Key Takeaways: 10 Things You Need to Know Right Now 💡
1. Akc Pet Insurance is the only major insurer covering incurable pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions, including incurable ones like hip dysplasia, are covered after 365 days of continuous coverage.
2. “Curable” and “incurable” are not just medical terms — they’re insurance categories that determine your coverage. A resolved ear infection is curable. Chronic diabetes is incurable. The distinction decides whether your claim gets paid or denied.
3. Most insurers require 180 days symptom-free before covering curable pre-existing conditions. Aspca covers curable pre-existing issues if the pet is symptom-free for 180 days, except for knee and ligament conditions.
4. Figo demands a full 12 months symptom-free. Figo covers conditions that have been cured for at least 12 months — double what most competitors require.
5. Embrace offers a proactive medical history review that no other insurer matches. Pet parents can request an optional Medical History Review after enrollment, giving clarity on how pre-existing conditions might affect coverage before any claims are filed.
6. Lemonade uses artificial intelligence to process claims at unprecedented speed. Roughly 40% of Lemonade claims are settled instantly, but their pre-existing condition rules are among the most restrictive.
7. Switching insurers resets everything — and can permanently exclude conditions. Every health issue your pet has been diagnosed with or treated for under your current policy becomes a pre-existing condition excluded from coverage under a new policy.
8. Bilateral condition rules are the hidden trap nobody warns you about. If your dog develops hip dysplasia on the left side before enrollment, most insurers will also exclude the right hip — even though it was perfectly healthy at sign-up.
9. Some states allow waiting period waivers with a vet exam. Aspca offers the opportunity to waive waiting periods in certain states if your vet fills out a Health Assessment Exam.
10. Pet insurance premiums for a 2-year-old dog average $30-60 per month, but costs rise dramatically with age. Enrolling early — before any conditions develop — is the single most effective strategy.
🐾 Yes, Exactly One Company Covers Incurable Pre-Existing Conditions — and Here’s How It Works
This is the question every pet parent with a chronically ill dog or cat is desperately googling at 2 a.m., and the answer is surprisingly specific. Akc Pet Insurance is the only major pet insurance company that offers coverage for curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after 365 days of continuous coverage.
That means if your dog was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, joint deterioration, chronic allergies, or even a cruciate ligament tear before you enrolled, those conditions can become eligible for reimbursement after you’ve maintained an uninterrupted Akc policy for a full year. Akc Pet Insurance will cover incurable pre-existing conditions after 365 consecutive days of coverage — something no other major pet insurer offers.
There are critical caveats, though. Pets aged 9 and older are only eligible for the accident-only plan, which means this pathway is effectively closed to senior pets with pre-existing conditions. You also cannot file any claims related to the pre-existing condition during that first 365-day period.
| Feature | Details 📋 |
|---|---|
| Insurer | Akc Pet Insurance |
| Phone | 1-866-725-2747 |
| Administered by | PetPartners, Inc. |
| Underwriter | Independence American Insurance Company |
| Pre-existing coverage begins | After 365 consecutive days |
| Covers incurable conditions | Yes ✅ (only major insurer to do so) |
| Senior pet limitation | Pets 9+ limited to accident-only ⚠️ |
| Available in | All 50 states, D.C., and Canada |
| Multi-pet discount | 5% for 2+ pets |
💡 Pro tip: If you’re enrolling specifically for the pre-existing condition pathway, make sure there are absolutely no gaps in your coverage during that first year. Even a single lapsed payment can reset the 365-day clock entirely and force you to start over from scratch.
⏰ The 180-Day vs. 12-Month Symptom-Free Rule: Why Timing Is Everything
If your pet’s pre-existing condition is classified as “curable” — meaning it was resolved and your pet has been symptom-free for a defined period — several insurers will eventually cover that condition. But the symptom-free window required varies dramatically, and picking the wrong company can mean waiting an extra six months or longer before you’re protected.
