Best Pet Insurance For Pre-Existing Conditions In Australia

Pet insurance for pre-existing conditions is a type of pet insurance designed to cover any medical issues your pet has been suffering from before taking out a policy, hence ‘pre-existing’.

Unfortunately, the majority of standard pet insurance policies will automatically exclude pre-existing conditions from the outset, meaning your cat or dog won’t be covered if you have to make a claim due to that illness.

In some cases, you may find a standard policy that covers pre-existing conditions providing you haven’t made a claim for that condition for a certain period of time. There also may be policies that will cover pre-existing conditions, for an additional cost—the same way some travel insurance policies charge an extra premium for pre-existing medical conditions.

Should you want more comprehensive insurance for your pet’s medical issue, then pet insurance for pre-existing conditions is likely to be the more appropriate choice.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Defined

The definition of a pre-existing medical condition varies depending on the provider, so it’s important to read your insurance provider’s product disclosure statement (PDS) carefully.

Generally speaking, however, it’s defined as a condition that occurred before the insurance policy was purchased. But it may also be defined as a condition that results from, or is closely related to, a condition your pet had before you bought cover.

Common pre-existing medical conditions found in pets include:

• Chronic conditions: illnesses that can’t be cured and require ongoing treatment, such as diabetes, cancer, allergies and arthritis.
• Historic conditions: illnesses or injuries your pet had previously but no longer suffers from, such as recurring joint pain.
• Bi-lateral conditions: conditions that affect both sides of your pet’s body, such as hip dysplasia.
• Hereditary or congenital conditions: illnesses or conditions passed down from your pet’s family, probably due to breeding, such as heart disease.

Each insurer has a list of the pre-existing medical conditions that it covers, so be sure to check before buying a policy.

If you can’t find a particular condition on the policy documents, contact the insurer to find out whether it’s covered.

From our top 12 picks for comprehensive pet insurance, we looked at each insurer’s approach to pre-existing medical conditions, as per their product disclosure statement:

As the table above highlights, many insurers will not cover pre-existing conditions and those that do attach a range of conditions and caveats.

To find pet insurance that covers pre-existing conditions, you’ll need to shop around and compare quotes carefully, ensuring you check which conditions are covered (if any, or whether you can claim them if your pet has not had symptoms for sometime).

If you’re struggling to find cover, it may be worth asking your vet whether they know of an insurer who could help.

You will also need to check the excess on the policy. This is the amount you will need to pay towards the cost of any claim you make, and it tends to get higher as your pet gets older—and is therefore more likely to have a health condition.

Many policies give you the option to increase your excess to lower your premiums, but it’s important not to push your excess so high you couldn’t afford to pay it in the event of a claim.

Related: How To Lower The Premium On Your Pet Insurance Policy

Yes, it’s crucial that you are honest about any pre-existing conditions your pet has when taking out insurance. If you don’t declare a pre-existing condition, any claims you make are likely to be rejected, and your cover could be cancelled.

What If My Pet Develops a New Medical Condition?

Your existing pet insurance policy will cover any new conditions your dog or cat develops. How much coverage is included, and any sub-limits, will depend on the policy type.

If you have a maximum benefit policy, your pet will be covered for a condition up to a set amount and once you exceed this limit, you won’t be able to make any further claims for that condition.

If you have a time-limited policy, each condition will be covered for a maximum of 12 months from the date of the first treatment—assuming the policy is renewed.

There is also usually a maximum claim limit.

If you have a lifetime policy, there will be a limit to how much you can claim for each illness or injury which either resets each year or lasts for your pet’s lifetime.

If you can’t find (or simply don’t want to take out) pet insurance for pre-existing conditions, one alternative is to self-insure. This means putting a sum of money into a savings account each month, which you can then use to pay veterinary costs should your pet need treatment.

The downside of self-insurance for pre-existing conditions is that you would need to build up a sizeable savings buffer to cover the bills, depending on the severity of your pet’s medical needs.

Alternatively, there are veterinary charities, such as the RSPCA, that may be able to help you cover your pet’s condition. However, these are often oversubscribed, and you will need to meet certain criteria, relating to your income or location, to qualify for compensation.