Does Pet Insurance Cover Glaucoma?

You may have people in your life who are affected by glaucoma. Unfortunately, the condition is not limited to humans.

Dogs and cats can get glaucoma too. And when that happens, it can progress quickly, not only causing your pet pain, but compromising their vision.

Glaucoma, once diagnosed, is often a medical emergency in pets. And given the cost of treating it, that could put you in a very tough position.

The good news is that pet insurance often includes glaucoma coverage. But it depends on the type of plan you have. And even with coverage, there are still out-of-pocket expenses to think about.

Let's review when pet insurance might cover glaucoma, as well as glaucoma treatment cost for pets.

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What Is Glaucoma in Pets?

Glaucoma is a painful eye condition that causes a buildup of fluid and pressure in the eye. In addition to causing discomfort, it can cause eye damage and lead to blindness if it's left untreated.

Glaucoma in pets can be primary or secondary. Primary glaucoma is an inherited condition that's caused by abnormal drainage in the eye. Secondary glaucoma is caused by non-genetic factors, including eye injuries, inflammation in the eye, or tumors.

Common signs of glaucoma in pets include:

You may not notice eye-related symptoms right away if your pet has glaucoma. But if they generally seem off – they're whimpering, lethargic, and don't have an appetite – it's a sign that you should take them to the vet as soon as possible.

And if you do notice something wrong with your pet's eye, don't hesitate to call your vet. Glaucoma is a medical emergency, and the sooner you get your pet care, the better the outcome may be.

Is Glaucoma Covered by Pet Insurance?

You may be wondering: Is there glaucoma pet insurance?

Most accident and illness policies do cover glaucoma, provided it isn't a pre-existing condition. While human health insurance is required to cover pre-existing conditions, pet insurance is not and therefore typically does not.

But just because your pet insurance policy covers glaucoma treatment doesn't mean you won't face out-of-pocket costs. Your insurance plan may only cover a certain percentage of your pet's care, leaving you to pay the rest. You should also know that while most accident and illness pet insurance policies cover glaucoma treatment, if you have a wellness-only plan, glaucoma won’t be covered.

Pet insurers tend to offer similar coverage for glaucoma in cats and dogs. However, dogs may be more expensive to insure due to their size and likelihood of injury compared to cats.

When Pet Insurance Won’t Cover Glaucoma

Although pet insurance generally covers glaucoma treatment, there can be exceptions.

Your insurance policy may not cover treatment for your pet if it's a pre-existing condition, or if your policy lists glaucoma as a specific exclusion. Keep in mind that if your pet was diagnosed with glaucoma in one eye before you got coverage, your insurance policy may not cover it if it develops in a second eye.

There are also certain animal breeds that are more susceptible to glaucoma than others. Your insurance policy might list glaucoma as an exclusion in this instance, and not cover it for your pet specifically.

Also pet insurance policies tend to impose a waiting period from when you get coverage to when you're eligible to be reimbursed for covered expenses. If you're still within that waiting period when your pet is diagnosed with glaucoma, your insurer may not cover the bill. The same applies if your policy has an annual payout limit that you've already reached, or if your policy has lapsed.

What Glaucoma Treatment Does Insurance Typically Cover?

If you have an accident and injury plan, your pet insurance policy will usually cover a number of costs related to glaucoma treatment, including:

How Much Does Glaucoma Treatment Cost Without Insurance?

Without pet insurance, the cost of treating glaucoma in pets can be significant.

Insuranceopedia puts the average cost of glaucoma surgery in dogs at $1,500 to $3,000. If the glaucoma is so severe that eye removal (enucleation) is the only option, then the cost may be $600 to $1,000 for a cat, according to Insuranceopedia.

The cost of glaucoma eye drops, meanwhile, will depend on the formula your vet recommends. Chewy sells a 2.5-ml bottle of Latanoprost Ophthalmic Solution for $8.99. A 10-ml bottle of Dorzolamide, meanwhile, is $16.99. Your total costs will hinge on how long your pet needs the medication.

In addition, you may have to pay for an emergency vet or ophthalmologist visit. CareCredit puts the average cost of an emergency vet exam at $96 to $236 for dogs and $94 to $228 for cats. An eye exam with tonometry to measure eye pressure might cost close to $300, depending on the specialist you use.

You may also incur additional costs, such as follow-up visits to monitor your pet's recovery. Your total cost without pet insurance, therefore, will hinge on your pet's specific needs and care.

How Pet Insurance Can Help with Glaucoma Costs

If you're eligible for glaucoma coverage, your pet insurance policy will typically pick up a portion of the cost, leaving you to pay the balance. The exact amount of coverage you get will depend on your plan's rules.

It's common for pet insurance policies to reimburse 70% to 90% of treatment costs for accidents and illnesses. Your specific policy, however, may have a certain cap on treatment. For example, you might have a $3,000 cap on glaucoma treatment that includes diagnostic costs, surgery, medication, and ongoing monitoring.

To give you an example of the importance of pet insurance, let's say you're looking at a $1,500 surgery for your dog, which is on the low end noted above, plus another $500 in medications and exams for a total of $2,000. If you have a pet insurance policy that covers 90%, your out-of-pocket costs will be $200, as opposed to the entire $2,000 bill.

That's why it's so important to get pet insurance as soon as you adopt a pet. The sooner you put coverage in place, the sooner you're covered in case your pet gets injured or diagnosed with a medical condition. And also, the quicker you get a policy, the less likely your pet is to be diagnosed with a pre-existing condition your policy won't cover.

Choosing Pet Insurance with Eye Conditions in Mind

If you're worried about your pet being diagnosed with glaucoma or another eye disease, it's important to get a policy that offers coverage for these conditions. When shopping around for policies, you may want to prioritize insurance that:

Make sure to read the fine print before picking a policy. And try to get coverage as soon as reasonably possible after adopting a pet, as that could be the difference between your insurance policy covering chronic conditions or not.

When to Talk to Your Vet and Insurance Provider

Glaucoma is a medical emergency in pets. It's important to contact your vet as soon as you notice signs that could be indicative of glaucoma.

If possible, it's best to contact your pet insurer before your pet starts glaucoma treatment so you can understand what coverage you're entitled to. Also, find out what documentation you need to submit claims and loop your vet in, so you don't run into trouble getting reimbursed.

Look on the Bright Side

Although glaucoma is a serious medical condition in pets, with prompt treatment, your pet may have a good outcome. Pet insurance may significantly reduce the financial strain of glaucoma treatment, provided you have a policy in place before your pet is diagnosed.