Are Bilateral Conditions Covered by Pet Insurance?

Bilateral conditions in dogs and cats are medical issues that can affect both sides of their bodies.¹ However, symptoms may not always develop simultaneously, which can complicate things when it comes to figuring out what’s covered by pet insurance.

Pet insurance policies typically don’t cover bilateral conditions if they’re pre-existing, but MetLife Pet may still be able to provide coverage in certain instances. Let’s look at some more information about bilateral conditions and what to expect from your pet insurance plan. 

What Is a Bilateral Condition?

Bilateral conditions can impact either side (left or right) of the body, and they typically affect both sides eventually. Examples of bilateral conditions common to pets include:¹

• Elbow and hip dysplasia
• Cruciate ligament injuries
• Cataracts
• Luxating patella
• Glaucoma

A bilateral condition can start on one side and then develop on the other. This is partly because these conditions can have underlying genetic causes, but it’s also due to how some of them impact your pet’s overall physiology.¹

For instance, hip dysplasia or cruciate injuries on one side of your pet’s body could cause them to shift their weight to the other side — putting abnormal stress on those joints, too. This might increase the chance of pain and development of the condition on the other side of your pet’s body in the future.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Bilateral Conditions?

In general, it can be difficult to find pet insurance that covers bilateral conditions. Most pet insurance companies won’t cover bilateral conditions if they were diagnosed before coverage began.¹ That places them in the category of pre-existing conditions, which insurance policies don’t typically cover.

Even bilateral conditions that are diagnosed after coverage begins may not always be eligible for reimbursement. This is especially true if the condition was diagnosed on one side of your pet’s body but there’s evidence it had already manifested on the opposite side prior to coverage.¹

A potential exception to this rule is curable conditions. If your pet develops a curable bilateral condition — such as glaucoma — years after it had previously affected one side of their body, then it might be covered as long as your pet has been symptom-free for a certain period of time after the initial diagnosis.¹

MetLife Pet might cover your pet’s bilateral conditions

Diagnostics and treatment of your pet’s bilateral condition might be covered by a MetLife Pet policy if:

• The diagnosis was made after enrollment, and your plan’s waiting period is over.
• There’s no evidence the bilateral condition manifested before coverage, even if it was on the other side of your pet’s body.
• A significant amount of time has passed since the bilateral condition your pet is currently experiencing was previously cured.

For example, when a pup named Paulie was diagnosed with a bilateral condition in the form of a ruptured cruciate ligament, his repair surgery cost around $3,900. Paulie’s owner had a MetLife Pet policy and was reimbursed over $3,500.²

Review the details of your policy for more information, or contact our customer support line at (877) 804-7627 to learn more about pet insurance exclusions.

MetLife Pet Can Help With Vet Costs if Your Pet’s Sick or Hurt

We know your pet’s health is a high priority. Pet insurance can help you get them the care they need when they’re not feeling well. With coverage for a wide array of health conditions, reimbursements up to 90% on covered vet bills, and optional Preventive Care to help keep them healthy — don’t wait for unexpected vet bills to surprise you.³ Get started today with a free quote from MetLife Pet.