Millions of pet owners have bought pet insurance to help offset some of the costs involved with modern veterniary care. Pet insurance doesn’t cover everything, however. Like all insurance policies, pet insurance carries with it certain exclusions that deny coverage for some events. Pet insurance policy owners should be aware of these exclusions to avoid unpleasant surprises when receiving a vet bill.
Modern technology has made veterinary care more sophistiacted and effective. Illnesses and injuries that were once fatal to pets can now be treated. Modern veterinary care allows for cancer treatments, hip replacement surgeries and a host of treatments for ailments that were once automatic death sentences for pets.
American Pet Products Manufacturers Association stats show that Americans spend more than $10 billion each year on health care for their dogs, cats and other pets. Pet insurance can help pet owners mitigate some of the costs of taking care of their pets when they become ill or injured. Last year, Americans spent about $250 million on pet insurance.
Pet insurance will pay all or some of the cost of a pet’s veterinary care if that pet becomes ill or is injured under circumstances covered by the policy. Insurers find some circumstances or factors too risky, and absolves themselves of responsibilitiy for covering them by writing excusions into a policy.
An exclusion is a provision written into an insurance policy that excludes the insurer from covering certain property, events, types of damage etc. With regard to pet insurance polices, exclusions may bar certain types of treatment from coverage, deny coverage under certain circumstances, or deny coverage for certain illnesses or injuries.
Common pet insurance exclusions
Here are some of the most common exclusions found in pet insurance policies:
1. Pre-existing conditions — Pre-existing conditions are health problems that are present prior to the start date of the policy. For example, if you pet already has cancer, treatment for this illness will be denied by a policy with a pre-existing conditions excusion (these exclusions are standard to virtually all pet insurance policies.) Because of the pre-existing condition exclusion, it’s wise to purchase pet insurance while your pet is young, before he or she can develop any health problems.
2. Hereditary health issues — These are health issues that may be specific to a certain breed of dog. For example, a pet insurance policy for a German Shepherd may bar coverage for hip ailments because of that breed’s tendency to develop these issues.
3. Congenital conditions — These are health conditions that your pet is born with, such as, entropion, patellar luxation, liver shunt, etc. Because these conditions are pre-existing, they’re usually barred by the pre-existing conditions exclusion if a specific congenital conditions exclusion is not written into the policy.
4. Fleas, ticks and parasites — While many pet insurance policies provide coverage for preventative care to ward off fleas, ticks and parasites, most exclude coverage for treatment to get rid of them once your pet has them.
5. Preventable illnesses and elective or cosmetic procedures — Illnesses that could be prevented by vaccination are generally excluded from treatment. Also cosmetic procedures such as tail docking, ear cropping or skin folds are routinely excluded from coverage in insurance policies.
6. Teeth cleaning — While dental coverage for damage to the teeth caused by illness or injury is routinely covered in pet insurance policies, most pet policies deny coverage for teeth cleaning.
Other exclusions and provisions
Other exclusions may bar coverage for special dietary supplements, travel to a vet or animal hospital, removal or expression of anal glands, behavioral training, etc.
In addition to exclusions, other provisions written into an insurance policy may put an expenditure cap on how much care the policy will cover or limit how many times per year the insurer will pay for a treatment or procedure.
When purchasing pet insurance, the pet owner should carefully review the policy to see what illnesses, injuries or circumstances are denied coverage. Often, riders can be purchased that will provide coverage not extended by the standard pet insurance policy.
Understanding all the ins and outs of your pet insurance policy is key to getting the most out of your coverage, and preventing you from paying for an ineffective or inappropriate policy.