Pet insurance laws
Pennsylvania pet insurance law
Pennsylvania regulates pet insurance under 40 Pa.C.S. §§ 4701-4711 (Chapter 47), enacted by HB 660 (2023-2024), Act 19 of 2024, effective 7 December 2024.
Key provisions
| Longest waiting period allowed, illness | 30 days |
| Longest waiting period allowed, accident | No waiting period allowed |
| Longest waiting period allowed, orthopedic | 30 days |
| Free-look period | 30 days |
| Pre-existing condition rule | - Model-Act definition: a condition for which, before the policy effective date or during any waiting period, a veterinarian provided medical advice, the pet received previous treatment, or, based on verifiable sources, the pet had signs or symptoms directly related to the claimed condition
- A condition covered under the policy is not preexisting at renewal
- Insurer bears burden of proving the exclusion applies.
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| Wellness programs | - Yes: wellness programs may not be marketed as pet insurance or required for purchase
- Separate cost and terms
- May not duplicate policy coverage
- 12-pt bold 'not insurance' disclosure
- 'wellness' benefits inside a policy are insurance.
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| Required disclosures | - Exclusions for preexisting/hereditary/congenital/chronic conditions plus 'other exclusions may apply' statement
- Waiting periods, deductibles, coinsurance, annual/lifetime limits
- Whether claims history, pet age or location change coverage or premiums
- Underwriter name if different from brand
- Claim payment basis, benefit schedules and usual-and-customary fee basis (with website link)
- Separate 'Insurer Disclosure of Important Policy Provisions' document (12-pt type, posted online)
- Regulator and insurer/producer contact info.
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| Agent licensing and training | - Yes: producers must be licensed and complete training before selling (preexisting conditions/waiting periods, insurance vs. wellness programs, hereditary/congenital/chronic conditions, rating/underwriting/renewal)
- Substantially similar out-of-state training accepted.
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The act was signed on 10 June 2024 and takes effect 180 days later, which we calculate as 7 December 2024.
Not legal advice. This is a summary of the statute as enacted. Read the policy and the law itself, or ask the state insurance department, before relying on it.
Sources
- https://www.palegis.us/statutes/unconsolidated/law-information?sessYr=2024&sessInd=0&actNum=19
- https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=PDF&ttl=40&div=0&chpt=47
- https://pacodeandbulletin.gov/secure/pabulletin/data/vol54/54-28/54_28_ga.pdf
Checked 29 October 2026.