Notice for Maryland residents
MARYLAND INSURER DISCLOSURE OF IMPORTANT POLICY PROVISIONS
As of January 1, 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.
If you notify us within the first thirty (30) days from the effective date as shown on your declarations page that you wish to cancel this policy, and you have not submitted any claim(s) against this policy, we will refund the entire premium. You may notify us that you want to cancel by calling us. We will refund the full amount of any premium paid within 30 days after we receive the returned policy. The premium refund will be sent directly to the person who paid it. The policy 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.
A condition for which coverage is afforded on a policy cannot be considered a pre-existing 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.
- “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.
- “Pet insurance” means a property insurance policy that provides coverage for accidents, injuries and illnesses of pets.
- “Renewal” means to issue and deliver at the end of an insurance policy period a policy which supersedes a policy previously issued and delivered by the same pet insurer or affiliated pet insurer and which provides types and limits of coverage substantially similar to those contained in the policy being superseded.
- “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” means 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.
There is a fifteen (15) day 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.
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. The written medical record should specifically note your pet does not have any pre-existing conditions.
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.
- 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.
Additional Exclusionary Periods:
- Orthopedic conditions, that occur during the first one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date are excluded and are Pre-existing Conditions for the life of the policy:
- However, coverage will be afforded for orthopedic conditions of the knees if your pet is examined by a veterinarian within the first one hundred eighty (180) 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.
This does not apply to orthopedic conditions resulting from an accident.
Other exclusions may apply. Please refer to the exclusions section of your policy for more information. - Maryland Insurance Administration
200 St Paul Place, Suite 2700
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: 1-800-492-6116
Website: insurance.maryland.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