What does having pre-existing conditions mean for pet insurance coverage Can you explain how it works
I think my cat might have asthma. I wanted to get pet insurance before I take him to the vet. The last time I saw the vet was back in March. They treated him for an illness but mentioned it could be asthma without ruling out other sicknesses. He hasn’t been back to the vet since then. Do you think pet insurance will consider it a pre-existing condition
I’m really unsure about what to do if they don’t cover it
Unfortunately, yes that will likely be classified as a pre-existing condition by the insurer. For pet insurance, any sign or symptom of an illness can make it pre-existing. It doesn’t need to be a formal diagnosis
As far as I know in the US, AKC is the only insurer that sometimes covers pre-existing conditions, but you have to have their insurance for a full year before they will cover anything pre-existing. I would definitely check with them to see if asthma is covered before signing up
They have these rules to prevent people from waiting until their pet is sick to get insurance. It’s a way to protect the system
I hope your cat is doing okay and wish you the best
Thanks for your response I get it to some extent. I just feel like they shouldn’t cover it if there hasn’t been a diagnosis. It’s frustrating because the vet knew I was trying to get pet insurance before the diagnosis and still put that in the notes. I’m really upset. My cat is fine but I don’t think I can afford treatment without pet insurance
I totally understand your frustration but the vet has to document what they see in their patients. If they weren’t accurate, they could get into serious trouble. People need to trust the records are correct
It wasn’t too long ago that humans faced the same issue with pre-existing conditions before the Affordable Care Act. It was heartbreaking for those of us in healthcare to see people denied coverage for something on their records. It’s a tough situation
I’m sorry for you and your cat Most people end up applying for Care Credit or Scratch Pay or use their credit cards for situations like this. I hope you can find a way to make it work