Here’s the breakdown of the companies most likely to help, along with what they each require:
| Insurer 🏢 | Curable pre-existing coverage? | Symptom-free period required | Covers incurable? | Phone number 📞 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akc Pet Insurance | Yes ✅ | 365 days continuous coverage | Yes ✅ | 1-866-725-2747 |
| Aspca Pet Health Insurance | Yes ✅ | 180 days symptom-free | No ❌ | [email protected] |
| Spot Pet Insurance | Yes ✅ | 180 days symptom-free | No ❌ | Website chat or online portal |
| Embrace Pet Insurance | Yes ✅ | 12 months symptom-free | No ❌ | 1-855-540-2104 |
| Figo Pet Insurance | Yes ✅ | 12 months symptom-free | No ❌ | Text: 844-262-8133 |
| Lemonade Pet Insurance | Limited ⚠️ | 12 months asymptomatic | No ❌ | 1-844-733-8666 |
| Pumpkin Pet Insurance | Yes ✅ | Varies by condition | No ❌ | 1-866-273-6369 |
| Pets Best | Yes ✅ | Varies by condition | No ❌ | 1-877-738-7237 |
💡 Pro tip: Some insurers require full veterinary records during underwriting, while others do not request records until you file a claim. This distinction matters enormously. Companies that review records at claim time — rather than at enrollment — can surprise you with denials months or years after you’ve been paying premiums. Embrace stands out here because they proactively offer a Medical History Review upfront so you know exactly where you stand before anything goes wrong.
🔍 Embrace’s Medical History Review Is the Feature Nobody Talks About — and It Should Be Standard
Here’s something that genuinely frustrates us about the pet insurance industry: most companies wait until you file a claim to dig through your pet’s veterinary records. That means you could pay premiums for months or years, thinking you’re covered, only to discover at the worst possible moment that your claim is denied because of something buried in your pet’s medical history.
With Embrace, pet parents can request an optional Medical History Review after enrollment, which gives clarity on how any pre-existing conditions might affect coverage, helping avoid surprises when it’s time to file a claim. This level of transparency is exceedingly rare.
Embrace also distinguishes between curable and incurable pre-existing conditions in their policy language, and they cover curable conditions after 12 months symptom-free. They won’t cover incurable conditions the way Akc does, but their upfront honesty about what will and won’t be covered is something every other insurer should be ashamed of not offering.
| Embrace Pet Insurance details | Info 📋 |
|---|---|
| Customer service phone | 1-855-540-2104 |
| General inquiries | 1-800-511-9172 |
| [email protected] | |
| Headquarters | 4530 Richmond Rd, Cleveland, Ohio 44128 |
| Pre-existing: curable conditions | Covered after 12 months symptom-free ✅ |
| Pre-existing: incurable conditions | Not covered ❌ |
| Medical history review | Available upon request ✅ |
| Healthy pet discount | 5% after year 1 with under $300 in claims; 10% year 2 |
| 24/7 pet health line | PawSupport included free with every policy ✅ |
💡 Pro tip: Call Embrace and specifically ask for the Medical History Review within your first 30 days. If the review reveals that a condition you care about is excluded, you’re still within the money-back guarantee window and can make an informed decision about whether to keep the policy or look elsewhere.
💰 The Aspca’s 180-Day Window Is the Fastest Path to Coverage for Resolved Conditions
If your pet had a condition that was fully treated and resolved — a urinary tract infection, a skin infection, an ear issue — and you need that condition re-covered as fast as possible, the Aspca Pet Health Insurance program offers one of the shortest symptom-free windows in the industry at 180 days.
Aspca covers curable pre-existing issues if the pet is symptom-free for 180 days, except for knee and ligament conditions. That six-month window is half the time Embrace and Figo require, which is a meaningful advantage for pet parents dealing with conditions that have a reasonable chance of returning.
The Aspca also offers strong plan customization, a 10% multi-pet discount, and coverage for horses in addition to dogs and cats — making them one of the most flexible options on the market.
| Aspca Pet Health Insurance details | Info 📋 |
|---|---|
| Customer service email | [email protected] |
| Cancellation fax | 1-866-888-2497 |
| Mailing address | 3840 Greentree Ave SW, Canton, OH 44706 |
| Pre-existing: curable conditions | Covered after 180 days symptom-free ✅ |
| Pre-existing: incurable conditions | Not covered ❌ |
| Waiting period (accidents) | 3 days |
| Waiting period (illnesses) | 14 days |
| Multi-pet discount | 10% |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days (if no claims filed) |
| Covers horses | Yes ✅ |
💡 Pro tip: The Aspca’s waiting periods for accidents and illnesses can potentially be waived in certain states if your vet completes a Health Assessment Exam. Call and ask specifically whether your state qualifies — this is not advertised prominently and most pet parents never find out about it.
