Notice for Pennsylvania residents
PENNSYLVANIA INSURER DISCLOSURE OF IMPORTANT POLICY PROVISIONS
As of January 18, 2025
The following is a summary notice of some of your policy terms and conditions. Please read your policy fully to understand all terms and conditions.
You have 30 days from the day you receive this policy, certificate or rider to review and return it to the company if you decide not to keep it. You do not have to tell the company why you are returning it. If you decide not to keep it, simply return it to the company at its administrative office or you may return it to the agent or insurance producer that you bought it from as long as you have not filed a claim. You must return it within 30 days of the day you first received it. The company will refund the full amount of any premium paid within 30 days after it receives the returned policy, certificate or rider. The premium refund will be sent directly to the person who paid it. The policy, certificate or rider will be void as if it had never been issued.
- Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Please see the definition of pre-existing conditions below and in your policy forms.
- Congenital anomaly(ies) or disorder(s) where clinical sign(s) were apparent prior to the effective date of the policy or that became apparent during the waiting period beginning on the effective date of this policy are not covered. Please see the definition of Congenital anomaly(ies) or disorder(s) below and in your policy forms.
- There is a three hundred sixty-five (365) day exclusionary period for any curable medical condition that is observed, recorded, or identified up to three hundred sixty-five (365) days prior to the original inception date of the policy, during the waiting period, or during your pet’s first exam. A second three hundred sixty-five (365) day exclusionary period will apply if the curable medical condition reoccurs within the first three hundred sixty-five (365) days after the original inception date of the policy. If the same curable medical condition reoccurs during the second exclusionary period, then it will be excluded from coverage for the life of your pet. Please see the definition of curable medical condition below and in your policy forms. Other exclusions may apply. Please refer to the exclusions section of your policy for more complete information.
Please see the below definitions:
- “Pre-existing condition” means any condition for which any of the following are true prior to the original inception date of a pet insurance policy or during any waiting period:
- (1) A veterinarian provided medical advice;
- (2) The pet received previous treatment; or
- (3) Based on information from verifiable sources, the pet had clinical signs or symptoms directly related to the condition for which a claim is being made. The pet received previous treatment; or
- (4) Based on information from verifiable sources, the pet had clinical signs or symptoms directly related to the condition for which a claim is being made.
- (5) A condition for which coverage is afforded on a policy cannot be considered a preexisting condition on any renewal of the policy.
- “Congenital anomaly(ies) or disorder(s)” means any condition that is present from birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment, which may cause or contribute to illness or disease.
- “Curable Medical Condition” means any medical condition or injury that can be completely resolved without recurrence or any manifestations of clinical signs.
- “First Exam” means the earliest comprehensive exam of your pet administered by a veterinarian encompassing all body systems of the pet that is documented in a written veterinarian record.
- “Insurance Producer” is a person that sells, solicits or negotiates contracts of insurance.
- “Insured” is a person on whose behalf a pet insurer is obligated to pay or reimburse covered veterinary expenses under a pet insurance policy.
- “Orthopedic” refers to conditions affecting the bones, skeletal muscle, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and joints. It includes, but is not limited to, elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, intervertebral disc degeneration, patellar luxation, and ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments. It does not include cancers or metabolic, hemopoietic, or autoimmune diseases.
- “Practice of Veterinary Medicine” this includes, but is not limited to, the practice by any person who (i) diagnoses, treats, corrects, changes, relieves or prevents animal disease, deformity, injury or other physical, mental or dental conditions by any method or mode, including the prescription or administration of any drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, application, anesthetic or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance or technique, (ii) performs a surgical operation, including cosmetic surgery, upon any animal, (iii) performs any manual procedure upon an animal for the diagnosis or treatment of sterility or infertility of animals, (iv) represents himself as engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, (v) offers, undertakes, or holds himself out as being able to diagnose, treat, operate, vaccinate, or prescribe for any animal disease, pain, injury, deformity, or physical condition, (vi) uses any words, letters, or titles in such connection or under such circumstances as to induce the belief that the person using them is engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine and such use shall be prima facie evidence of the intention to represent himself as engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, (vii) performs diagnostic veterinary pathology, (viii) implants electronic identification, as determined by the board, upon any animal, (ix) renders advice or recommendation by any means, including the electronic transmission of data with regard to any of the above, or (x) removes any embryo from an animal for the purpose of transferring such embryo into another animal or cryopreserving such embryo, except it shall not be considered the practice of veterinary medicine when: (a) a person or his full-time employe removes or transfers an embryo from the person's own animals for the purpose of transferring or cryopreserving the embryo so long as ownership of the animal is not transferred or employment of the person is not changed for the purpose of circumventing this act or (b) a
person independently, with indirect veterinary supervision, implants any embryo into an animal.
