My dog tore a ligament in the other knee and the pet insurer says it's excluded as bilateral. Is that allowed?

A pet insurance policy can list conditions it does not pay for. The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner tells owners to ask about exclusions before they buy [1]. It also says some conditions may be excluded entirely or covered only on a limited basis [2]. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) says pre-existing conditions are rarely covered [3].

The sources we read do not explain what "bilateral" means in a pet policy. So we cannot say that your insurer is right or wrong. It depends on the exact words in your policy. Ask the insurer to name the clause and quote it. Ask it to explain in writing why that clause applies to the second knee.

If you still disagree, you can file a complaint with your state insurance department. TDI says it can help with complaints against the companies it regulates [4]. TDI also says it cannot force a company to pay if the company did not break the law [5]. Other states have their own rules.

Open your policy and search for "bilateral," "pre-existing," and "exclusions." Compare the policy's words with the denial letter. Your state's insurance department site says how to file a complaint. What "bilateral" means in your policy, and whether your state has a pet insurance law that covers it: "Don't know yet".