Compare UK pet insurers
See how 24 UK pet insurers differ on the things that can matter when you claim.
Not sure where to start?
I’m worried about a big vet bill
Check what you may need to pay and where policy limits could apply.
Health problems your pet already had
Also called pre-existing conditions
See how insurers describe conditions, symptoms or treatment from before the policy started.
Listed A–Z. We do not rank this question, because what insurers publish here is wording and bands rather than one comparable figure. No recommendations.
The story of a pre-existing condition
Insurance covers surprises that happen after you buy the policy. Here's how that plays out in real life.
Anything that starts after your policy (and waiting period) is usually treatable under your cover.
Anything your pet had signs of before cover started is usually treated as "pre-existing" — even if a vet didn't formally diagnose it.
Visual explainer
How insurers usually decide if something is pre-existing
A condition seen or treated before your policy started is usually treated as pre-existing.
Before your policy started
Any signs, symptoms, or vet visits related to a condition.
Policy starts
Cover begins — subject to waiting periods.
Later — same condition returns
Vet treats a flare-up of something noted before.
Usually excluded
Because the condition was known before cover began.
Sometimes reviewed
If the pet has been symptom-free for a set period.
New, unrelated issue
Usually assessed like any other claim.
Every insurer defines this slightly differently — always check your policy wording.
Explore real scenarios
Pick a situation to see what usually happens — and what to ask.
My dog had an ear infection last year
Usually excludedMost insurers will exclude future ear infections and related ear treatment, at least initially. Some may review the exclusion if your dog has been symptom-free for a set period (often 24 months).
The condition already exists in your pet's clinical history, so insurers see it as an ongoing risk rather than an insurable surprise.
- Will the exclusion be reviewed after a symptom-free period?
- Does the exclusion cover both ears or just one?
- Does it apply to all ear problems or only this type?
Educational only. Insurer definitions differ — always check your own policy wording.
Why insurers work this way
Three simple reasons — no jargon.
Insurance covers surprises
Insurance is designed to pay for unexpected new problems, not treatment for things your pet already had. That's why the start date of your policy matters so much.
Symptoms count, not just diagnoses
Insurers read your vet's clinical notes. Signs that appeared before cover started can be treated as pre-existing — even without a formal diagnosis.
Some conditions can be reviewed
A number of insurers will re-cover a condition after a set symptom-free period. This isn't universal, and the rules vary — always check the wording.
Ask Willow about your pet
Willow is our free AI guide. She'll explain how pre-existing conditions might affect your pet — in plain English, no sales pitch.
Related knowledge
Browse allThinking of switching insurers?
Pre-existing conditions travel with your pet — switching can restart exclusions. See what to check before you move.
Wondering how a specific condition would be treated? Ask Willow →
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Last reviewed 9 July 2026 · Publicly available UK insurer policy documents.