Coverage for pre-existing conditions
With our additional coverage for pre-existing conditions, you can insure your furry friend’s health issues that existed before the start of the insurance.
What is a pre-existing condition
At Calingo, a pre-existing condition is defined as an illness or accident-related injury that occurred before the start of the insurance, was already apparent, or could have been diagnosed by a veterinarian during an examination, as well as any resulting follow-up treatment. Minor treatments, such as a healed ear infection, are not considered pre-existing conditions.
Such conditions are normally excluded from Swiss pet insurance policies. Calingo Pet is the only Swiss pet insurance company that also covers your furry friend's pre-existing conditions.
Minor treatments such as a healed ear infection are not considered pre-existing conditions.
Calingo considers health problems to be pre-existing conditions if:
- your pet received a diagnosis or treatment for this illness or injury before the insurance began.
- the illness or injury could have been diagnosed by an appropriate veterinary examination. Please note that health problems that have not yet been diagnosed or have been misdiagnosed may therefore also be considered pre-existing conditions, provided they were apparent before the start of the contract.
When can we not cover the costs of a pre-existing condition?
In the case of accidents and illnesses for which your pet received treatment or a diagnosis for the first time in the three months prior to the start of the insurance.
Pre-existing condition timline
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When is it worth insuring pre-existing conditions?
Additional coverage for pre-existing conditions is generally worthwhile if regular costs are expected (e.g., lifelong medications, check-ups at the vet, or special food). These are usually chronic, incurable, or recurring conditions. Classic examples include allergies, arthritis, or diabetes. Since the insurance premium is higher if you include the additional coverage, we recommend comparing the higher premium to the expected vet costs per year. For example, if you pay CHF 300 more per year for the additional insurance and expect CHF 800 in vet costs per year, then the additional coverage is worth it for you.
Benefits for pre-existing conditions
The maximum annual insurance coverage that Calingo provides for pre-existing conditions is CHF 1,500. Please note that you must pay the first CHF 300 for the treatment of a pre-existing condition only once – not per policy year. Once these CHF 300 are paid, we cover 80% or 60% of the treatment costs, depending on your pet’s age.
Pre-existing conditions - comprehensive protection for your furry friend
We believe that all pets even with pre-existing conditions deserve the best possible protection. That's why Calingo also covers pre-existing conditions.
Pre insrance start date
We offer personalized protection for each pre-existing condition
Genetic & hereditary conditions
Only hereditary conditions that are recognizable before the policy start date are considered pre-existing conditions
Not a pre-existing condition
If the last treatment was more than 24 months ago, you don’t need additional coverage for this condition
Frequently asked questions
A congenital defect or hereditary disease is only treated as a pre-existing condition if it was known before the insurance began. Such conditions are only covered if additional coverage for pre-existing conditions has been purchased.
No, it is not possible to add a pre-existing condition retroactively to an existing policy if the condition was diagnosed before the insurance was taken out. This sepesific pre-existing condition remains excluded from coverage, even if you were to add the additional coverage upon policy renewal.
The coverage amount of CHF 1,500 applies per year for all pre-existing conditions combined. You pay a CHF 300 deductible once per pre-existing condition. Once the deductible has been paid for a condition, no further deductibles will be applied for the same treatments during the policy term. The deductible is subtracted from the initial treatment costs, and then Calingo covers 80%, or 60% for pets over 9 years, of the remaining costs, up to the annual coverage limit of CHF 1,500 for all pre-existing conditions.
In your case, complementary medical treatment falls under the category of "pre-existing condition" because the torn ligament occurred before you took out insurance and there is a causal link to the complementary medical treatment. To cover these treatments, you need supplementary insurance for pre-existing conditions. Without this supplement, the treatments would not be covered.
Since arthritis is joint-specific and has a genetic predisposition (hereditary condition), the occurrence in another joint, like the left knee in your case, is not considered a pre-existing condition. In this case, it would fall under coverage for hereditary conditions and would be covered by the basic insurance.
In this case, the first veterinary visit is relevant, even if the diagnosis was initially incorrect. A pre-existing condition is defined as an illness or accident-related injury that occurred before the insurance began, was already recognizable, or could have been diagnosed by a veterinarian during an examination, including any resulting follow-up treatments.
Cat insurance as unique as your furry nose
