Can I get pet insurance if my pet has a pre-existing condition?

If a pet has a pre-existing illness or is already sick, it may be a challenge for pet owners to find pet insurance, but there are options available.

When looking to get pet insurance to cover a pet that has a pre-existing condition, it is important to check the policy to ensure that the pet will be covered. Many pet insurance policies will not cover pets that are already ill, but there are some, such as Bought By Many, which do offer policies that will cover pets with pre-existing conditions. Saying this, policies that are willing to cover pets with a pre-existing condition may have additional terms and conditions, for example, that the pet has not needed treatment or advice for a set period of time before applying for the insurance.

Pet owners with a pet that has a hereditary condition, or is a breed that has a tendency to develop certain health problems, should be covered under a standard policy, as long as their pet is not showing any signs of the condition. Although, when taking out the policy, pet owners should declare any hereditary conditions or if the breed is known to develop health problems. This may mean having to pay a higher premium for the insurance, but it will ensure that the pet is covered if any conditions do develop.

When taking out a policy for a pet with a pre-existing condition, it is likely that a higher premium will be paid for the insurance. In addition to this, the age of the pet, along with its breed and size will likely impact the cost of the insurance. It is also likely that the insurance policy will increase over the years as the pet gets older and/if more trips to the vet are needed.

Although there is no getting away from the fact that if the pet has a pre-existing condition, it will likely cost more in insurance, so shopping around for a good pet insurance deal will help to reduce costs. Our pet insurance page highlights all the five and four-star rated pet insurance providers available during 2020, as rated by Moneyfacts. These providers have been selected by a team of experts within Moneyfacts, who have taken into account the features of the policy offered along with the cost of the insurance.