Pet insurance is becoming a popular choice for pet owners, fueled by an increase in pet ownership during the pandemic, advancements in veterinary medicine, and a growing recognition that pets (or “companion animals”) are members of the family. Although the pet insurance industry is accelerating at a record pace, many owners have been irritated by the claims process and the surprising lack of sufficient coverage. To address some of these concerns, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is working on a proposed model law that may offer better protection to owners and ensure a consistent regulatory framework among states.
The basics of pet insurance coverage
Pet insurance is a unique product. Although it contains many elements of human health insurance, it is considered a type of property and casualty insurance. On the marketplace, an owner generally has three coverage options: (1) accident only, (2) accident and illness (the most popular), or (3) accident, illness, and wellness (preventive).
The first pet insurance policy in the United States was issued by Veterinary Pet Insurance (now Nationwide) in 1982 for the famous TV dog, Lassie. Nearly 40 years later in 2021, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) reported that pet insurers collected $2.6 billion in premiums – 88% of which came from policies insuring dogs. And, insurers are not just collecting; they are paying some significant claims. The highest paid claim in 2021 was $50,602 for a 5-year old terrier mix in New York who was hit by a car.
Major concerns
The largest drawback of currently available policies is that they all exclude coverage for “pre-existing conditions.” This exclusion may mean that conditions diagnosed or treated in a particular coverage period would be excluded in a subsequent policy period, to the surprise of many owners. For example, one insurer denied a claim for a dog’s hospitalization after swallowing a stuffed animal, citing the dog’s “pre-existing condition” for eating objects. Policies also generally exclude coverage for hereditary conditions and may require a month-long waiting period before coverage even kicks in.
Some pet insurers have also been the subject of consumer fraud claims. One pet insurance broker was the subject of a class action lawsuit in 2020 for its violation of various states’ consumer protection laws because it allegedly misrepresented the basis for changes to an insured’s monthly premiums – some of which increased nearly 200% over a certain period. In addition, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner in Washington found that two insurers, ACE American Insurance Company and Indemnity Insurance Company of North America (Chubb), overcharged consumers through rate increases and did not disclose the increases to their customers. It ordered the companies to repay $4.7 million – including interest – to policyholders.Continue Reading Pet insurance: Proposed model rules may afford better protection to paw-licyholders