diff --git a/litellm/proxy/litellm_pre_call_utils.py b/litellm/proxy/litellm_pre_call_utils.py
index 9a973755894..8aa861e574f 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/litellm_pre_call_utils.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/litellm_pre_call_utils.py
@@ -3216,7 +3216,9 @@ def _match_and_track_policies(
     attachment_registry: Final = (
         attachment_registry_override if attachment_registry_override is not None else get_attachment_registry()
     )
-    matches_with_reasons: Final = attachment_registry.get_attached_policies_with_reasons(context)
+    matches_with_reasons: Final = attachment_registry.get_attached_policies_with_reasons(
+        context, PolicyMatcher.policy_applies(context, policies_override)
+    )
     matching_policy_names: Final = [m["policy_name"] for m in matches_with_reasons]
     policy_reasons: Final = {m["policy_name"]: m["matched_via"] for m in matches_with_reasons}
 
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/attachment_registry.py b/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/attachment_registry.py
index 04009151487..d81471b3c1a 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/attachment_registry.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/attachment_registry.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Attachments define WHERE policies apply, separate from the policy definitions.
 This allows the same policy to be attached to multiple scopes.
 """
 
+from collections.abc import Callable
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from types import MappingProxyType
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Final, TypedDict
@@ -122,24 +123,34 @@ class AttachmentRegistry:
             default=attachment_data.get("default", False),
         )
 
-    def get_attached_policies(self, context: PolicyMatchContext) -> list[str]:
+    def get_attached_policies(
+        self,
+        context: PolicyMatchContext,
+        policy_applies: Callable[[str], bool] | None = None,
+    ) -> list[str]:
         """
         Get list of policy names attached to the given context.
 
         Args:
             context: The request context to match against
+            policy_applies: Optional predicate; attachments whose policy does not apply are ignored
 
         Returns:
             List of policy names that are attached to matching scopes
         """
-        return [r["policy_name"] for r in self.get_attached_policies_with_reasons(context)]
+        return [r["policy_name"] for r in self.get_attached_policies_with_reasons(context, policy_applies)]
 
-    def get_attached_policies_with_reasons(self, context: PolicyMatchContext) -> list[PolicyAttachmentMatch]:
+    def get_attached_policies_with_reasons(
+        self,
+        context: PolicyMatchContext,
+        policy_applies: Callable[[str], bool] | None = None,
+    ) -> list[PolicyAttachmentMatch]:
         """
         Get list of policy names and match reasons for the given context.
 
         Returns a list of dicts with 'policy_name' and 'matched_via' keys.
         The 'matched_via' describes which dimension caused the match.
+        Attachments whose policy fails `policy_applies` are dropped before defaults are considered.
         """
         from litellm.proxy.policy_engine.policy_matcher import PolicyMatcher
 
@@ -147,6 +158,7 @@ class AttachmentRegistry:
             attachment
             for attachment in self._attachments
             if PolicyMatcher.scope_matches(scope=attachment.to_policy_scope(), context=context)
+            and (policy_applies is None or policy_applies(attachment.policy))
         )
         non_default: Final = tuple(attachment for attachment in in_scope if not attachment.default)
         matching_attachments: Final = sorted(
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/policy_matcher.py b/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/policy_matcher.py
index 001e4115374..2f7fcd23b75 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/policy_matcher.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/policy_matcher.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ apply to a given request based on team alias, key alias, and model.
 Policies are matched via policy_attachments which define WHERE each policy applies.
 """
 
+from collections.abc import Callable
 from typing import Final
 
 from litellm._logging import verbose_proxy_logger
@@ -130,6 +131,20 @@ class PolicyMatcher:
         """
         return PolicyMatcher.get_matching_policies(context=context)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def policy_applies(
+        context: PolicyMatchContext,
+        policies: dict[str, Policy] | None = None,
+    ) -> Callable[[str], bool]:
+        """Predicate telling whether a policy exists and its condition matches the context."""
+        return lambda policy_name: bool(
+            PolicyMatcher.get_policies_with_matching_conditions(
+                policy_names=[policy_name],  # mutable-ok: the matcher takes a list
+                context=context,
+                policies=policies,
+            )
+        )
+
     @staticmethod
     def get_policies_with_matching_conditions(
         policy_names: list[str],
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/policy_resolve_endpoints.py b/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/policy_resolve_endpoints.py
index a8a9856b833..898e42635c5 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/policy_resolve_endpoints.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/policy_resolve_endpoints.py
@@ -265,7 +265,9 @@ async def resolve_policies_for_context(
         )
 
