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Having pet insurance gives you peace of mind when your pet has an unexpected illness or accident. You can focus on your pet’s health and healing instead of worrying about how you will pay the vet bill. However, pet insurance doesn’t cover everything, particularly when it comes to expensive surgeries like cruciate surgery. But does MetLife Pet Insurance cover it? It may be covered depending on your policy and when your pet was diagnosed. Let’s take a more detailed look at what MetLife offers in terms of cruciate surgery coverage.
Does MetLife Cover Cruciate Surgery?
MetLife Pet Insurance does offer coverage for cruciate surgery, but not in all cases. All policies with MetLife have a 6-month waiting period for cruciate ligament issues if your policy was underwritten by American Insurance Company (which many are). This means your dog must be diagnosed at least 6 months after signing up for pet insurance to receive coverage. If your dog is diagnosed before this waiting period has lapsed, the cruciate ligament issue is considered a pre-existing condition, and you will not receive coverage.
Interestingly, MetLife sells policies that are underwritten by two different companies. If you hold a policy that is underwritten by Metropolitan General Insurance Company, there is no waiting period for cruciate ligament issues. As long as your dog is diagnosed after you purchase the policy, you will receive coverage.
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How Much of the Surgery Is Covered?
While MetLife Pet Insurance covers the cost of cruciate surgery, it doesn’t offer unlimited annual benefits. All policies hold a maximum annual payout of $10,000, so this is the maximum amount that you can be reimbursed for surgery if you haven’t made any other claims during that time. You will also have to pay your deductible when filing the claim.
What Is Cruciate Surgery?
Cruciate surgery is a procedure to repair the cruciate ligament after it has been torn. A common cruciate ligament injury is a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Tearing of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is also common. While this procedure is mostly performed on dogs, it can also be performed on cats and horses.
The ACL and CCL run from one side of the knee joint to the other and prevent excessive movement of the bones in your pet’s leg. When this ligament tears, it results in joint instability and pain when walking or running. Symptoms of a torn cruciate ligament include difficulty walking, favoring one leg over another, and difficulty going downstairs.
A vet will confirm a cruciate ligament tear through a physical exam and diagnostic tests like an X-ray, MRI, or arthroscopy. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, they will form a treatment plan. While medical management options do exist to control pain, surgery is most often required for these injuries.
How Much Does Cruciate Surgery Cost?
The costs of surgery vary according to the severity of the injury, but here are the average costs for the procedure:
- CCL surgery ranges between $1,000 and $5,000 per knee.
- ACL surgery ranges from $3,000 to $4,000 for one knee or $5,500 to $6,500 for both knees.
Final Thoughts
MetLife Pet Insurance does offer coverage for cruciate surgery in certain circumstances. If your dog has received a diagnosis and you have specific questions about their coverage, it’s important to talk to the company directly about your specific situation.
Featured Image Credit: VP Photo Studio, Shutterstock
