Like every pet insurance plan, our plans have some exclusions in order to keep prices affordable. We provide this information so you can fully prepare for your pets’ veterinary needs.
Pre-existing conditions Any illness or injury that begins before your policy is effective, or during your waiting period, will be considered “pre-existing”. Even if your pet had no signs or symptoms and wasn’t diagnosed, some conditions can still be considered pre-existing.
Some conditions, like broken legs, heal and require no further treatment. Once healed, these are not considered pre-existing conditions.
Congenital Conditions Congenital conditions are present at birth, even if they aren’t noticeable right away, and are therefore considered pre-existing. The most common examples of congenital conditions include patellar luxation, umbilical hernia, elongated soft palate and portosystemic shunt.
Preventable conditions Conditions that could’ve been prevented are not covered. For example, if your dog is not vaccinated against kennel cough, kennel cough diagnosis and treatment will not be covered. The same applies to any other illness that can be vaccinated against, as well as obesity, and the treatment of gingivitis and periodontal disease caused by tarter accumulation.
or call Pets Best at 866-440-2020
Elective and preventive procedures Elective procedures such as tail docking, ear cropping, nail trimming, feline declawing, dewclaw removal, elective gastropexy, and anal gland expression and removal are not covered expenses. Limited coverage for vaccines and preventive care is available with our optional BestWellness™ plan.
Non-veterinary expenses, food, special diets, vitamins and supplements Non-veterinary expenses like taxes, administration fees, bio-hazardous waste disposal fees, transportation and house call fees, shipping and handling fees, bathing, grooming, and any service not performed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian are not covered. We also do not cover food, vitamins or supplements, even when prescribed by a veterinarian.
Breeding and reproduction expenses Expenses for breeding, reproduction and related conditions are not covered.
Herbal, holistic and alternative therapies (except chiropractic and acupuncture) Our pet insurance plans offer limited coverage for chiropractic and acupuncture services. All other herbal, holistic and alternative therapies are not covered.
Parasites Our regular pet insurance plans don’t cover parasitic testing, treatments or prevention. Parasites include but are not limited to: fleas, ticks, heartworms, roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, tapeworms, giardia, coccidia, ear mites or scabies. Limited coverage for parasite testing and prevention is available with our optional BestWellness™ plan.
Coverage in Some Cases
Hereditary conditions - if a pet is enrolled after its second birthday Pets may have a genetic predisposition to develop certain hereditary conditions. If you enroll your pet before its second birthday, we will include limited coverage for hereditary conditions, otherwise hereditary conditions are excluded from coverage. To see the amount of coverage provided by each plan, visit our Plan Information page. To learn what is considered hereditary, please view our short list of hereditary conditions.
Cruciate ligament injuries - after the first 12 months of your policy
In most cases, cruciate ligament injuries won’t be covered during the first 12 months of your policy. After 12 months, regular benefits will apply to cruciate injures that develop after the first year of coverage.
Note for all states: In very few cases, limited coverage will be available in the first year. A Licensed Agent can explain your specific policy options to you.
Note for Illinois Residents: Policies include a limited reimbursement for cruciate injuries that occur after the 14-day waiting period and during the first six months of the policy. Regular benefits apply to cruciate injuries that develop thereafter.
Pregnancy - in certain breeds When not breeding, pregnancy coverage for most breeds has a limited reimbursement amount. Please see our list of excluded breeds.
Coverage Only with BestWellness™ Added to Your Plan for $22/Month
Routine care Our BestWellness plan helps pay for wellness exams, vaccines, spays and neuters, dental cleanings, routine diagnostics and more. You can add BestWellness for $22 per month at the time of purchase or upon annual renewal.
Dental cleanings BestWellness reimburses up to $100 each year for teeth cleaning, and there’s no deductible to meet.
Fleas, ticks and heartworm BestWellness helps pay for the testing and prevention of fleas, ticks and heartworm.
or call Pets Best at 866-440-2020