Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Unfortunately, we can’t cover pre-existing conditions 🙁.

We don’t cover any costs related to pre-existing conditions that were present before cover was active, including during any waiting periods ⏱️.

These could include any injury, illness, behavioural problem, issue, signs or symptoms you or your vet were aware of.

Pre-existing conditions can also include hereditary or congenital conditions, as well as bilateral conditions or linked conditions related to pre-existing issues.

Why can’t we cover pre-existing conditions? 🤷‍♀️

Like most pet insurers, we’re unable to cover pre-existing conditions because our cover and prices assume your pet has a normal chance of having any issues for their breed.

When do I find out about pre-existing conditions?

After signing up, provide your pet’s vet info in-app, and we’ll contact them to check their medical history. We can then let you know if there are any pre-existing conditions.

You can also set your cover to start in the future if you’d like us to check this before cancelling any existing policies.

Where can I see my pet’s pre-existing conditions?

You’ll be able to view any confirmed pre-existing and linked conditions in the plan section of your app 📲.

Examples of pre-existing conditions ⚕️

These are usually considered pre-existing:

Seasonal allergies 🤧 – if your pet has recurring skin flare-ups each spring that need treatment every year, and these were noted before your pet's plan started, this is considered a pre-existing condition because it’s regular and ongoing.
Cushing’s disease – if diagnosed before your pet's plan starts, it becomes an ongoing hormonal condition that needs lifelong medication and monitoring.
Limping after a jump from the car 🚗 – if the limping was found to be from a ruptured cruciate ligament that occurred before cover began, that cruciate injury (and any related knee issues) would be pre-existing. Any condition (bilateral) affecting a paired structure within their body (such as the knees, eyes, ears, hips or elbows) we'll consider this as a single condition. This applies even though it may affect each side at different times.
Elbow arthritis 🦴 – if arthritis in a specific joint was diagnosed or noted before your pet's plan began, it’s considered pre-existing because it’s progressive and will worsen over time.
Hip dysplasia🦵 – if diagnosed before your pet's plan starts or during any waiting period, treatment for hip dysplasia and any related conditions (like hip arthritis) won’t be covered.

These are not usually considered pre-existing:

Vomiting after eating something on a walk 🌳 – if your dog ate something inappropriate and became sick before you took out your pet's plan, and later vomits again after eating something else, these are separate incidents with different causes, so they’re not pre-existing.
Diarrhoea due to overeating 🍗 – if your pet overate before joining Fetch and later had a one-off upset stomach again, it wouldn’t be considered pre-existing, as long as it didn’t cause any lasting organ damage (like to the liver or kidneys).