Pet Insurance FAQ: Do Breed specific Issues count as Pre-Existing Conditions?
When it comes to SDPEBA’s Pet Insurance plans, the short answer is no, breed specific issues are not pre-existing conditions. The longer and more complicated answer is still no, they do not count as pre-existing conditions, but some breed specific issues even covered by insurance to begin with.
Since there is a lot of confusion surrounding pre-existing conditions, it’s best if we start there. Pet insurance will not cover conditions that were diagnosed BEFORE getting insurance. That means if you take your dog/cat to the vet, and it is diagnosed with anything from seasonal allergies to diabetes, you cannot sign up for pet insurance a week later and then get coverage for those specific issues. You can still get coverage for other things that might come up, just not allergies or diabetes.
This gets a little fuzzy with breed-specific issues. A lot of dog breeds are prone to certain illnesses and issues. So long as those weren’t diagnosed before you got insurance, you’ll be able to receive coverage. For example, if you just adopted a bulldog and want to make sure you’re covered in case of hip dysplasia or nasal/breathing issues, you’ll have coverage for that (so long as you have pet insurance before a vet diagnoses you).
But some breed specific issues aren’t covered for different reasons. For example, if you adopt a former racing greyhound who has hip dysplasia, MetLife doesn’t cover injuries related to “working pets.” Also, if it is an inherited or congenital condition, there’s a chance it might not be covered. Such as a genetic issue passed from the father/mother of your dog/cat.
Since things can get complicated and specific depending on the breed and the issue, we highly recommend you call and ask! MetLife and Nationwide both are relatively quick to reply, and if you reach out to them and still aren’t sure or have more questions you can always call/email us and we can check for you!
MetLife Pet: 855-943-5704
Nationwide Pet: 877-738-7874
SDPEBA: [email protected] or 888-315-8027