# Pre-Existing Conditions in NZ Pet Insurance > How NZ pet insurers define and exclude pre-existing conditions — the lookback period (typically 6-24 months before policy start), what counts as 'symptoms', and the bilateral-conditions trap (if a cruciate tear happens on one side before cover starts, is the other side then pre-existing too?). This page documents each insurer's pre-existing-condition definition + bilateral rule verbatim. **Vertical:** pet · **Topic:** pre-existing-conditions · **Snapshot:** 2026-05-18T08:27:31.134Z **Source:** Each product's policy wording PDF (linked per row). License: CC BY 4.0 — attribute https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz. --- ## AA Pet Insurance — AA Pet Insurance Policy **Wording version:** 2025-04-05 · **Confidence:** verified > A pre-existing condition is a condition that first existed or occurred: prior to the commencement date of the first policy period; or within any applicable waiting period; AND which you were aware of, or a reasonable person in your circumstances would have been aware, irrespective of whether the underlying or causative condition has been diagnosed. A pre-existing condition also includes a related condition or bilateral condition of a pre-existing condition. Temporary conditions that have not existed, occurred or shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality in the 18-month period immediately prior to the claim treatment date are not excluded. Chronic conditions that existed or occurred before the commencement date of the first policy period or during any applicable waiting period are always excluded and will never be considered a temporary condition. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/aa-pet/pet-policy/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/aa-pet/pet-policy/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.aa.co.nz/content/dam/nzaa/02-services/insurance/pet-insurance/documents/AAPetInsurancePolicyDocument.pdf --- ## Cove Pet Insurance — Cove Pet Insurance **Wording version:** 2026-05-18 · **Confidence:** verified > If a condition exists or occurs before the commencement date of the first policy period your pet is insured with us or within an applicable waiting period, and you or your vet were aware of the condition, or a reasonable person in your circumstances would have been aware of the condition, it will be excluded from cover as a pre-existing condition. If your pet has a temporary condition that occurred or existed prior to the commencement date of the first policy period you are insured with us or during any applicable waiting period, but that condition has not existed, occurred or shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality in the 18-month period immediately prior to your claim treatment date, it will no longer be excluded from cover as a pre-existing condition. Chronic conditions that occur prior to the commencement date of the first policy period you are insured with us or during any applicable waiting period cannot fall within this category of temporary condition and will always be excluded from cover. Hereditary conditions and congenital conditions will not be considered a pre-existing condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the commencement date of the first policy period or within an applicable waiting period. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/cove-pet/pet-insurance/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/cove-pet/pet-insurance/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.coveinsurance.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Pet-Insurance-Policy-CovePet012022.pdf --- ## Petcover (Petplan NZ) — Petcover Catastrophe Plan **Wording version:** 2026-05-17 · **Confidence:** verified > Pre-Existing Condition(s) means any Condition(s) or symptom(s), sign(s) or Clinical sign(s) of that Condition, Injury or Illness occurring or existing in any form that; a. Has happened or first showed Clinical signs; b. Has the same diagnosis or Clinical signs as an Injury, Illness or Clinical sign Your Pet had; or, c. Is caused by, relates to, or results from, an Injury, Illness or Clinical sign Your Pet had occurring or existing: Before Your Pet's cover started, or prior to the Policy commencement date; During the thirty (30) day Waiting Period; or Before the section was added to Your insurance. This applies no matter where the Injury, Illness or Clinical sign(s) occurred or happen in, or on, Your Pet's body. This is regardless of whether or not We place any exclusion(s) for the Injury/Illness. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petcover/catastrophe/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petcover/catastrophe/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.petcovergroup.com/nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/12/PCNZ-PDS_SOV-SN_Catastrophe-v14112022.pdf --- ## Southern Cross Pet Insurance — AcciPet (Accident-only) **Wording version:** 2023-12-01 · **Confidence:** verified > A pre-existing condition is a health condition, behaviour, sign, symptom, or event relating to or resulting from an accidental injury that your pet had and that you knew about (or should reasonably have known about) before your policy start date, or during the relevant stand down period. Any accidental injury related to a pre-existing condition is excluded, including where a pre-existing condition is the underlying cause, associated with, or otherwise related to the accidental injury. If a pre-existing condition affects a body part the pet has more than one of (e.g. a leg) and increases the risk of the other body part being injured, the same accidental injury in the other body part is also treated as a pre-existing condition and excluded, even if it occurs after the policy start date. