[yorkietalkjilly]

A lot of pre-ex clauses in medical insurance will deem a condition pre-existing if the policyholder claims for a condition that the contract covers with language like - paraphrasing badly - "A condition is considered pre-existing if it is a condition or symptom for which a prudent person sought or should have sought medical treatment". In human situations, this prevents someone suspecting they are ill not going to the doctor and having to pay in full but, instead of buying an insurance policy and then waiting until the policy is in force to see a doctor. I'm sure pet insurance has language to cover situations like that. And for dogs who've been "cleared" as healthy by an owner's vet-check(unless that vet-check met some type of particular terms of the policy) prior to the policy effective date, no doubt they have language to cover themselves for that situation, should a vet miss a condition that generates claims within a specific time-frame after the effective date.

But accidents and conditions that are generally accepted by the vet community to be those that don't take months to show up should be covered. But read your policy very carefully and ask for clarification in writing by the medical director of the company if you don't understand something prior to signing.