Like every insurance plan, Pets Best Insurance plans have some exclusions in order to keep premiums affordable. Please read this section carefully. By understanding what’s not covered, you can prepare for your pets’ veterinary needs.
Routine care without the BestWellness™ add-on
Routine care isn’t covered under our regular plans. If you’d like coverage for wellness exams, vaccines, spays and neuters, dental cleanings, and routine diagnostics, please add the optional BestWellness™ plan to your policy at the time of purchase or upon annual renewal.
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, this would not be considered a pre-existing condition.
Pets with serious ongoing conditions like diabetes, Addison’s disease and Immune Mediated Anemia are not eligible for full health coverage, but we will be happy to offer accident-only coverage.
Congenital Conditions
Congenital conditions or disorders are present at birth, even if they aren’t noticeable right away. They are all considered pre-existing and will not be covered. Caused by genetic abnormalities or other unknown factors, the most common examples of congenital conditions are patellar luxation, umbilical hernia, entropion, ectropion, elongated soft palate, stenotic nares, malocclusion, mitral valve defects, patent ductus arteriosis, ventricular septal defect and portosystemic shunt.
Hereditary conditions (if a pet is enrolled after its second birthday)
Hereditary conditions are genetically passed to pets from their parents. If you purchase a Pets Best Insurance plan for your pet before its second birthday, we will include limited coverage for hereditary conditions. To see the amount of coverage provided by each plan, visit our Coverage Details page. To learn what is considered hereditary, please view our list of hereditary conditions.
Cruciate ligament injuries during the first 12 months of your policy
Your pet has two cruciate ligaments in each of his knees. If one of these ligaments tears or becomes injured, this is called a “cruciate ligament injury”, and in most cases, the condition won’t be covered in 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. In addition, we don’t consider cruciate injuries to be bi-lateral. For example, if your dog tears a ligament in his right knee, we won’t consider a later tear in the left knee to be pre-existing like some companies do.
Note for all states: In very few cases, limited coverage will be available in the first year. A Customer Care team member 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.
Note for Hawaii and Maryland Residents: Policies include a limited reimbursement for cruciate injuries that occur after the 14-day waiting period and during the year the policy. Regular benefits apply to cruciate injuries that develop thereafter.
Parasites
Our regular 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. In most states, you may receive limited coverage for the testing and prevention of fleas, ticks and heartworm by purchasing the optional BestWellness™ coverage.
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.
Elective and preventative 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.
For spay and neuter coverage, you may add the optional BestWellness™ plan to your policy for a one-time reimbursement of $100 with no deductible.
Food, special diets, vitamins and supplements
Our plans cover all products on the FDA list of approved veterinary drugs, and this does not include food, vitamins or supplements.
Routine dental cleaning, gingivitis and progressive periodontal disease
Our regular plans don’t cover routine dental cleanings or treatment of gingivitis and periodontal disease caused by tarter accumulation. However, our optional BestWellness™ routine care coverage reimburses $100 each year for teeth cleaning, and there’s no deductible.
Pregnancy in certain breeds; breeding and reproduction expenses
Expenses for breeding, reproduction and related conditions are not covered. When not breeding, pregnancy coverage for most breeds has a limited reimbursement amount. Some breeds are excluded completely, and you can see that list here.
Non-veterinary expenses
Non-veterinary expenses aren’t covered. Examples include 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.
Herbal, holistic and alternative therapies (except chiropractic and acupuncture)
Our plans offer limited coverage for chiropractic and acupuncture services. All other herbal, holistic and alternative therapies are not covered.
Looking for something else?
For more information, contact Customer Care at customercare@petsbest.com, or call our toll-free number, 1-877-738-7237 ext. 1, Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 5 PM, and Saturday 10 Am to 2 PM, Mountain Time.