Committee hears bill barring pet‑insurance cancellations for age or new conditions
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Summary
Substitute House Bill 1078 would prohibit pet insurers from canceling or refusing to renew policies because of a pet’s age or a health condition discovered during the policy term; the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and consumer advocates supported the bill; staff cited roughly 200,000 pet insurance policies in the state and estimated $42,000 in implementation costs.
The committee heard Substitute House Bill 1078, which would restrict pet insurers from cancelling or refusing to renew a pet‑insurance policy based on the covered pet’s age, the detection or development of a health condition during the policy period, congenital anomalies, hereditary disorders or the detection of preexisting conditions.
Staff said the bill also sets requirements when a policyholder is moved between affiliated companies — the existing policy must be honored through its expiration dates, the replacement affiliate must offer coverage without imposing additional waiting periods or requiring veterinary exams, and the replacement affiliate may not cancel for reasons listed in the bill. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner estimated operating expenditures of $42,000 in the current biennium to implement the substitute bill.
David Fort (Office of the Insurance Commissioner) testified in strong support and said Washington has been a leader in this emerging product; he said the bill would provide pet owners greater clarity and protections. Fort said the state already has about 200,000 individual pet‑insurance policies.
What happens next: the committee completed testimony and did not take a recorded vote. Supporters urged the committee to advance the consumer‑protection measure.
