Best Pet Insurance for Dogs with Pre-Existing Conditions
Finding pet insurance for dogs with pre-existing conditions can be challenging, as most pet insurance providers do not cover pre-existing conditions. However, some companies offer partial coverage, waiting periods, or flexibility in certain situations. If your dog has a pre-existing health condition, you may still be able to find an insurance provider that can help with new illnesses or injuries after a waiting period. Below is a list of the best pet insurance providers for dogs with pre-existing conditions, as of 2025.
🏆 Top Pet Insurance Providers for Dogs with Pre-Existing Conditions
Pre-existing conditions refer to any health issues or injuries your dog had before signing up for an insurance policy. Pet insurance policies usually don’t cover these conditions, but some providers may offer ways to get limited coverage for new issues or symptoms related to pre-existing conditions.
1. Embrace Pet Insurance
- Best for: Flexible coverage with a diminishing deductible
- Highlights: Embrace has a unique policy when it comes to pre-existing conditions. While they do not cover pre-existing conditions, they do provide coverage for conditions that have resolved. If your dog had a health issue in the past and hasn’t shown symptoms for 12 months, that condition may become eligible for coverage. They also offer a diminishing deductible, which can help reduce your out-of-pocket expenses over time.
- Pros: Coverage for resolved pre-existing conditions, diminishing deductible, wide coverage options for accidents and illnesses
- Cons: Pre-existing conditions are not covered immediately, and there may be a waiting period for coverage to kick in
- Sample Rates:
- 2-year-old dog: $30/month
- 8-year-old dog: $59/month
2. Healthy Paws
- Best for: No annual or lifetime payout limits
- Highlights: Healthy Paws offers comprehensive coverage for accidents and illnesses, including some conditions that might be linked to previous health issues. While they don’t cover pre-existing conditions directly, they offer flexibility for some breed-related genetic conditions, and their claims process is known to be quick and hassle-free. If a condition is not “pre-existing” but is related to an earlier injury, it might still be eligible for coverage under some circumstances.
- Pros: Unlimited coverage, fast claims processing, flexibility for some genetic conditions
- Cons: Does not directly cover pre-existing conditions, premium rates can be higher for senior dogs
- Sample Rates:
- 2-year-old dog: $35/month
- 8-year-old dog: $75/month
3. Trupanion Pet Insurance
- Best for: 90% reimbursement rate and coverage for hereditary conditions
- Highlights: Trupanion is a leading provider for pet insurance and offers one of the best options for dogs with pre-existing conditions, especially in cases where hereditary or congenital conditions are involved. They do not cover pre-existing conditions, but if your dog has a health problem in the future that is unrelated to any previous issue, it may be eligible for reimbursement. Their 90% reimbursement rate is one of the highest in the industry.
- Pros: High reimbursement rate, coverage for hereditary conditions, no payout limits
- Cons: Does not cover pre-existing conditions or directly related health issues
- Sample Rates:
- 2-year-old dog: $40/month
- 8-year-old dog: $85/month
4. Pets Best
- Best for: Customizable coverage with options for accident-only plans
- Highlights: Pets Best provides options for dogs with pre-existing conditions through their accident-only coverage plan. If your dog has a pre-existing illness, this type of coverage can be useful to ensure that any new injuries or accidents are covered, even if the illness is not. Their flexible plans allow owners to customize their deductible, reimbursement level, and annual coverage limit.
- Pros: Accident-only coverage, customizable plans, affordable options
- Cons: Does not cover pre-existing illnesses, limited coverage for chronic or hereditary conditions
- Sample Rates:
- 2-year-old dog: $21/month
- 8-year-old dog: $47/month
5. Figo Pet Insurance
- Best for: 100% reimbursement and short waiting periods for certain conditions
- Highlights: Figo Pet Insurance offers the unique benefit of a 100% reimbursement option on their highest-level plans, making it a standout for dog owners who want comprehensive coverage. They provide coverage for new accidents and illnesses that occur after enrollment, but pre-existing conditions are not covered unless they were treatable or asymptomatic for a certain period.
- Pros: 100% reimbursement option, short waiting periods for certain conditions, strong customer service
- Cons: Pre-existing conditions are not covered, premiums can be on the higher side
- Sample Rates:
- 2-year-old dog: $40/month
- 8-year-old dog: $75/month
📊 Cost Comparison for Dogs with Pre-Existing Conditions
| Provider | 2-Year-Old Dog | 8-Year-Old Dog |
|---|---|---|
| Embrace | $30 | $59 |
| Healthy Paws | $35 | $75 |
| Trupanion | $40 | $85 |
| Pets Best | $21 | $47 |
| Figo | $40 | $75 |
🐾 Key Considerations for Dogs with Pre-Existing Conditions
- Waiting Periods: Many pet insurance companies impose a waiting period before covering any illnesses or injuries. This is especially important if your dog has a pre-existing condition, as some companies might consider your dog ineligible for coverage until a certain time period has passed.
- What Qualifies as Pre-Existing: Pre-existing conditions can include any illness or injury that occurred before your dog was insured. However, some companies may reconsider certain conditions if they have been resolved for 12 months or longer.
- Hereditary Conditions: Some pet insurance providers may offer coverage for hereditary or congenital conditions, even if they are pre-existing. This varies by company, so it’s essential to check your policy details carefully.
- Accident-Only Coverage: If your dog has a pre-existing illness, consider opting for accident-only coverage. This will ensure that any new injuries or accidents are covered, even if the illness is not.
✅ Final Recommendations
For dogs with pre-existing conditions, the best pet insurance will depend on your dog’s health history and your needs. Here are some final recommendations:
- If your dog has a pre-existing condition that has been resolved: Embrace and Healthy Paws offer some of the best options for coverage, with flexibility for conditions that have been symptom-free for 12 months or more.
- If you’re looking for accident-only coverage: Pets Best and Figo provide affordable accident-only plans that will help protect your dog from injuries and accidents.
- If you’re willing to pay a higher premium for better coverage: Trupanion and Figo offer high reimbursement rates and flexibility in coverage, which can be ideal for dogs with complex health issues.