         # Get matching policies with reasons
-        match_results: Final = get_attachment_registry().get_attached_policies_with_reasons(context=context)
+        match_results: Final = get_attachment_registry().get_attached_policies_with_reasons(
+            context=context, policy_applies=PolicyMatcher.policy_applies(context)
+        )
 
         if not match_results:
             return PolicyResolveResponse(
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/response_retrieval.py b/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/response_retrieval.py
index d284c44397e..0f373b08056 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/response_retrieval.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/policy_engine/response_retrieval.py
@@ -84,7 +84,9 @@ def _retrieval_context(
 
 
 def _post_call_pipelines_for_context(context: PolicyMatchContext) -> tuple[PolicyPipelines, Mapping[str, str]]:
-    matches: Final = get_attachment_registry().get_attached_policies_with_reasons(context)
+    matches: Final = get_attachment_registry().get_attached_policies_with_reasons(
+        context, PolicyMatcher.policy_applies(context)
+    )
     if not matches:
         return (), MappingProxyType({})
     applied_policy_names: Final = PolicyMatcher.get_policies_with_matching_conditions(
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/policy_engine/test_attachment_registry.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/policy_engine/test_attachment_registry.py
index b419f3db060..faa8d67fe3a 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/policy_engine/test_attachment_registry.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/policy_engine/test_attachment_registry.py
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ from litellm.proxy.policy_engine.attachment_registry import (
     AttachmentRegistry,
     get_attachment_registry,
 )
-from litellm.types.proxy.policy_engine import PolicyMatchContext
+from litellm.proxy.policy_engine.policy_matcher import PolicyMatcher
+from litellm.types.proxy.policy_engine import Policy, PolicyCondition, PolicyGuardrails, PolicyMatchContext
 
 
 class TestGetAttachedPolicies:
@@ -561,6 +562,38 @@ class TestDefaultAttachments:
 
         assert results == [{"policy_name": "guardrail-y", "matched_via": "default:scope:*"}]
 
+    def test_inapplicable_opt_in_policy_does_not_suppress_default(self):
+        context = PolicyMatchContext(team_alias="t", key_alias="k", model="gpt-5.2", tags=["opt-in"])
+        policies = {
+            "guardrail-y": Policy(guardrails=PolicyGuardrails(add=["y"])),
+            "guardrail-x": Policy(guardrails=PolicyGuardrails(add=["x"]), condition=PolicyCondition(model="claude.*")),
+        }
+
+        results = self._registry().get_attached_policies_with_reasons(
+            context, PolicyMatcher.policy_applies(context, policies)
+        )
+
+        assert results == [{"policy_name": "guardrail-y", "matched_via": "default:scope:*"}]
+
+    def test_attachment_to_missing_policy_does_not_suppress_default(self):
+        context = PolicyMatchContext(team_alias="t", key_alias="k", model="gpt-5.2", tags=["opt-in"])
+        policies = {"guardrail-y": Policy(guardrails=PolicyGuardrails(add=["y"]))}
+
+        assert self._registry().get_attached_policies(context, PolicyMatcher.policy_applies(context, policies)) == [
+            "guardrail-y"
+        ]
+
+    def test_applicable_opt_in_policy_still_wins_with_predicate(self):
+        context = PolicyMatchContext(team_alias="t", key_alias="k", model="gpt-5.2", tags=["opt-in"])
+        policies = {
+            "guardrail-y": Policy(guardrails=PolicyGuardrails(add=["y"])),
+            "guardrail-x": Policy(guardrails=PolicyGuardrails(add=["x"]), condition=PolicyCondition(model="gpt.*")),
+        }
+
+        assert self._registry().get_attached_policies(context, PolicyMatcher.policy_applies(context, policies)) == [
+            "guardrail-x"
+        ]
+
     def test_default_defaults_to_false_when_omitted(self):
         registry = AttachmentRegistry()
         registry.load_attachments([{"policy": "p"}])
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/policies/_components/add_attachment_form.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/policies/_components/add_attachment_form.tsx
index 74c4978392f..5cd240a0838 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/policies/_components/add_attachment_form.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/policies/_components/add_attachment_form.tsx
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ const AddAttachmentForm: React.FC<AddAttachmentFormProps> = ({
               </FormField>
             </FieldGroup>
 
