, make sure that your breeder took your prospective pet for a veterinary checkup.
One more thing and it is an upsetting fact. Some nefarious breeders who work outside the law and morals, will sell sick puppies and kittens. Make sure you visit an accredited breeder rather than visit someone who is going to give you a “deal”. Always be careful and do your research before visiting a breeder. Back to top
My pet never had a checkup, do I qualify?
In most cases, yes. But if your pet is registered or has been microchipped, there may be a chance that records exist. Before bringing in a new pet to your home, check if any records exist because the pet insurance always has the resources to check for records. Back to top
My pet will have a hereditary condition in a few years, can I sign up for pet insurance before it shows up?
As long as there are no current or past afflictions or conditions, your pet qualifies for insurance. Most pet insurance companies take in pets that are predisposed to certain conditions in the future. For example, most Golden Retrievers will have hip dysplasia by the time they turn 8 or 9 years old. Most pet insurance companies are aware of this and policies will increase because of these known congenital and hereditary conditions. Back to top
My pet has a bad limp from an incident a week ago. Can I get insurance to cover this?
You can sign up for pet insurance but when you immediately have an expense, this will raise eyebrows and will have them auditing your pet’s medical history. If anything in the medical history has anything related to the limp can deem it as pre-existing. Back to top
I feel my pet is going to come down with a condition? Can I get insurance for the vet visit?
Yes. The action in this situation is a precautionary measure. The most important thing is that you visit the vet after you are on a policy. If there is any vet visit before the condition and there is any mention of it, the condition will be classified as pre-existing and you will receive no reimbursements for it. Back to top
Conclusion
Most of you are qualified for pet insurance. But the one thing that may jeopardize your policy is pre-existing conditions. These are afflictions, sickness, and negative conditions that occurred prior to signing up for a pet insurance policy. Pet insurance has the means to audit your pet’s medical records by inquiring with your veterinarian. Pet records are also stored digitally through national and state records as well as with new apps that store veterinary records.
Always remember, pet insurance is for illness, accidents, and routine care that will happen in the future. If an expense is submitted right away, this will raise eyebrows and will require an audit at the highest degrees. Don’t think of insurance as something you join to cover expenses that just happened. Insurance is a reserve of funds that you can use if you are qualified for it and if you use it right. And using it right means abiding policies regarding pre-existing conditions, pre-screening, and having clean, objective medical records.
Don’t think of insurance as something you join to cover expenses that just happened.
Having pre-existing conditions does not mean your pet cannot have insurance, it just means that you cannot receive reimbursement for those expenses. You can use it for checkups, the occasional illness, or even accidents. The worst thing pet owners go through is believing pet insurance can cover anything. There are exemptions and these are things you must know before signing up.
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Photo by Tomáš Jíra: https://www.pexels.com/photo/animals-by-the-window-3945402/
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