What medical treatments are excluded from pet care insurance?

Standard pet care insurance plans usually exclude medical costs that are routine in nature. In addition, the pet's pre-existing medical conditions are excluded in the coverage.

If you only buy a standard policy, your pet insurance will not pay for routine and preventive care. And, although emergency medical treatment is commonly covered, there are specific treatments that may be excluded. Some treatments that will not be payable under your pet insurance policy would be:

• Pre-existing conditions (Illnesses you have claimed against in the previous year will not be included. The reasoning is that you more or less know that a claim will occur since your pet already has this disease, thus it is not unforeseen.)
• Preventable diseases (These are illnesses that could have been prevented if the pet was vaccinated against it.)
• Pregnancy (Again, this is considered preventable. This is not an unforeseen condition so it will not be covered.)
• Grooming fees and expenses
• Cosmetic procedures
• Dental procedures, except emergency procedures
• Removal of the anal gland
• Treatment for anterior cruciate ligament injuries (especially during the policy's first year)
• Genetic or hereditary disorders
• Behavioral problems
• Parasites (both internal and external)
• Birth defects and congenital disorders
• Prescription foods
• Vitamin supplements
• Vaccinations
• Spaying or neutering
• Cancer treatments
• Heartworm treatments

If you want coverage for routine care, you can opt to add riders to your standard cover. You can opt to get a wellness plan to cover for regular check-ups and vaccinations. You can also buy a cancer rider to help pay for expensive radiation treatment or chemotherapy.

If you want to be sure what is included and excluded in your pet care insurance policy, you should either ask your insurance provider or you should read your policy's terms and conditions. If you have serious concerns about the exclusions, you can always consider upgrading to a higher plan or to start shopping around for a new provider.

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