Curable vs incurable pre-existing conditions
A cured ear infection can be covered again; a chronic disease cannot. Each insurer's rule and waiting time.
Updated October 6, 2026. Plan facts come from each insurer's published documents; each insurer's policy documents control.
The short answer
A curable condition that has fully healed can be covered again by most insurers after a symptom- and treatment-free period: 180 days at Spot, 12 months at Embrace, Fetch and Lemonade, and 365 days at Healthy Paws; Pets Best says healed conditions are no longer pre-existing. Incurable or chronic conditions stay excluded, and Odie excludes pre-existing conditions for the life of the policy.
What will it cost for your dog?
Pick your breed, age and ZIP code to see the estimated monthly price from the insurers we compare.
Curable-condition rule, by insurer
| Insurer | Curable-condition rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Embrace | Curable covered after 12 months[1] | Curable conditions eligible after 12 consecutive symptom- and treatment-free months; incurable ones permanently excluded. Pre-existing: noted by you or vet in prior 12 months or before end of waiting period, even without a vet visit. |
| Fetch | Curable conditions eligible after 12 symptom-free months[2] | Pre-existing = signs/treatment before coverage or in waiting period; curable conditions coverable after a 12-month exclusionary period. |
| Healthy Paws | Curable after 365 symptom/treatment-free days[3] | Pre-existing = developed before effective date; curable conditions (e.g. kennel cough) may be covered; orthopedic/chronic conditions never considered cured. |
| Lemonade | Curable covered after 12 months[4] | In most states, cured conditions (12 months symptom/treatment-free) can be covered; knee/ligament and chronic conditions cannot. |
| Odie | 18-month look-back; excluded for policy lifetime[5] | No curable-condition reinstatement stated; chronic, bilateral and disc conditions are pre-existing if present at any time before. |
| Pets Best | Curable covered once cured; no period stated[6] | Signs/advice/treatment before effective date or waiting period = pre-existing; healed curable conditions can later be covered. |
| Spot | Curable: covered after 180 days cured[7] | Cured curable conditions free of treatment/symptoms 180 days become new; not for chronic or ligament/knee conditions. |
| Trupanion | Not verified yet | Trupanion's website blocks automated requests, so we could not check this against its policy yet. Ask Trupanion directly. |
From each insurer's own sample policy, terms or FAQ, checked October 2, 2026. Terms vary by state and plan, and the policy you buy controls.
Check how this applies to your breed
What this means for your dog
Curable means something that resolves and needs no further treatment: an ear or urinary infection, kennel cough, a broken leg that healed. Incurable means something that is managed for life: allergies, diabetes, epilepsy, hypothyroidism or heart disease. Those stay excluded once they appear in the record before coverage.
Knees are a special case. Spot and Lemonade say ligament and knee conditions don't qualify as curable, so a past cruciate problem stays excluded, and the bilateral exclusion can extend that to the other knee.
The clock starts at the last symptom or treatment. Keep a record of when your vet declared the problem resolved; that date is what an insurer will check. For breeds prone to recurring ear trouble, like the Cocker Spaniel, a recurrence before the period ends restarts it.
Before you buy
- Ask the insurer whether it distinguishes curable from incurable conditions.
- Find the symptom- and treatment-free period it requires.
- Check whether knee and ligament conditions are excluded from the curable rule.
- Keep the date your vet recorded the condition as resolved.
Questions owners ask
What is a curable pre-existing condition?
One that has fully resolved and needs no further treatment, such as an infection or a healed injury. Several insurers cover it again after a symptom- and treatment-free period.
How long until a cured condition is covered?
Spot: 180 days. Embrace, Fetch and Lemonade: 12 months. Healthy Paws: 365 days. Pets Best says healed conditions are no longer pre-existing, with no period stated.
Are chronic conditions ever covered if pre-existing?
No. Chronic conditions such as allergies, diabetes or heart disease stay excluded if they were present before coverage started.
Are knee injuries curable pre-existing conditions?
Not at Spot or Lemonade, which exclude ligament and knee conditions from their curable rules.
Sources
- What are pre-existing conditions, and does Embrace cover them?. Embrace Pet Insurance.
- Pet Health Insurance Policy Terms and Conditions (sample, GPTM 050 0326 A). Fetch, 2026.
- Frequently Asked Questions | Healthy Paws. Healthy Paws.
- The Ultimate Lemonade Pet FAQ. Lemonade, 2026.
- Help Center - Odie Pet Insurance. Odie Pet Insurance.
- Pet Insurance Coverage | Pets Best. Pets Best Insurance Services.
- Accident & Illness Sample Policy (Arizona, form PET-P-20000-1024, Independence American Insurance Company). Spot Pet Insurance.
How we choose and check sources: Sources we use.
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