Does pet insurance cover bilateral joint conditions?
A bilateral joint condition is a problem that is likely to affect the opposite joint once one side is affected. To put it more simply, bilateral conditions affect both sides of the body. Most pet insurance policies do not cover the second joint if the first one is affected. If your pet has a pre-existing joint condition when you enroll into a pet insurance policy, your pet’s other joint likely won’t be covered. Common examples of bilateral joint conditions are luxating patellas (sliding kneecaps), hip dysplasia, and cruciate ligament issues.
What if your dog needs surgery to repair their ACL (knee ligament)? Without insurance you can expect to pay around $2,500 (minimum) for treatment but with insurance you’ll pay $900 with an 80% reimbursement rate.
Example Cost For ACL (Knee) Surgery
| Total Vet Bill $2,500 | You Pay This At Time Of Service Need help with up front expenses? Check out Vet Spend |
| Insurance Coverage -$1,600 | Insurance Reimbursement (Here’s the math) Total Vet Bill: $2,500 Your Deductible: – $500 Eligible For Reimbursement: = $2,000 Reimbursement Rate: x 80% = $1,600 |
| Your Final Cost $900 | You Saved 64% With Insurance! |