Pet Insurance And Pre-existing Conditions

weebeasties

weebeasties

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I recently signed our new kitten up for pet insurance with the Healthy Paws company. They need a copy of his medical records. When I got his medical records it shows that the vet proclaimed him a healthy kitten, BUT there were also notes in there about our concerns over him getting winded easily during play and having smelly poops. (He was new and we are by nature overly paranoid about our babies' health)
I brought it up with our vet and he felt it would be fine because HE said it was a healthy kitten. He said he had never dealt with Healthy Paws though.
I'm worried that if little Buddy ever develops a problem like asthma or digestive issues the insurance might consider it a pre-existing condition because of what we were worried about. (Both issues have completely cleared up by the way. We just changed his food for the poop and easily winded issue was apparently from being kept in a cage at the shelter to having a lot of space to run around in. He seems to be zooming around playing 23 hours a day now! :D)
What do you think? Would the insurance consider it pre-existing if it was just an observation of a paranoid new parent, or will they take the vet's assessment that he is healthy?
 
KarenKat

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Can you call the insurance company and ask? This seems like something they should be able to clarify.
 
sweetblackpaws

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I would think since he didn't have an actual diagnosis of asthma that it could not be considered preexisting should it later develop. But then again, best to call the insurance company and ask. Preferably get something via email so you have it in writing.
 
ritz

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Dahalia.JPG I have dealt with this issue, but with PetPlan. "Dahalia" had pretty significant kidney issues when I rescued her (blood work off the charts). Before renewing the policy, I wanted to know exactly what the pet insurance would cover and what it would not. The person I talked to on the phone could not give me a definitive answer, and referred it to their underwriter. The underwriter pretty much excluded anything connected to a kidney issue, including UTI, anorexic and heart issues. She had other minor issues based on her blood work, but the underwriter indicated that they would be covered by pet insurance if subsequent blood work was normal for six months or a year, depending on the issue. (The anorexia was covered by pet insurance about a year later; the vet made clear in her notes that her illness had nothing to do with kidneys. Bad case of the flu.) That said, I think the most important factor is: did the vet put some kind of diagnosis about the smelly poop/winded issue. Did the vet prescribe medication, including food, for the issues? You might consider taking your new kitten back to the vet and ask her to re-evaluate your kitten, and put in writing in the notes that "kitten appears 100% well", or words to that effect. That might negate the "pre-existing condition" issue. Good luck--and congratulations on your new kitten.
 
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weebeasties

weebeasties

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sweetblackpaws said:
I would think since he didn't have an actual diagnosis of asthma that it could not be considered preexisting should it later develop. But then again, best to call the insurance company and ask. Preferably get something via email so you have it in writing.
Click to expand...
Oh good idea about doing it by email!
Yes, I think you are right. Better to find out for sure now, rather than be surprised later if something does arise. (Fingers crossed it never will.)
 
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weebeasties

weebeasties

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ritz said:
View attachment 238930 I have dealt with this issue, but with PetPlan. "Dahalia" had pretty significant kidney issues when I rescued her (blood work off the charts). Before renewing the policy, I wanted to know exactly what the pet insurance would cover and what it would not. The person I talked to on the phone could not give me a definitive answer, and referred it to their underwriter. The underwriter pretty much excluded anything connected to a kidney issue, including UTI, anorexic and heart issues. She had other minor issues based on her blood work, but the underwriter indicated that they would be covered by pet insurance if subsequent blood work was normal for six months or a year, depending on the issue. (The anorexia was covered by pet insurance about a year later; the vet made clear in her notes that her illness had nothing to do with kidneys. Bad case of the flu.) That said, I think the most important factor is: did the vet put some kind of diagnosis about the smelly poop/winded issue. Did the vet prescribe medication, including food, for the issues? You might consider taking your new kitten back to the vet and ask her to re-evaluate your kitten, and put in writing in the notes that "kitten appears 100% well", or words to that effect. That might negate the "pre-existing condition" issue. Good luck--and congratulations on your new kitten.
Click to expand...
Poor Dahalia! Sounds like she had a rough start. Hope she is well now.
There were no notes or medication given about our concerns. The vet gave Buddy a thorough exam and felt the smelly poop was from his original food (it was) and listened to his breathing and heart and found nothing amiss. We were just being a bit over-worried.
That being said, Buddy goes back soon for booster vacs, so I will mention to his vet to make a note that he is healthy.
Thank you so much for your insight!
 
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