For pets with pre-existing conditions, you’ll need a specialist insurer, and this guide explains what qualifies as a pre-existing condition and what to look for when choosing cover.
Key takeaways
- A pre-existing condition doesn't need a formal diagnosis. If there's a record of signs or symptoms before your policy started, that's usually enough for most insurers to exclude it
- Some UK insurers will give a "cured" condition a second look after a symptom-free period. Often around 3 months for minor issues, but up to 12-24 months for anything more serious
- Bilateral exclusions catch people out a lot: If one side's affected (like one cruciate ligament), insurers can exclude the other side too, even if it's never had an issue
- Confused.com doesn't offer dedicated pre-existing condition policies right now. There are specialist insurers out there, but they tend to cost a lot more
- Insurers don't just check history at application - they can pull full vet records at claim time too. So anything undisclosed can still appear later and cause a claim to be rejected
What counts as a pre-existing condition?
Most pet insurance policies will call something a pre-existing condition if there were signs or symptoms before you took out the policy. That's regardless of whether your pet had treatment for it. And here's the thing: it doesn't even need a formal diagnosis at that point. It counts either way, whether or not your pet actually had treatment for it.
If a vet jotted down clinical signs in your pet's records, even without pinning down what it was, that's usually enough for most insurers to say 'pre-existing' and exclude it.
Diagnosed partly through your policy? You're still covered while the policy's active. But as a heads up: once you renew, it'll likely get treated as pre-existing, and could get excluded from then on.
Every insurer draws the line a little differently, so make sure you know what you’re signing up for.
Sometimes what appears to be a new problem can be classed as being pre-existing if it’s connected to another condition. Let's say your pet has already been diagnosed with a heart murmur and that leads to a lung problem later on. An insurer might link them together and rule that it’s all part of the same pre-existing condition.
And it can also come down to what kind of condition it is, and if it's chronic, congenital, historic, or bilateral. Bilateral ones are worth calling out: they affect a pair of body parts, and a problem on one side can be enough for the insurer to write off the other side too, even if it's never given your pet any trouble.
For example, if your dog gets diagnosed with a cruciate ligament injury in one knee, some insurers might exclude the other knee as well, just because it's the matching joint. Fairer Finance research has found that cruciate ligament claims like this are a common source of complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service, often because the exclusion isn't explained clearly before people buy.
A chronic or long-term condition
Is something such as an allergy, diabetes or cancer – something that's likely to affect your pet for the rest of their life. Many insurers impose a limit on the amount of cover they provide for this sort of condition. This is either on an annual basis or over the lifetime of your pet.
Hereditary or congenital conditions
These conditions run in your pet's genes and are inherited from your pet’s parents. These can occur more often in pedigree and pure-breed pets. Hip dysplasia and epilepsy are examples of hereditary or congenital conditions.
Historic conditions
Include issues that your pet has had in the past and no longer does – but that might come up again in the future. This might include previous joint problems, for example.
Bilateral conditions
Affects both sides of an animal’s body, and some insurers consider them to be the same condition even if they occur simultaneously. So if there’s a problem in the back left leg that's then replicated in the back right leg, you might find your insurer classes it as a pre-existing condition.
If you’re still unsure what counts as a pre-existing condition, check with your current insurance provider. They can tell you whether your pet’s condition can be covered again in future.
Does Confused.com offer pre-existing condition cover?
No, Confused.com doesn't currently offer dedicated pre-existing condition policies directly.
Pre-existing conditions policies do exist, but they can be much more expensive. We don't currently offer these at Confused.com.
If your pet has a pre-existing condition, it's worth speaking to your vet about your options going forward. It's likely you'll need to look into specialist insurers who cover pre-existing conditions. Just be aware, you'll typically have to pay more, and have fewer provider options to choose from.
How do I get pre-existing cover for my pet?
We don't compare insurers who cover pre-existing conditions. But if you're getting a quote for your pet, you’ll usually be asked to declare medical conditions they’ve had in the last two years. You’ll also answer a few questions about their current health.
Can a "cured" condition ever be covered again?
Some UK insurers will reconsider a condition after a symptom-free period. This is commonly around 3 months for something minor, like kennel cough for example, and extends to around 12-24 months for more serious conditions.
This only applies to conditions that are genuinely treatable and show no signs of recurring. Anything chronic or incurable, such as diabetes or arthritis, stays permanently excluded. That's regardless of how long your pet is symptom-free.
Every insurer takes their own approach, so always check your specific policy wording, or speak to your insurer directly.
How do insurers find out about pre-existing conditions?
In the UK, insurers can review your pet's full medical records both when you apply and when you make a claim. Conditions not mentioned at quote time can still surface later during a claims review.
That's why it's crucial to be fully upfront during the application process. Undisclosed history that's discovered at claim time is one of the most common reasons that genuine claims get rejected.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) defines pre-existing conditions as usually including 'illnesses and injuries that can happen again or may appear in different parts of your pet's body.' So a condition doesn't need to be identical to a past one to fall under an exclusion.
What if my pet develops a condition after I'm insured?
If your pet develops a condition after taking out a policy, it's considered a new condition, not a pre-existing one. What happens next depends on your policy type.
With maximum benefit policies, once you've either used up your claim period (typically 12 months) or hit your per-condition claim limit, that condition becomes pre-existing at the next renewal.
Lifetime pet insurance policies work a bit differently. As long as you renew with the same insurer each year, cover for conditions you've already claimed for will continue. But if you switch providers, your new insurer will likely treat those same conditions as pre-existing too, so cover for them probably won't carry over.
In simple terms: A new condition should be covered when it first arises, but whether that cover lasts long-term depends on your policy type.
Can I get pet insurance if my pet has a pre-existing condition?
Yes, if your pet has a pre-existing condition, you should still be able to get cover from a specialist insurer. Some insurers might cover your pet’s pre-existing condition in a limited way - say, by paying a small amount towards the cost of any ongoing treatment your pet needs. So it’s worth contacting insurers to see if this is something they offer.
You might also be able to find specialist insurers who offer dedicated pet insurance for pre-existing conditions.
Future treatment for any other conditions or injuries your pet develops over the course of your policy should still be covered. You might just have to pay for treatment for your pet’s pre-existing condition out of your own pocket, though.
So can you get pet insurance after diagnosis? The short answer is yes, but expect your search to be a little more complicated.
How to find pet insurance for pre-existing conditions
A search can usually bring up insurers that cover pre-existing conditions. There's no single best pet insurance for pre-existing conditions, since it depends on your pet's specific condition. Comparing a few specialist insurers is the only way to know which suits your pet.
When it comes to renewal, speak to your current insurer ahead of the renewal date to find out what will and won’t be covered in the following year.
If you've bought a lifetime policy and your pet has developed a lifetime condition, it might be worth sticking with your insurer. If you move to another insurer you might find the condition isn't covered as it's pre-existing.
Your vet might be able to point you in the right direction of an insurer that's more sympathetic towards pre-existing conditions too.
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