Does my pet insurance policy cover issues like hip dysplasia? In order to provide pets with good medical care, many pet parents are buying more insurance policies for their furry friends. Although the policies do not cover routine wellness checks, they cover most serious illnesses or injuries and emergency care for dogs and cats.
As a pet owner who has insurance, it is a must to want to know what your policy covers. So, it is normal to see questions like “What does my pet policy cover? Does Pet Insurance Cover Hip Dysplasia?” on the internet. Well, if you want to know if your pet policy covers hip dysplasia, you are in the right article. Because this article contains everything you need to know.
What is Hip Dysplasia all About?
Hip dysplasia is considered one of the most complex orthopedic issues. It mainly affect large dog breeds such as German Shepherds, Collies, Rottweilers, St. Bernards, and retrievers. However, it can also occur in smaller dogs and even cats. This genetic condition is inherited from the parents to their offspring.
When it comes to hip dysplasia, the hip socket (acetabulum) and the ball part of the femur (femoral head) do not match properly. And this leads to pain and difficulty in movement. This condition can affect one or both hips, and it is both painful and the treatment is very expensive.
One big problem about hip dysplasia is that owners often don’t realize their pet has the issue until the animal is in huge pain. Dogs might be diagnosed as young as a few months old, but sometimes symptoms will not show up until the dog is middle-aged or very old.
By the age of two, most dogs with the genes for hip dysplasia will show signs on an X-ray. However, the X-ray won’t really show how severe the condition will be or when symptoms will appear.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Hip Dysplasia?
Yes, most Pet Insurance Cover Hip Dysplasia, but just certain conditions. The key condition is that there should be no signs or symptoms of hip dysplasia before the policy commences or during its waiting period.
Many insurers have a waiting period that is mostly about six to 12 months, specifically for orthopedic problems such as hip dysplasia. Another important detail is the bilateral condition exclusion. This means that if your pet shows symptoms in one hip before or during the waiting period, the hip dysplasia issue in the other hip won’t be covered by the policy.
Pet Insurance Companies That Cover Hip Dysplasia
Based on our team’s thorough research, the following are the top insurers that cover animals with hip dysplasia.
- Spot
- Embrace
- Fetch
- Lemonade Pet Insurance
Spot
Spot Pet Insurance is a leading provider that covers dogs and cats for both illnesses and injuries, including hip dysplasia, as long as it is not a pre-existing condition. They cover pet expenses for exams, specialist care, alternative therapies, diagnostics, treatments, medications, and surgery related to hip dysplasia issues.
You can choose from various plans with annual coverage limits ranging from $2,500 to unlimited coverage. They reimburse 70%, 80%, or 90% of costs, with deductibles ranging from $100 to $1,000 per year.
There’s a 14-day waiting period before coverage commences. If your pet shows signs of the hip problem during this period or needs care, it won’t be covered as it will be considered as pre-existing.
Embrace
Embrace pet insurance may cover genetic and hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia, as long as they’re not pre-existing conditions. They reimburse for vet visits, tests, rehab, treatments, and surgeries that are related to these conditions.
The insurer will cover both sides of a condition if neither side was pre-existing. However, if one side had prior care or a diagnosis, the other side won’t be covered in the future.
Note that there is a 14-day waiting period for illnesses, 48 hours for accidents. And six months for orthopedic issues like hip dysplasia. However, you can reduce the six-month waiting period to about 14 days by having your vet complete an orthopedic exam and waiver.
Embrace does not impose lifetime coverage limits for your pet. Pet owners can choose an annual limit between $5,000 and $30,000 and select a reimbursement rate of 65%, 70%, 80%, or 90%, with an annual deductible ranging from $200 to $1,000.
Fetch
Fetch will cover hip dysplasia as long as it’s not a pre-existing condition. They will cover expenses for exams, tests, treatments, surgery, and more related to this condition.
You can customize your plan with reimbursement options of 70%, 80%, or 90% and choose annual deductibles of $300, $500, or $700.
This insurer has a waiting period of up to 15 days for injuries and illnesses, depending on your state. For hip and knee issues, the insurer imposes an additional six-month waiting period. If your pet shows signs of hip dysplasia before this six-month mark, the policy won’t be covered as it’s considered pre-existing.
Lemonade
Lemonade’s basic pet insurance will help cover surgery costs for hip dysplasia, minus your deductible and co-insurance. This helps ease financial strain while making sure that your pet gets important care.
To qualify, your dog or cat must not show signs of hip dysplasia when you purchase the policy or during the 30-day waiting period. Just like the other insurers on this list, if hip dysplasia develops in one hip after enrollment, any future issues in the other hip won’t be covered due to being pre-existing.
Lemonade also provides a physical therapy add-on that will help cover rehabilitation costs, crucial for recovery after hip dysplasia surgery. Starting coverage early, even as early as two months old, makes sure that your pet receives comprehensive care, including surgery and post-operative support. It helps in promoting their overall health and your peace of mind.
You can easily design your Lemonade policy with annual limits ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, reimbursement rates of 70%, 80%, or 90%, and deductibles of $100 to $750.
Is Pet Insurance for Hip Dysplasia a Good Choice?
Pet insurance for hip dysplasia is a very good option if you purchase the policy before your pet shows any signs of the condition. Otherwise, it will be considered a preexisting condition, and you won’t get coverage for any related expenses.
Signing up while your pet is very young and healthy could save you a lot of money because treating hip dysplasia is always very expensive. Treatments often involve surgeries such as a triple pelvic osteotomy or femoral head osteotomy, and this can cost $6,000 or more.