⚡ Lemonade Settles Claims in Seconds — but Their Pre-Existing Rules Are Among the Strictest
Lemonade’s ai-powered claims system is genuinely impressive from a technology standpoint. They report that approximately 40% of claims are settled instantly, and their app-based interface makes the entire process feel remarkably modern compared to the paperwork-heavy experience at traditional insurers.
But here’s the catch for pets with pre-existing conditions: select conditions that have been asymptomatic for 12 months may be eligible for coverage. That word “may” is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Lemonade’s policy language around pre-existing conditions is notably less committal than competitors like Aspca or Akc, and their exclusion list for pre-existing, bilateral, and preventable conditions is extensive.
| Lemonade Pet Insurance details | Info 📋 |
|---|---|
| Customer service phone | 1-844-733-8666 |
| [email protected] | |
| Pre-existing: curable conditions | May be covered after 12 months asymptomatic ⚠️ |
| Pre-existing: incurable conditions | Not covered ❌ |
| Claims processing | ~40% settled instantly via ai ✅ |
| Bundling discount | Up to 10% with other Lemonade policies |
| Multi-pet discount | 5% |
💡 Pro tip: Lemonade is an outstanding choice if your pet has no pre-existing conditions and you want blazing-fast claims processing. But if pre-existing coverage is your primary concern, the vague “may be eligible” language should give you pause. Get the policy in writing and have them confirm in advance which specific conditions they will or won’t cover after the 12-month window.
🛡️ Figo and Spot: the Strong Middle-Ground Options Nobody Considers
These two companies don’t get the headlines that Akc or Lemonade do, but they quietly offer some of the most competitive packages for pet parents navigating pre-existing conditions.
Figo stands out for two reasons. First, pet owners can choose up to 100% reimbursement without annual payout limits and avoid copayments entirely — no other major insurer matches this. Second, your deductible drops by $50 each year you don’t file a claim, which rewards healthy pets over time. For pre-existing conditions, Figo covers curable conditions after 12 months symptom-free.
Spot takes a different approach. Spot may cover curable conditions if they have been free of symptoms and professional treatment for 180 days, except for knee and ligament conditions. They also have no maximum age limit for enrollment, making them one of the best options for senior pet parents.
| Feature | Figo 🐕 | Spot 🐾 |
|---|---|---|
| Phone / contact | Text: 844-262-8133 | Online portal / website chat |
| Pre-existing: curable | After 12 months symptom-free ✅ | After 180 days symptom-free ✅ |
| Pre-existing: incurable | No ❌ | No ❌ |
| Max reimbursement | 100% ✅ | Up to 90% |
| Annual limit options | Unlimited available ✅ | Unlimited available ✅ |
| Senior age cap | None ✅ | None ✅ |
| Multi-pet discount | 5% | 10% for multiple pets |
| Costco member discount (Figo only) | 15% off ✅ | N/A |
| Accident waiting period | 1 day ✅ | 14 days |
💡 Pro tip: If you’re a Costco member, Figo’s 15% discount combined with their 100% reimbursement option makes them arguably the best value in the entire pet insurance market for conditions that have already been resolved. Stack that with the deductible reduction for claim-free years, and the math gets very attractive very quickly.
⚠️ The Bilateral Condition Trap That Catches Thousands of Pet Parents Off Guard
This is the dirty secret of pet insurance that gets buried in page 47 of your policy document. Bilateral condition rules differ between providers, and most pet parents don’t discover this until it’s too late.
Here’s how it works: if your dog tears a cruciate ligament in their left knee before your policy starts, most insurers will exclude the right knee as well — even though it was perfectly healthy at enrollment. The logic is that a bilateral condition (one that can affect both sides of the body) on one side predicts it on the other, so both sides become “pre-existing.”
