What counts as pre-existing, why a limp before cover can sink a later claim, and which providers publish a curable exception.
Drafted with AI tools from our own cost data and the sources linked on this page. A veterinarian has not reviewed this guide. See our editorial policy.
A pre-existing condition is anything your dog showed signs of, or had treated, before cover started or during the waiting period. Most policies exclude it permanently. A few treat a condition as curable if it has cleared and stayed clear, but the rule differs by provider and few publish it.
Insurance is meant to cover the unexpected. A condition that was already there when you bought the policy is not unexpected, so insurers exclude it. That sounds fair until you meet how broadly the word is applied.
It is not only a diagnosis. Signs count: a limp, a scratch at the ear, a day of vomiting that a vet noted in the record. If the record shows a sign before the policy began, the insurer can link a later claim to it. This is why the single most useful thing you can do is buy cover while your dog is young and the record is clean.
The same logic applies inside the waiting period. A condition that first appears in the weeks between paying and being covered is treated as pre-existing too.
Local currency, before tax. Figures are the typical range in our index on 2026-10-25, not a quote from any one clinic.
| Country | Typical range | Currency | Highest city | Lowest city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $4,500–$8,000 | CAD | Vancouver $7,190 | Regina $5,440 |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $3,825–$6,800 | USD | San Francisco $7,440 | San Antonio $4,675 |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | £2,610–£4,640 | GBP | London £4,895 | Belfast £3,080 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | A$4,275–A$7,600 | AUD | Sydney A$7,125 | Hobart A$5,460 |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | €2,790–€4,960 | EUR | Dublin €4,845 | Waterford €3,490 |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | NZ$3,690–NZ$6,560 | NZD | Auckland NZ$5,740 | Invercargill NZ$4,610 |
Same procedure, same country, eight Canadian cities. Rent, wages and how many clinics compete locally do most of the work.
Some policies distinguish a curable condition, such as an ear infection or a urinary infection that fully resolved, from a permanent one, such as arthritis or diabetes. A curable condition may become coverable again after a symptom-free period. A permanent one never does.
This is the term providers publish least often. Here is what we could verify on their own pages.
Not verified for: Desjardins Insurance, Furkin, Pets Plus Us, PHI Direct, Sonnet Insurance, Spot Pet Insurance Canada. Blank means we could not confirm it on their public pages, not that it is missing from the policy.
The conditions that hurt most are the ones that become surgery. A cruciate ligament repair runs from $4,500 to $8,000 in Canadian dollars in our national index, and a foreign body surgery from $2,500 to $6,000. These are modelled ranges, not quotes. A refused claim on a bill that size is the difference between a bad week and a bad year.
See also our guides on waiting periods and what pet insurance does not cover.
Insurer terms checked 2026-10-25 from each insurer's own public pages. Terms change: check the policy before buying.
We build a national typical range from published clinic price lists, veterinary association fee surveys and real bills owners submit to us, then apply a city multiplier for local rent, wages and clinic density. Non-Canadian markets scale the same base by national price level. Figures are estimates in local currency before tax, never quotes. Once three verified bills exist for a city and procedure, the real bills replace the estimate.
Full method and correction policy: our methodology page. Spotted a price that is wrong? Send us the invoice and we will fix it.
Sometimes, if the policy has a curable exception and the condition has stayed clear for the period the policy requires. Permanent conditions are not covered.
It can. If the record shows a sign before cover began, an insurer may link a later related claim to it. Buying early with a clean record avoids the argument.
Answer the application honestly. Many insurers review the vet record when you claim, and a mismatch can void the claim.
No. It means we could not verify the term on the provider's public pages. Ask the provider and read the policy document.
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