- “Pet insurance policy” means a property insurance policy, certificate, or rider that provides coverage for accidents and illnesses of pets.
- “Pet Insurer” is an insurer that issues a pet insurance policy.
- “Renewal” or to renew means the issuance and delivery by an insurer of a policy superseding at the end of the policy period a policy previously issued and delivered by the same insurer or affiliated insurer, such renewal policy to provide types and limits of coverage at least equal to those contained in the policy being superseded, or the issuance and delivery of a certificate or notice extending the term of a policy beyond its policy period or term with types and limits of coverage at least equal to those contained in the policy being extended: Provided, however, That any policy with a policy period or term of less than twelve months or any period with no fixed expiration date shall for the purpose of this act be considered as if written for successive policy periods or terms of twelve months.
- “Veterinarian” means an individual who holds a valid license to practice veterinary medicine from the appropriate licensing entity in the U.S. or Canadian jurisdiction in which the individual practices.
- “Waiting period” (1) The period of time specified in a pet insurance policy that is required to transpire before some or all of the coverage in the policy can begin. (2) A waiting period may not be applied to a renewal of existing coverage.
Additional Policy Provisions:
- Coverage includes annual limits, per-incident or annual deductibles, and co-pay amounts as specified on your declarations page.
- Waiting Periods and any Exclusionary Periods begin on your effective date which is listed on your Declarations Page. There is a fifteen (15) day waiting period beginning on the original inception date of this policy during which we will not cover any injury resulting from normal activity, illness, behavioral disorder, or any other coverage provided by this policy, except for, or resulting from, an accident to your pet. Accidents or injuries resulting from an unexpected event do not have a waiting period. There is a thirty (30) day period beginning on the effective date of this policy during which we will not cover any orthopedic condition not resulting from an injury or accident.
- The waiting period will not apply to any renewal of your policy if renewal coverage is continuously maintained with us. Medical conditions for which clinical sign(s) were observed during the waiting period are excluded from this policy as pre-existing conditions. (See also Section V.e.) However, we will allow for waiver of the waiting period with a comprehensive exam of your pet administered by a veterinarian encompassing all body systems of the pet that is documented in a written veterinarian record within the first fifteen (15) days after the original inception date of the policy for any injury resulting from normal activity, illness, behavioral disorder, or any other coverage provided by this policy. We will allow for a waiver of the waiting period for orthopedic conditions of the knees if your pet is examined by a veterinarian within the first thirty (30) days after the original inception date of the policy and the medical record specifically notes your pet does not have any pre-existing conditions relating to the knees, subject to the waiting period for orthopedic conditions. The written medical record should specifically note your pet does not have any pre-existing conditions.
- You must take care of your pet and arrange and pay for your pet to have the following:
- i. A First Exam;
- ii. Any treatment recommended for your pet by a veterinarian to prevent illness or injury including, but not limited, to an annual physical examination, dental examination, or preventative veterinary medication;
- iii. Adequate and prudent care of your pet including, but not limited to, protecting your pet from any exacerbation and/or persistence of any injury or illness after initial occurrence or accident. This includes protecting your pet with proper maintenance and preventative care as recommended by a veterinarian.
- If your pet has not had a first exam within 12 (twelve) months prior to or (30) thirty days after the original inception date of the policy, you must arrange to have a first exam of your pet examined at your own expense as early as possible. Failure to have a first exam may reduce coverage provided by your policy for your pet. (see V. General Exclusions, mm.)
- Premiums may be increased and coverage may be reduced based on your pet’s individual claim history. Premiums are also affected by your geographic location, pet's age, and breed.
- Claims are reimbursed for any medically necessary treatment your pet has received during the policy period for a covered illness or injury. This is subject to calculating the co-pay, then the deductible and then we reimburse up to the maximum annual limit as specified on your declarations page, subject to any exclusions, special limits and the policy terms and conditions.
- You must complete and send to us a claim form describing the loss as soon as practicable but no later than ninety (90) days after the date of treatment. This form must list the following information:
- i. Your name;
- ii. The description of your pet;
- iii. Your policy number; and
- iv. Description of claimed illness or injury.
- You may cancel this policy at any time by calling us and stating the future date that you wish the cancellation to be effective. We will not backdate a cancellation unless you provide written proof that your pet has passed away or is no longer in your possession. If you notify us within the first thirty (30) days from the original inception date shown on the declarations page, and you have not submitted any claim against this policy, we will refund the entire premium. After thirty (30) days, we will return the pro rata premium based upon the date of termination of this policy.
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department
1326 Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 1-877-881-6388
Website: insurance.pa.gov
- Fetch Customer Service Contact Information:
P.O. Box 1489
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Phone: (866) 467-3875 (Mon-Fri 9:00am-6:00pm EST)
Website: fetchpet.com/contact-us