Hip dysplasia in dogs is a common skeletal condition that affects the hip joints. It’s characterized by abnormal development of the hip joint, causing instability and eventual degeneration of the joint. This condition is often hereditary, but it can also be influenced by environmental factors.
Key Takeaways
- Most pet insurance companies cover hip dysplasia, but with various stipulations and conditions.
- Preexisting hip dysplasia is not covered by pet insurance.
Pet insurance Companies That Cover Hip Dysplasia
Because of the constant and expensive nature of hip dysplasia, many pet insurance companies usually have restrictions for this ailment. Some also have a waiting period for this medical situation alone.
Most pet insurance providers include hip dysplasia coverage, albeit with specific criteria. Primarily, any signs or symptoms prior to your policy’s start date or during the waiting period can affect coverage eligibility. This is where a pet insurance and a savings account can be handy.
For orthopedic conditions like hip dysplasia, most insurers impose a waiting period of six to 12 months. They often apply a bilateral condition exclusion, meaning if one hip displays symptoms before or during the waiting period, coverage for the other hip is also excluded.
Trupanion
Trupanion sets a relatively short waiting period of 30 days for hip dysplasia. Notably, it lacks an upper age limit or bilateral exclusions, a rarity in the industry. Trupanion also offers a unique deductible system, allowing pet owners to select a deductible ranging from $0 to $1,000. These deductibles apply per condition and are paid for your pet’s lifetime once met.
Their standard accident-and-illness plan covers hip dysplasia. Moreover, they provide an optional Recovery and Complementary Care package, extending coverage to treatments like acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, hydrotherapy, and rehabilitative therapy.
- Requirements for hip dysplasia: 30-day waiting period
- Coverage: pet breeding, recovery care and support, illness and accident plan
- Exclusions: Preexisting conditions, wellness care, spaying/neutering, processing fees
Healthy Paws
This insurance provider requires that your pet be enrolled at six years of age or younger. The standout feature of this company is its unlimited annual and lifetime coverage caps. This ensures you won’t face worries about surpassing your maximum limit, especially for conditions like hip dysplasia that might involve expensive treatments, including surgery.
Healthy Paws provides hip dysplasia in its regular plan. However, it doesn’t offer additional options for preventive care.
- Requirements for hip dysplasia: 12-month waiting period, enrollment before age 6
- Coverage options: Accident-and-illness plan
- Exclusions: Preexisting conditions, exam fees, behavioral care, spaying/neutering
Embrace
Embrace provides coverage for hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia without per-incident coverage caps. Although there’s a standard six-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions, this can be reduced to as little as 14 days by completing a form and taking your pet for an orthopedic exam. Embrace also offers various discounts and a Healthy Pet Deductible benefit, crediting pet owners $50 toward their co-pay each year they don’t file a claim.
In their standard accident-and-illness plan, Embrace covers hip dysplasia. Additionally, you can obtain wellness coverage by selecting their wellness add-on.
- Requirements for hip dysplasia: Six-month waiting period, reducible to 14 days with an exam and waiver
- Coverage options: there is preventive care, but it requires additional cost, accident and illness cover
- Exclusions: Preexisting conditions, organ transplants, certain alternative treatments, supplements, prescription food.
Pets Best
Pets Best offers insurance coverage for pets of all ages, with a unique focus on older pets. Setting itself apart from competitors, it imposes no age limit and allows pet enrollment at any time. Notably, it provides comprehensive hip dysplasia coverage kicking in after just 14 days, including coverage for wheelchairs prescribed by a vet, often necessary for pets dealing with this condition.
Within its accident-and-illness plan, Pets Best covers hip dysplasia. Moreover, it presents two wellness add-ons catering to preventive care.
- Requirements for hip dysplasia: 14-day waiting period
- Coverage options: recovery plans are available. An accident and accident and illness policy are available too.
- Exclusions: Preexisting conditions, parasites, food and supplements, herbal and holistic treatments
Spot
Spot secures a top spot by offering one of the shortest waiting periods for hip dysplasia—just 14 days, aligning with any other illness waiting period. The company’s standout feature includes highly customizable coverage, allowing annual limit options ranging from $2,500 to unlimited.
