Enrollment by Specific Age for Hip Dysplasia Coverage – Why The Fine Print In Your Pet Insurance Plan Matters

In our series – Why The Fine Print In Your Pet Insurance Plan Matters – we are educating customers on loopholes in their dog insurance or cat insurance plans which could cause disappointment in coverage down the line.

You can download our entire Pet Insurance Guide: Why The Fine Print Matters.

Today’s topic: 
Enrollment by Specific Age for Hip Dysplasia Coverage

What is this?

Hip dysplasia is a disease of the hip in which the ball and socket joint isn’t formed properly, which leads to bone deformation and causes arthritis and pain. Large breed dogs are especially prone to developing hip dysplasia and usually if there is issue in one hip, more than likely the other hip will eventually be affected. There are pet insurance companies out there which require you to sign up for their plan prior to the pet’s sixth birthday in order to be eligible for coverage for hip dysplasia, and there are some pet insurance providers that do not provide coverage for hip dysplasia at all. 

How does this affect you?

Hip dysplasia is not only an expensive condition to treat, it is also a long-term, chronic condition your pet will need care for the rest of its life. The average cost of a hip replacement, the most effective way to treat hip dysplasia, is around $3,000-$5,000 per hip. Like we said above, usually both hips will need treatment, so you are looking at around $10,000 for surgery alone, not including ongoing care and medications to help with pain. 

Where does PetFirst stand?

At PetFirst, we understand the high-risk of hip dysplasia and how expensive treatment can be. Hip dysplasia, if it is not a pre-existing condition, could potentially be coverable as long as symptoms manifest after the initial orthopedic waiting period of 6 months. 

 

In this series, we deep dive into the other following areas where coverage could be lacking if you have another pet insurance company’s plan:

• Exam or Records Required for Enrollment
• Annual Care Requirements
• Spay/Neuter Clauses
• Exam Fee Coverage
• Bilateral Conditions
• Holistic/Alternative Therapies
• Vaccinatable Diseases
• Extended Wait Period on Orthopedic Conditions
• Periodontal Disease
• Dermatological Conditions
• Injuries Caused by Housemates
• Aging Ear & Eye Conditions
• Over-Insuring Your Pet
• Medical Prescriptions
• Reimbursement Formula

Now that you’ve done your research on pet healthcare plans, you can see PetFirst provides the most comprehensive, best pet insurance plan for dogs and cats. With no “gotchas” in the fine print, you can rest easy knowing you are able to give your pet the care they need.

How much does pet insurance cost?

In less than 2 minutes, you can get a customized quote for your pet.