Is patellar luxation usually considered a pre-existing condition for pet insurance? Last year, after I adopted my dog, I got her covered with PetsBest and took her for a checkup. The vet mentioned she had patellar luxation, but it seemed fine at the time. This wasn’t included in her rescue’s medical records, but would it still be seen as a pre-existing condition since she might have had it before I adopted her? She’s 5 years old now, if that helps.
Lately, I’ve noticed she’s been walking slower and limping occasionally, and I’m taking her to the vet tomorrow. If surgery’s needed, I’m really hoping insurance will cover it because that surgery can be so pricey. But, honestly, I’m not super confident it will be covered.
It really depends on your policy and whether they cover congenital or hereditary conditions. Patellar luxation is usually genetic, so if your plan covers hereditary conditions and the issue was found after your waiting period, you should be okay. But policies can vary by state too, so it’s worth double-checking your policy exclusions. I used to work in pet insurance, and reading those documents thoroughly is key.
If the vet first noticed it before you got insurance, that could be an issue. But if it was documented after the waiting period, you should be good to go.
Yeah, I made sure to wait until after the waiting period before taking her to the vet. I’m just a bit paranoid, thinking the insurance might argue she had it beforehand. It feels like a grey area since she was already an adult when I adopted her, and I don’t have a full history on her.
Yeah, that’s where things can get tricky. Patellar luxation itself might or might not be covered, depending on how your policy is worded. Also, a lot of dogs with patellar luxation end up with cruciate ligament involvement, and that could affect coverage too.
You might want to give your insurance a call and ask them directly. It’ll come down to how the vet diagnoses it and what imaging shows. I really hope it works out for you!
