Does Pet Insurance Cover Chronic Conditions?

When pets are diagnosed with a chronic condition, there may be financial and emotional weight to the decisions you have to make regarding their well-being. But the last thing you likely want to worry about is the cost of care dictating those decisions.

MetLife Pet Insurance can help you with chronic condition expenses by reimbursing you for covered costs.¹ But getting a plan for your pet before a condition manifests is key. Let’s explore how our coverage works for pet chronic conditions.

MetLife Pet Offers Coverage for Chronic Condition Costs

MetLife Pet’s accident and illness policy can typically reimburse you up to 90% of costs related to your pet’s chronic condition diagnosis and treatment.¹

A chronic condition is a detectable condition that, once developed, is considered incurable or likely to continue for the rest of your pet’s life. Pets may display symptoms or be regularly affected by the condition, have flare-ups that come and go over time, or have more distinct relapses.²

Each condition requires specific veterinary care to diagnose and treat.² Having a pet insurance policy — like MetLife Pet’s — that covers a wide variety of services can be beneficial. Note that accident-only pet insurance plans typically won’t cover chronic conditions classified as an illness.

Can you see any vet for care?

Depending on the complexity of the issue, your regular vet may refer your pet to veterinary specialists who can provide advanced care specific to your pet’s chronic condition. These could include cardiologists for heart disease, oncologists for cancer, or physical therapists for rehabilitation.

With MetLife Pet Insurance, you can take your dog or cat to any licensed vet in the country — including specialists and emergency vets — to get the care your pet needs.

What Types of Chronic Conditions Can Be Covered?

Just like humans, there are many chronic conditions pets can be diagnosed with. MetLife Pet Insurance’s plans can typically provide coverage for chronic conditions such as:

• Addison’s disease
• Allergies and asthma
• Cancer
• Cushing’s disease
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Organ diseases (like heart, kidney, or liver)
• Orthopedic conditions (like arthritis, hip dysplasia, and IVDD)

Pet insurance providers — including MetLife Pet — generally don’t cover pre-existing chronic conditions. More on this later.

What chronic condition expenses are included in coverage?

In addition to specific conditions, it might be helpful to see the types of costs you could be reimbursed for.¹ MetLife Pet’s standard accident and illness policy can typically help you cover chronic condition-related expenses like:

• Diagnostics (including X-rays, blood tests, and ultrasounds)
• Exam fees
• Follow-up vet visits
• Surgeries
• Prescribed supplements, food, and medications
• Hospitalization and emergency care
• Prescribed alternative therapies (like physical therapy, hydrotherapy, or acupuncture)

Take a look at our coverage and exclusions page, or your specific policy, for more details on what could be covered.

Exclusions to Chronic Condition Coverage

As we mentioned, pet insurance providers, including MetLife Pet, typically don’t cover pre-existing conditions. If your pet displayed symptoms or was previously diagnosed with a chronic condition — before enrollment or during applicable waiting periods — expenses related to it generally won’t be covered.

There are some situations in which a provider may offer coverage for pre-existing conditions that have been symptom- or treatment-free for a period of time. MetLife Pet doesn’t offer this for pre-existing chronic conditions. The best way to avoid pre-existing condition exclusions is to enroll your pet early.

However, MetLife Pet may be able to help you in another way. If your pet’s chronic condition is currently covered by a different provider and you switch to a MetLife Pet plan through your employer, you may be able to get continued coverage for the condition.³

The Cost of Managing Chronic Conditions in Pets

Chronic conditions often require lifelong care. With that comes various — and sometimes expensive — vet bills. Managing conditions can include expenses for blood tests, specific diagnostic tests and imaging, medications, medical supplies, vet visits, prescription diets, and specialized treatments.²

One way pet insurance can help you pay for vet bills is by reimbursing you for covered expenses.¹ By getting MetLife Pet Insurance for your cat or dog before a chronic condition manifests, you don’t have to shoulder the financial weight of long-term vet bills alone. Pet insurance could also help you gain access to chronic condition care that may be out of reach without it — helping you get the necessary care your pet needs to feel their best.

MetLife Pet members who saved on chronic condition costs

The cost of chronic conditions can vary based on what your pet needs, where and how often they receive care, and where you live. Let’s take a look at some real-life examples of MetLife Pet policyholders getting money back on their pet’s chronic condition costs:⁴

• Mateo the cat has periodontal disease. It progressed to the point where he needed tooth extractions. His owners enrolled Mateo in a MetLife Pet plan before the initial diagnosis, so they got more than $1,300 back on the $1,450 bill.
• Richie, a senior pup, already had a pet insurance policy when he was diagnosed with heart disease. To check on the condition, he was brought to the vet for diagnostics, which cost more than $650. His family was reimbursed nearly $600.
• A dog named Elle has had diabetes for many years and was diagnosed after she was enrolled in a MetLife Pet plan. Her family was reimbursed over $250 for Elle’s insulin prescription that was close to $300.

Whether it’s a recurring or surprise expense, a MetLife Pet policy can help you prioritize your pet’s chronic care.

Get Pet Insurance for Chronic Conditions With MetLife Pet

Pets with chronic conditions can still live good-quality lives with the right care.² Pet insurance can help you manage the costs so you can confidently make care decisions based on what’s best for your beloved companion.

Customize your dog or cat’s MetLife Pet policy and get up to 90% back on covered costs like diagnostics, surgeries, shots, medications, and vet visits.¹ You can even combine up to three pets on a single policy with a shared deductible when you enroll your pets in our unique Family Plan.¹ See your options and personalized rates today by getting a free quote.