Light The Way
For Apollo

Arthritis pain in his right front leg.

In January, Apollo began having arthritis pain in his right front leg. He was quickly treated with cold laser therapy and PEMF, and he improved immediately. It was a clear sign he was getting older, which is why we signed him up for Trupanion.

We signed up to prepare for his senior years.

As Apollo grew older, we enrolled him with Trupanion as a precaution, to be prepared if he needed medical care. We were planning ahead, not seeking coverage for an existing condition. We were already managing his arthritis.

His coverage began.

Apollo’s coverage started on April 12, before the injury he suffered in May. Policy

An injury with possible nerve or spinal involvement.

Apollo suffered an injury affecting his front left leg. He could still put partial weight on it, but it did not get better. We later learned that nerve or spinal involvement might be behind his pain. The help we’re asking for isn’t for arthritis. It’s for a separate nerve injury in his left front leg, a suspected bulging disc, that needs a neurologist. Veterinary letter

His primary veterinarian suspected a nerve-related injury.

With Apollo still not improving, his primary veterinarian, Dr. Colom at Universal Animal Clinic, noted that the injury might be nerve-related and recommended evaluation by a neurologist and an orthopedic specialist.

An orthopedic evaluation raised further concerns.

Apollo was seen by a board-certified orthopedic specialist. X-rays revealed a growth on his right elbow that was identified as malignant. There was also concern about nerve involvement in his left-leg symptoms, with severe pain and marked muscle loss. An MRI with a neurologist was recommended to establish the cause. Clinical records

The growth was denied as pre-existing. We appealed.

Trupanion denied coverage for the right-elbow growth, saying it was pre-existing. We appealed and eventually received partial coverage for that separate cancer claim. The left-leg expenses remained excluded. Review history

Successful surgery on his right front leg.

On July 16, Apollo had successful surgery to remove the mass from his right front leg.

The doctors’ letters supported our appeal.

We provided letters from Apollo’s doctors stating that he had no pre-existing injury, only mild arthritis in his right elbow. We submitted the veterinary clarification and specialist findings with our appeal. This was medical evidence, not just our word. Letters · Appeal

Three more requests. Three more denials.

Trupanion denied diagnostic preapproval on all three dates. Despite the letters and appeals, the earlier and second denial notices repeat the same clinical-summary paragraph linking his later symptoms to earlier limping. Earlier denial · Second denial · Dates

New test results might change their decision. The tests still aren’t covered.

After our formal review request, Trupanion upheld the denial. They said new diagnostic findings could reopen the claim, but continued to exclude the testing needed to obtain them. Response

Even if we pay for the MRI ourselves, surgery coverage is not guaranteed. Trupanion says they will assess the diagnosis against his medical history and policy terms. We’re concerned they could again use his earlier limping to deny coverage. Limping is a symptom, not a diagnosis of what is causing it. That distinction is at the heart of our appeal.