This applies to hip dysplasia, knee injuries, eye conditions like cataracts, and many orthopedic issues. The financial impact can be devastating because these bilateral conditions are among the most expensive to treat, often running $3,000 to $7,000 per side for surgery alone.
| Bilateral condition policies | How they handle it 🔍 |
|---|---|
| Akc Pet Insurance | Covered after 365 days (both sides) ✅ |
| Aspca | Generally excluded if one side is pre-existing ⚠️ |
| Embrace | Generally excluded if one side is pre-existing ⚠️ |
| Figo | Generally excluded if one side is pre-existing ⚠️ |
| Spot | Generally excluded if one side is pre-existing ⚠️ |
| Trupanion | Generally excluded if one side is pre-existing ⚠️ |
💡 Pro tip: Before you enroll, call the insurer directly and ask this exact question: “If my pet has a pre-existing condition on one side of the body, will the same condition on the opposite side also be excluded?” Get the answer in writing. This single question could save you thousands of dollars down the road.
🏥 The Complete Contact Directory for Every Major Pet Insurer
We know how frustrating it is to hunt for the right phone number when you’re stressed about your pet’s health. Here’s every major insurer’s direct contact information in one place:
| Insurance company 🏢 | Phone 📞 | Email ✉️ | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akc Pet Insurance | 1-866-725-2747 | Website contact form | Incurable pre-existing conditions ✅ |
| Aspca Pet Health Insurance | See website | [email protected] | Fast curable coverage (180 days) |
| Embrace Pet Insurance | 1-855-540-2104 | [email protected] | Upfront transparency, medical review |
| Figo Pet Insurance | Text: 844-262-8133 | Website contact form | 100% reimbursement, Costco members |
| Spot Pet Insurance | Website chat | Online portal | Senior pets, no age cap |
| Lemonade Pet Insurance | 1-844-733-8666 | [email protected] | Fast ai claims processing |
| Pumpkin Pet Insurance | 1-866-273-6369 | Website contact form | Puppies and preventive care |
| Pets Best | 1-877-738-7237 | [email protected] | Budget-friendly comprehensive coverage |
| Healthy Paws | 1-855-898-8991 | Website contact form | Fastest claim turnaround |
| MetLife Pet Insurance | 1-877-549-1671 | Website portal | Multi-pet families (shared deductibles) |
🏆 So Which Insurer Should You Actually Choose?
After analyzing every major pet insurance company’s pre-existing condition policies, waiting periods, reimbursement structures, and consumer complaints, here’s our expert recommendation based on your specific situation:
Choose Akc Pet Insurance if: Your pet has a chronic, incurable condition like hip dysplasia, ongoing allergies, or joint deterioration and you can afford to wait 365 days for coverage to kick in. No other major insurer will touch incurable pre-existing conditions. Period. Your pet must be under 9 years old for accident-and-illness coverage.
Choose Aspca if: Your pet had a curable condition that’s already been resolved and you want the shortest possible path back to coverage at 180 days. Their customization options and 10% multi-pet discount sweeten the deal.
Choose Embrace if: You want absolute clarity on what will and won’t be covered before you start paying premiums. Their Medical History Review is the single most consumer-friendly feature in pet insurance, and their healthy pet discount rewards you for keeping your pet well.
Choose Figo if: You want the possibility of 100% reimbursement with no copay and you’re a Costco member looking for the best overall value. Their decreasing deductible structure is a rare and genuine perk.
Choose Spot if: Your pet is a senior with no age cap restrictions and you need curable pre-existing coverage after just 180 days.
| Final verdict | Top pick | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Best for incurable conditions | Akc ✅ | No close second |
| Fastest curable condition path | Aspca (180 days) ✅ | Spot (180 days) ✅ |
| Best transparency | Embrace ✅ | Aspca |
| Best reimbursement rate | Figo (100%) ✅ | Healthy Paws |
| Best for senior pets | Spot ✅ | Figo |
| Fastest claims processing | Lemonade ✅ | Healthy Paws |
| Best overall value | Figo ✅ | Pets Best |
💡 Final pro tip: The single most important thing you can do is enroll your pet as early as possible — ideally as a puppy or kitten before any conditions develop. Every month you wait is another month where a new symptom could become a “pre-existing condition” that follows your pet for life. You can legally switch pet insurance providers at any time, but doing so carries significant consequences that often make switching disadvantageous. The best policy is the one you get before you need it. Your future self — and your pet — will thank you. 🐕