What is a pre-existing condition in pets?
A pre-existing medical condition refers to any injury or illness that your pet had before your pet insurance policy begins. These medical conditions are often recorded on the pet’s medical records, which would be kept by your vet.
Examples of pre-existing conditions
Chronic conditions
Chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart or kidney disease. These conditions would have been diagnosed by a vet.
Injuries
Injuries such as broken bones or wounds that were treated by a vet.
Recurring illnesses
Recurring illnesses such as ear infections or skin conditions that have required repeated treatment.
Hereditary conditions
Hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia or heart defects that have been genetically inherited. These will be treated as pre-existing conditions if your pet has shown clinical signs of the condition or been diagnosed before you take out cover.
Other conditions
Any other condition that has been recorded by your vet.
Please note: Conditions are also usually considered to be pre-existing if your pet has shown symptoms, even if they haven’t been officially diagnosed.
Some common pre-existing conditions
Read our guides on some of the more commonly seen existing conditions in pets:
- Diabetes in dogs
- Diabetes in cats
- Heart diseases and defects in dogs
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats (the most common type of cat heart disease),
- Kidney disease in dogs.
What are the disadvantages of pet insurance policies for pre-existing conditions?
Pre-existing pet insurance policies may seem like the best option, but it’s not always the case. It’s important you always read the small print of your pet insurance quote and policy. Some disadvantages to look out for are:
Exclusion of existing conditions.
Some policies may look like they’re tailored to your pet’s condition, but actually exclude treatment for the existing issue.
Limited coverage for higher-cost treatment.
The policy might cover the condition, but not the full cost of treatment - which could leave you out of pocket.
Higher premiums.
Often pre-existing conditions mean higher premiums. So it’s even more important to compare policies to make sure you’re getting the cover you need at the best value.
Ambiguity on the definition of a pre-existing condition.
Check what each insurer classes a pre-existing condition, as not all insurers define them in the same way.
Waiting periods.
Most policies have a waiting period of around 14 days, so you can’t make a claim in that time. Some pre-existing policies may have longer waiting periods - meaning you may not be covered when you need it.
It’s important you always read the small print of your pet insurance quote and policy.
Does Agria cover pets with pre-existing conditions?
Yes, Agria Pet Insurance can insure pets who have pre-existing conditions, but we do not cover the pre-existing condition or conditions related to the pre-existing condition.
We specialise in lifetime pet insurance policies, which – generally speaking – are intended to cover your pet for the duration of their lifetime, from when you get them. As such, we don’t cover previous illnesses or injuries before the policy starts. This could be if your pet has had a diagnosis from a vet, or has shown any clinical symptoms of the injury or illness prior to getting insurance.
You can still take out insurance with Agria, and other conditions will be covered. So let’s say your dog has been diagnosed with a skin condition before you buy insurance. An Agria lifetime policy won’t cover this as a pre-existing condition. But this won’t affect protection for future illnesses or injuries, provided they are not related to the pre-existing condition, and no symptoms were present before the policy begins. This might include cover for a broken bone, certain dental procedures, treatment for diabetes and so on
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