We’ve been going through a bit of a rough patch with our sweet Basset Hound and could really use some advice. We signed up for pet insurance through Lemonade because we thought it would help cover his medical needs. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been as smooth as we hoped. Our poor pup developed some pretty bad allergies, but since we didn’t take him to the vet for an official diagnosis until after the insurance probation period ended, they’re saying his allergies count as a pre-existing condition.
Now, we’re stuck paying $130 a month for his Cytopoint shots, which is starting to add up quickly. It feels so unfair that we’re left covering this massive cost, even though we weren’t aware of his condition before the insurance kicked in. Has anyone else been in a situation like this? Is there any pet insurance out there that could help us at least a little bit, even though his allergies are now labeled as “pre-existing”? We’re really struggling to find something that works, and we’d be so grateful for any advice or recommendations.
Most insurance companies are likely to treat it as a pre-existing condition and won’t provide coverage. However, you might want to reach out to AKC Pet Insurance. They claim that if your dog doesn’t show any symptoms for a full year, they’ll consider covering pre-existing conditions.
Unfortunately, most insurance companies don’t need an official diagnosis to deny coverage. Even if your vet just noted any signs or symptoms of a condition, like allergies, before your insurance started, it’s enough for them to call it pre-existing. That means most companies won’t cover it.
One possible exception is AKC Pet Insurance, which might cover even incurable conditions. However, you need to maintain coverage for a full 365 days before they start paying, and they don’t cover everything. It’s best to give them a call to clarify. I’ve also heard you might need to add a hereditary conditions rider, but definitely check with them to confirm.
Have you asked them to clarify why they consider it pre-existing? Was there anything in the vet’s SOAP notes that mentioned potential allergy symptoms?