Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Policy Basics
1. How does Top Dog Pet Insurance work?
Its easy peasy! You just pay your vet as you normally would. Then, submit our simple claim form along with your vet receipts via email, mail, fax or online pet portal., which can be accessed from a phone, tablet or computer. We then reimburse you via check or direct deposit. Most claims paid within 2 days!
2. What are pre-existing conditions, and do you cover them?
Pre-existing conditions are conditions that started before your pet’s policy effective date. Conditions are also considered pre-existing if they appear during a waiting period. Conditions are no longer pre-existing if cured, symptom and treatment free for 365 days, with the exception of knee and ligament conditions. If a knee or ligament condition occurs before the coverage effective date or during the 180 day waiting period, any related future events won’t be covered. Although some pet insurance companies define pre-existing conditions differently, no pet insurance provider covers pre-existing conditions
3. What are waiting periods?
Like all pet insurance, a waiting period is the time between when your policy starts and when the coverage beings. There is a 5-day waiting period for accident coverage and 14 days waiting period for illness coverage. Lastly there is a 6-month waiting period for all knee or ligament issues. The optional wellness plans have no waiting period.
4. Can I use my vet?
Yes, you can take your pet to any licensed Vet in the U.S. or Canada, including any specialists and emergency care providers.
5. What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount of money you pay out of pocket before Top Dog will reimburse you for your vet bills. Usually, policies with higher deductibles will cost less per month. However, you would then pay more out of pocket to the vet. You will get more money reimbursed if you select a lower deductible. It just depends on what you prefer!
6. What is a reimbursement percentage?
The reimbursement percentage is how much money you get back from Top Dog after you submit your claim via our claims process. For example, if you have a $100 vet bill and you select a plan offering 90% reimbursement, you’ll get $90 back. If you’re looking to make your monthly payment lower, opt for a lower reimbursement.
7. Are dog dental bills covered in dog insurance policy?
Top Dog insurance policies will cover dog dental illness and gum treatment if it was a direct result of an accident or injury.
8. Is routine care covered?
Wellness coverage is an optional add-on to your pet insurance policy that provides a flexible routine care plan. Wellness coverage reimburses everyday veterinary care for your dog not included in your dog insurance. You can start using Wellness coverage the day you sign up. Wellness Rewards reimburse for annual check-ups, spay/neuter procedures, vaccines, heartworm prevention, and more.
9. What's not covered in dog insurance?
Items that are not covered include elective procedures, expression or removal of anal glands, grooming costs and bathing, organ transplants, or illness or injury which arises out of organized fighting of your dog. Lastly, pre-existing conditions are not covered. For a full list of what is not covered CLICK HERE
10. Does this pet policy cover cancer?
Yes.
We will not pay for costs associated with or resulting from the following:
- Bathing your pet unless a vet certifies that bathing was medically necessary and that only a vet or a member of veterinary staff should bathe your pet.
- Boarding fees unless deemed medically necessary.
- Breeding, pregnancy, whelping or nursing unless complications arise from breeding, pregnancy or whelping if the date of the breeding falls after the 14-day waiting period.
- Cloned pets or cloning procedures, whether or not deemed experimental or for research.
- Congenital defects or abnormalities where clinical sign(s) were apparent prior to the effective date of the policy or that became apparent during the 14 day waiting period.
- Cruciate ligaments, luxation of the patella or other knee disorders: Treatment associated with damage or rupture of cruciate ligaments, luxation of the patella or other soft tissue disorders of the knee where clinical sign(s) occur during the first six (6) months that the policy is in effect; provided, however, that this exclusion does not apply if your pet is examined by a vet within the first thirty (30) days of the policy and the medical record specifically notes your pet does not have any pre-existing conditions relating to its knees.
- Decontamination (i.e., the induction of vomiting, stomach pumping, or treatment with charcoal), medical, or surgical treatment of your pet arising from a repetitive and specific activity if the same or a similar activity has occurred two (2) times within the eighteen (18) month period prior to the initial coverage effective date.
- Exam fees unless you have chosen to include them. Coverage for exam fees is an option you can add or remove at policy renewal.
- Elective or specialty procedures, including but not limited to tail docking, dewclaw removal, eyelash removal, ear cropping, spaying or neutering, cosmetic dentistry; elective gastropexy; or routine anal gland expression. Note that coverage for spaying/neutering is available in the optional wellness add-on packages.
- Experimental procedures and treatments.
- Food, including food prescribed by a vet, to treat or prevent illness unless the food is used to dissolve existing bladder stones and crystals in urine (subject to limitations).
- Grooming or grooming supplies.
- House calls, unless a vet certifies them essential in an emergency; or extra costs or fees for treating your pet outside of usual surgery hours, unless the treating vet certifies that an immediate life-saving consultation is needed.
- Housing, including cages – rented or bought.
- Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) when another disc in the same or neighboring spinal region (e.g. cervical, lumbosacral) was previously treated or showing clinical sign(s) prior to the effective date of this policy or during the 14-day waiting period.
- Loss if you have not complied with all conditions related to coverage set forth in your policy.
- Non-veterinary services, including but not limited to federal, state or local taxes, waste disposal, government fees and surcharges, photocopying fees, bank fees and credit card charges, biohazardous waste fees, OSHA fees and maintenance fees.
- Obedience or training classes, including puppy classes, training, correctional devices, or wellness products; or the treatment of coprophagia or other eating disorders.
- Organ transplants not deemed medically necessary or not first approved by us.
- Parasites: Treatments or wellness treatments for parasites or conditions related to parasites (internal or external) unless there is no wellness medication for the parasite including but not limited to heartworms, fleas, ticks, roundworms, tapeworms, or hookworms.
- Pre-existing conditions including any illness or injury that first showed clinical sign(s) before the effective date of this policy or during the waiting period.
- Routine and preventive treatments, including but not limited to vaccinations, wellness medications (including those for heartworm and flea and tick prevention), or routine examinations. Coverage for routine examinations and select vaccinations are available in the optional wellness plans.
- Regimens or therapy not administered or prescribed/referred by a vet (or under a vet’s direct supervision) including holistic, homeopathic, acupuncture, chiropractic, or physical therapy
- Rental of a pool or hydro-therapy equipment of any type.
- Telephone consultations, except if provided for an immediate life-saving emergency consultation. While your policy does not cover telephone consults, policyholders have access to free, unlimited 24/7 vet chat.
- Time and travel expenses to a vet’s premises or hospital.
- Treatment of illness or injury:
- Arising out of racing; coursing; commercial guarding; organized fighting; or any other occupational, professional or business uses of your pet.
- An intentional injury or condition as a result of abuse (including persistent neglect) of your pet, by you or a member of your household.
- For which you were advised by a vet to take preventive measures and did not do so.
- Treatment, death or humane destruction of your pet directly or indirectly caused by, happening through, arising or resulting from, or contributed to or by invasion, war, revolt, rebellion, revolution, military or usurped power, governmental seizure, quarantine, or other action related to public safety or health.
- Treatment, death or humane destruction of your pet directly or indirectly caused by, happening through, arising or resulting from, or contributed to or by avian Influenza or any mutant variation, chemical, biological, biochemical or electromagnetic weapon, device, agent or material, whether controlled or uncontrolled, accidental or otherwise, nuclear reaction, radiation, radioactive contamination or the discharge of nuclear device, whether controlled or uncontrolled, accidental or otherwise.