New pet insurance members often wonder, "What exactly is a pre-existing condition?" We're here to help clarify this important aspect of pet insurance.
A pre-existing condition refers to any health issue that your pet had before the effective date of your pet insurance policy or during the waiting period. This includes conditions for which:
For example, if your pet showed clinical signs of limping before your policy's effective date—even if the underlying cause was unknown—both the limping and its cause would be considered pre-existing. However, if the limping started after the policy's effective date, it would not be considered pre-existing.
Pre-existing conditions typically are not covered by pet insurance policies. This means:
For instance, if your pet has allergies as a pre-existing condition and those allergies lead to a skin infection from scratching, neither the allergy medication nor the treatments for the skin infection would be covered.
When you sign up for pet insurance, it's crucial to provide a thorough and accurate medical history for your pet. The underwriting team will review your pet's medical records to determine if any pre-existing condition exclusions apply.
This review includes assessing past treatments and documented signs, symptoms, or concerns your pet has experienced, even if untreated or undiagnosed. For example, if your pet showed signs of vomiting and upset stomach before the policy's effective date and was later diagnosed with gastroenteritis, the gastroenteritis would be considered pre-existing and related tests and treatments wouldn't be covered.
Once your pet's complete medical records are evaluated, any defined pre-existing condition exclusions will be listed on the declarations page of your policy. New relevant medical records or related medical information received after this review may lead to additional noted pre-existing conditions. If any pre-existing conditions are identified, you'll receive a communication detailing the new exclusion.
The good news is that, with Nationwide, not all pre-existing conditions are excluded permanently. Upon request, we can review conditions that have been deemed cured and remained treatment-free for a specified period. However, some chronic conditions may not be eligible for review.
Getting the best care for your pet is always the priority. Even if your pet has a pre-existing condition, you can rest easy knowing that they’re covered for a broad range of other conditions.
If you have any questions about pre-existing conditions on your pet’s Nationwide pet insurance policy, contact Member Care at 800-540-2016 for assistance. You can also watch our pre-existing conditions video.