What are pre-existing conditions, and how are they determined?

A pre-existing condition is any illness, condition, or injury for which signs or evidence of their potential manifestation existed within the 18 months prior to your policy’s effective date or applicable waiting periods. A pre-existing condition can also be an injury or recurrence of an injury that occurred prior to your pet’s coverage effective date.

Should I still sign up for Trupanion if my pet has pre-existing conditions?

Even if your pet has a pre-existing condition or shows symptoms hinting at a pre-existing condition, they are still eligible for coverage of any new injuries and illnesses. Often, older pets enroll with symptoms of a pre-existing condition that would not be covered. However, the older a pet gets, the more likely they are to develop new issues that may fall under coverage.

If your pet has had multiple illnesses in their lifetime, it may be harder for any new issues to be eligible for coverage and it’s recommended you begin saving to help with any future health expenses that an insurance policy can’t cover.

Every pet's situation is unique, so we recommend reaching out to our customer care team to chat about how pre-existing conditions could affect your coverage.

How can I avoid running into issues with pre-existing conditions?

The best way to avoid facing issues with pre-existing conditions is to enroll your pet with Trupanion while they are young and healthy. The sooner you sign up, the more likely it is that any future injuries and illnesses are covered by your plan.

Think about it this way; you wouldn’t buy car insurance after you got into a wreck and expect insurance to help cover the cost of the accident. Medical insurance for pets works on the same principle; you cannot be protected from something that has already happened or is in the process of happening.

Examples of pre-existing conditions

Actual eligibility for any condition cannot be determined until a claim is submitted. That said, here are some examples of pre-existing conditions based on real-life situations:

• Your dog was diagnosed with allergies as a puppy, but they haven’t had symptoms in years. Then about a year after you sign up with Trupanion, they start showing signs of allergies again. Is it covered?
• No. Because your dog was diagnosed with allergies prior having a pet insurance policy, this condition is not eligible for coverage — even if they’ve gone years between showing signs.


• Your cat hates getting their teeth cleaned, whether it’s with you or the veterinarian. So, you decide to just let them be. About 8 years into your coverage with Trupanion, they develop a painful tooth abscess. Is treatment for it covered?
• No. Unfortunately because they did not follow a routine dental care regimen with their veterinarian, your cat developed a dental condition that may have been otherwise preventable. As a result, it is not eligible for coverage.


• Your dog sprained their ankle the same week you sign them up with Trupanion. A few years after your coverage starts, they then get diagnosed with hip dysplasia on the same side as the old sprain. Can the hip dysplasia be covered?
• Yes! The hip dysplasia is eligible for coverage because it is a new condition, and the Trupanion claims specialists could find a medical disconnect between it and the old injury. Therefore, it is not considered a pre-existing condition.

How we gather your pet’s medical history

When you sign up with Trupanion, we will request your pet’s medical records. We may reach out to any veterinarians your pet has seen at this time to gather more information. One of our experienced claim specialists will then review your pet's provided medical history to assess which conditions, if any, are pre-existing.

If you have more questions about your pet’s medical history or feel that a condition was mistakenly added to your pet’s record as pre-existing, please reach out to us! We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Your pet's medical history matters

When you enroll your pet with Trupanion coverage, we will request your pet's medical records from all veterinarians, hospitals, or specialists that have treated your pet in the past. One of our experienced claim specialists will then review your pet's medical history and, if necessary, contact their past providers to assess if your pet has any pre-existing conditions and what they may be.