Florida HB 655 and Saint Bernard Pet Insurance — Your Rights Explained (2026)

Year-round heartworm exposure

Unlike northern states where heartworm season is limited to warm months, Florida's climate means Saint Bernards face heartworm-carrying mosquitoes 12 months a year. Heartworm treatment costs $400–$1,200 and is covered under accident and illness policies.

Heat stress and Saint Bernards

Florida summers average 91°F with heat indices exceeding 103°F from April through October. Saint Bernards face genuine cardiovascular stress in these conditions, and heat stroke — a covered emergency — costs $1,500–$3,000 to treat. Limit outdoor activity during midday hours and ensure constant access to water and shade.

Year-round tick exposure

Florida's mild winters mean ticks are active throughout the year. Tick-borne diseases including ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are covered under accident and illness plans. Treatment ranges from $200 for uncomplicated cases to $2,000+ for severe infections.

Hurricane and disaster preparedness

Florida hurricane season runs June through November. Emergency veterinary clinics see major spikes in trauma cases during and after storms. Injuries from debris, flooding, and accidents during evacuations are covered as accidents under standard policies.

Skin and coat conditions in humidity

Florida's humidity dramatically increases the frequency of hot spots, yeast infections, and skin fold dermatitis in Saint Bernards. Skin conditions are covered under illness plans and, given the breed's predisposition, are likely to generate multiple claims throughout a dog's lifetime in Florida.

Florida HB 655, effective January 1, 2026, establishes comprehensive consumer protections for pet insurance purchasers. Key provisions: (1) mandatory 30-day free-look period — cancel within 30 days for a full refund if no claims have been filed, (2) burden of proof on insurers for pre-existing condition exclusions — the insurer must provide documentation proving a condition was pre-existing before excluding it, (3) prohibition on marketing wellness products as insurance, (4) prohibition on requiring medical exams for policy renewal, and (5) mandatory clear disclosure of all coverage terms, exclusions, waiting periods, and limitations. The law applies to all pet insurance policies sold in Florida, including policies for Saint Bernards.

The 30-day free-look period means you can cancel any pet insurance policy within 30 days of the purchase date and receive a full refund of all premiums paid — as long as no claims have been filed during that period. This gives you 30 days to review the full policy document, compare it against other options, verify that breed-specific conditions like hip dysplasia are covered for your Saint Bernard, and confirm that the coverage terms match what was advertised. If anything in the policy does not meet your expectations, you can cancel with no financial penalty. This is a state-mandated right — no insurer can waive or reduce this period.

Under HB 655, the burden of proof for pre-existing condition exclusions falls on the insurer, not the pet owner. This means the insurer must provide specific documentation — veterinary records, diagnostic results, treatment history — proving that a condition was present before enrollment before they can exclude it. They cannot simply deny a claim by stating it is "likely pre-existing" without evidence. For a Saint Bernard with hereditary risks like hip dysplasia, this protection is significant: an insurer cannot deny a claim for a breed-prone condition solely because the breed is predisposed to it. They must show that your specific dog had documented evidence of that condition before the policy start date.

No — under Florida HB 655, insurers cannot require a medical exam or veterinary examination as a condition of policy renewal. Your Saint Bernard's policy renews based on the original terms without requiring new health documentation at each renewal. This prevents a scenario where an insurer uses a renewal exam to "discover" conditions and reclassify them as pre-existing or to increase premiums based on new health findings. Your policy renews annually without medical barriers — the health status of your Saint Bernard at the time of original enrollment remains the baseline for coverage determinations.

Florida HB 655 requires a clear legal separation between pet insurance and wellness programs. Pet insurance is a regulated insurance product that covers accidents and illnesses — it is underwritten, state-regulated, and provides defined coverage for veterinary treatment of medical conditions. Wellness programs are non-insurance products that reimburse for routine preventive care (vaccines, dental cleanings, annual exams). Under the new law, companies cannot market wellness plans as "insurance" or bundle them in a way that creates consumer confusion about what is insured versus what is a discount or reimbursement program. For a Saint Bernard owner, this means you can clearly identify which product covers hip dysplasia treatment (insurance) and which covers annual checkups (wellness) — and make informed purchasing decisions.

Florida House Bill 655 took effect on January 1, 2026. All pet insurance policies sold in Florida on or after that date must comply with the law's provisions, including the 30-day free-look period, pre-existing condition burden of proof, wellness/insurance separation, and renewal protections. Policies purchased before January 1, 2026 may not automatically include all protections — if you purchased your Saint Bernard's policy before this date, review your policy document and contact your insurer to confirm which provisions apply to your existing coverage.

The law protects Saint Bernard owners in several practical ways: (1) You can try any policy risk-free for 30 days — compare coverage, read the full policy document, and cancel with a full refund if it does not meet your needs. (2) If your insurer denies a claim for hip dysplasia as "pre-existing," they must provide documented proof — not just a breed-risk argument. (3) Your policy cannot be held hostage at renewal with mandatory medical exam requirements. (4) You can clearly distinguish between actual insurance coverage and wellness discount programs. (5) All coverage limitations and exclusions must be clearly disclosed before purchase. These protections make Florida one of the best states in the country for informed pet insurance purchasing. At $65–120/month for a comprehensive Saint Bernard policy, you are buying with more consumer protection than pet owners in most other states.