-            {impactResult && <ImpactPreviewAlert impactResult={impactResult} />}
+            {impactResult && <ImpactPreviewAlert impactResult={impactResult} isDefault={form.watch("default")} />}
 
             <div className="flex justify-end space-x-2 mt-4">
               <Button type="button" variant="secondary" onClick={handleClose}>
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/policies/_components/impact_preview_alert.test.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/policies/_components/impact_preview_alert.test.tsx
index 6c405d7492a..6074508b52b 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/policies/_components/impact_preview_alert.test.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/policies/_components/impact_preview_alert.test.tsx
@@ -69,6 +69,17 @@ describe("ImpactPreviewAlert", () => {
       expect(screen.getByText(/1 key\b/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
     });
 
+    it("should present the counts as an upper bound for a default attachment", () => {
+      renderWithProviders(<ImpactPreviewAlert impactResult={specificImpact} isDefault />);
+      expect(screen.getByText(/would affect up to/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByText(/no non-default attachment matches/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("should not qualify the counts for a non-default attachment", () => {
+      renderWithProviders(<ImpactPreviewAlert impactResult={specificImpact} />);
+      expect(screen.queryByText(/up to/i)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
     it("should not show a key section when there are no sample keys", () => {
       const noKeys = { affected_keys_count: 0, affected_teams_count: 2, sample_keys: [], sample_teams: ["t1", "t2"] };
       renderWithProviders(<ImpactPreviewAlert impactResult={noKeys} />);
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/policies/_components/impact_preview_alert.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/policies/_components/impact_preview_alert.tsx
index a9264eb9d0d..df8a6987d6f 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/policies/_components/impact_preview_alert.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/policies/_components/impact_preview_alert.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ interface ImpactResult {
 
 interface ImpactPreviewAlertProps {
   impactResult: ImpactResult;
+  isDefault?: boolean;
 }
 
 interface SampleListProps {
@@ -32,8 +33,9 @@ const SampleList: React.FC<SampleListProps> = ({ label, samples, totalCount }) =
   </div>
 );
 
-const ImpactPreviewAlert: React.FC<ImpactPreviewAlertProps> = ({ impactResult }) => {
+const ImpactPreviewAlert: React.FC<ImpactPreviewAlertProps> = ({ impactResult, isDefault = false }) => {
   const isGlobal = impactResult.affected_keys_count === -1;
+  const qualifier = isDefault ? "up to " : "";
 
   return (
     <Alert className="mb-4">
@@ -47,7 +49,7 @@ const ImpactPreviewAlert: React.FC<ImpactPreviewAlertProps> = ({ impactResult })
         ) : (
           <div>
             <span>
-              This attachment would affect{" "}
+              This attachment would affect {qualifier}
               <strong>
                 {impactResult.affected_keys_count} key{impactResult.affected_keys_count !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
               </strong>{" "}
@@ -57,6 +59,11 @@ const ImpactPreviewAlert: React.FC<ImpactPreviewAlertProps> = ({ impactResult })
               </strong>
               .
             </span>
+            {isDefault && (
+              <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                Default attachments only apply to requests no non-default attachment matches, so fewer may be affected.
+              </div>
+            )}
             {impactResult.sample_keys.length > 0 && (
               <SampleList
                 label="Keys"