Under its accident-and-illness plan, Spot covers hip dysplasia. Additionally, customers can opt for one of its wellness plans specifically designed for preventive care.
- Requirements for hip dysplasia: 14-day waiting period
- Coverage options: Spot has Gold and Platinum plans. It also comes with the standard accident and accident and illness policies.
- Exclusions: Preexisting conditions, organ transplants, health supplements, prescription food
Fetch
Formerly known as PetPlan, Fetch by Dodo initiates hip dysplasia coverage following a six-month waiting period. Notably, it doesn’t restrict payouts by condition or over the lifetime, proving beneficial, especially for procedures like total hip replacement surgery. Furthermore, it offers extensive holistic care, encompassing acupuncture, homeopathy, and stem-cell therapy.
Under its standard accident-and-illness plan, Fetch covers hip dysplasia but does not provide add-ons for preventive care.
- Requirements for hip dysplasia: Six-month waiting period
- Coverage options: Accident-and-illness plan
- Exclusions: Preexisting conditions, routine veterinary care, preventive care or medication, prescription food.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
With over 15 years in the industry, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is a seasoned provider. Although their coverage policy for hip dysplasia is somewhat unclear, the condition doesn’t seem to face exclusions beyond a 14-day waiting period.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance includes hip dysplasia coverage in its accident-and-illness plan. Additionally, it offers two wellness add-ons with varying coverage levels and annual limits.
- Requirements for hip dysplasia: 14-day waiting period
- Coverage options: there is an accident and accident and illness policies. There is an additional wellness policy for purchase.
- Exclusions: Preexisting conditions, boarding
How Pet Insurance Coverage for Hip Dysplasia Works
Pet insurance coverage for hip dysplasia works by providing financial assistance for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of this common orthopedic condition in dogs. Hip dysplasia occurs when a dog’s hip joints do not develop properly, leading to pain, lameness, and reduced mobility. As it is a hereditary condition, it can affect certain breeds more than others.
Most pet insurance providers offer coverage for hip dysplasia, but it’s important to note that plans can vary in terms of what is included and excluded. It is best to carefully review the policy terms and conditions, as well as any waiting periods or exclusions related to pre-existing conditions, to ensure that hip dysplasia coverage is available and adequate.
When it comes to pet insurance coverage for hip dysplasia, the following scenarios can be considered:
Diagnosis
If your dog displays symptoms of hip dysplasia and you take them to the veterinarian for an examination, the costs associated with diagnostic tests such as X-rays or imaging studies to confirm the condition may be covered by your pet insurance. Each provider may have a different reimbursement rate or percentage of the costs covered.
Treatment
Once hip dysplasia is diagnosed, the treatment options can range from medications and physical therapy to surgical procedures, depending on the severity and progression of the condition. Pet insurance plans may cover a portion of these treatment expenses, including the costs of medications, joint supplements, rehabilitation, and even surgical procedures if deemed necessary.
Pre-existing Conditions
It’s important to note that most pet insurance providers consider hip dysplasia a pre-existing condition if it is diagnosed before obtaining the insurance coverage. Therefore, expenses related to hip dysplasia treatment may not be covered for conditions that already exist when the policy is purchased. However, some insurance providers offer coverage for hip dysplasia if the pet enrolls at a young age and has not been diagnosed with the condition before obtaining coverage.
Waiting Periods
Many pet insurance policies impose waiting periods before coverage becomes effective. This means that if your dog is diagnosed with hip dysplasia during this waiting period, the expenses for the condition may not be covered. The duration of the waiting period can vary depending on the insurance provider and policy, so it is important to consider this when choosing a plan.
Ongoing Management
If your dog requires long-term management of hip dysplasia, such as ongoing medications or regular visits to a physical therapist or veterinarian, some pet insurance policies may provide coverage for these expenses. However, it is essential to review the policy terms and conditions regarding ongoing treatment reimbursement limits and exclusions.
Conclusion
In summary, pet insurance can provide coverage for hip dysplasia, including the costs of diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management. However, coverage can vary depending on the insurance provider, policy terms, waiting periods, and pre-existing condition clauses. It is crucial to carefully review the policy details and seek clarification from the insurance provider to ensure you have a clear understanding of what is covered and what is not when it comes to hip dysplasia.
