New Law Regulates Pet Insurance Industry

Pet insurance policies are often just as difficult to understand as policies for people.

Madison Voss with the California Department of Insurance says over the last decade it has received numerous complaints from pet owners who realized too late that a procedure isn’t covered.

“Pet owners were often purchasing policies either not knowing that pre-existing conditions aren’t covered or the policy language was unclear, which ultimately led to their insurer denying,“ says Voss.

Under the new law, pet insurers would be required to disclose reimbursement policies and offer a free 30-day review period. The industry must better define pre-existing conditions and disclose annual and lifetime policy limits. Pet insurers could face a $5,000 fine for a violation or up to a $10,000 fine for a willful violation.