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/accipet/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/accipet/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/AcciPet-Policy-Doc.pdf --- ## Southern Cross Pet Insurance — FreeCover (Trial) **Wording version:** 2025-09-01 · **Confidence:** verified > A pre-existing condition is a health condition relating to your pet that you knew about (or should reasonably have known about) before your policy start date, or during the relevant stand down period. This includes any health condition, sign, symptom, or event — whether or not a vet has diagnosed it — to which any of the following apply before the policy start date or relevant stand down period: you have sought advice, or a vet has recommended care, treatment, or medication for the condition; you're awaiting test results or further investigation, treatment, or consultation with a vet for the condition; the condition requires, may potentially require, or would have caused a reasonable person to seek help from a vet. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/freecover/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/freecover/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/freecover-policy-Doc.pdf --- ## Southern Cross Pet Insurance — PetCare (Comprehensive) **Wording version:** 2023-12-01 · **Confidence:** verified > A pre-existing condition is a health condition relating to your pet that you knew about (or should reasonably have known about) before your policy start date, or during the relevant stand down period. This includes any health condition, sign, symptom, or event — whether or not a vet has diagnosed it — to which any of the following apply before the policy start date or relevant stand down period: You have sought advice, or a vet has recommended care, treatment, or medication for the condition. You're awaiting test results or further investigation, treatment, or consultation with a vet for the condition. The condition requires, may potentially require, or would have caused a reasonable person to seek help from a vet. We won't cover any of your pet's pre-existing conditions unless we have agreed to do so in writing. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/petcare/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/petcare/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/PetCare-Policy-Doc.pdf --- ## SPCA Pet Insurance — Big Stuff Cover **Wording version:** 2026-05-17 · **Confidence:** verified > A Condition that existed or occurred prior to the Commencement Date of the first Policy Period or within any applicable Waiting Period, of which you or your Vet were aware or a reasonable person in your circumstances would have been aware, irrespective of whether the underlying or causative Condition has been diagnosed. A Pre-existing Condition also includes a Related Condition or Bilateral Condition of a Pre-existing Condition. After the end of any applicable Waiting Period, a Condition will no longer be considered a Pre-existing Condition if it is a Temporary Condition that has not existed, occurred or shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality in the 18-month period immediately prior to your claim Treatment date. Chronic Conditions and several other specified Conditions cannot fall within the category of Temporary Condition and will always be excluded from Cover. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/big-stuff/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/big-stuff/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.spcapetinsurance.co.nz/documents/spca-pet-insurance-big-stuff-cover-policy-document.pdf --- ## SPCA Pet Insurance — The Works (Comprehensive) **Wording version:** 2026-05-17 · **Confidence:** verified > A Condition that existed or occurred prior to the Commencement Date of the first Policy Period or within any applicable Waiting Period, of which you or your Vet were aware or a reasonable person in your circumstances would have been aware, irrespective of whether the underlying or causative Condition has been diagnosed. A Pre-existing Condition also includes a Related Condition or Bilateral Condition of a Pre-existing Condition. After the end of any applicable Waiting Period, a Condition will no longer be considered a Pre-existing Condition if it is a Temporary Condition that has not existed, occurred or shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality in the 18-month period immediately prior to your claim Treatment date. Chronic Conditions and several other specified Conditions cannot fall within the category of Temporary Condition and will always be excluded from Cover. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/the-works/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/the-works/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.spcapetinsurance.co.nz/documents/spca-pet-insurance-the-works-cover-policy-document.pdf --- ## Tower Pet Insurance — Pet Comprehensive + Essentials **Wording version:** 2026-05-18 · **Confidence:** verified > Pre-existing condition means any conditions, or, any medical or physical signs, symptoms or circumstances in relation to your pet: (1) which you are aware of, or which a reasonable person in your circumstances ought to have been aware of; or (2) for which veterinary advice, care, treatment or medication has been sought, given or recommended; or (3) which has been diagnosed as a condition, or which are indicative of a condition; or (4) which are of such a nature to require, or may potentially require veterinary attention; or (5) which are of such a nature as would have caused a prudent, reasonable person to seek veterinary attention for their pet, prior to the start date of your policy, or prior to the date any applicable claims waiting period ceases. Any new condition, or any sign or symptom of a new condition which first presents within the claims waiting period will be treated in the same way as a pre-existing condition and will not be covered. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/tower-pet/pet-comprehensive-essentials/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/tower-pet/pet-comprehensive-essentials/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.tower.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Pet_Comprehensive_Essentials.pdf --- **9** of 11 indexed products have on-file cover language for this topic. **Canonical URL:** https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/topics/pre-existing-conditions/