Service dogs have traditionally been used to assist those suffering from vision or mobility-based disabilities. However, their use cases are expanding, now aiding those with diabetes, seizures, autism and other conditions.
The price for a service dog can reach upwards of $40,000, and most insurers don’t cover them.
Should insurers look to cover service dogs, the market is increasingly being riddled with improper training and even fraud. This is largely due to a lack of regulation, according to Kaiser Health News, making the market akin to the “Wild West.”
As payers have yet to cover service animals, patients are forced to look for alternative ways to pay. This includes being forced to ask for donations, reach out to nonprofits or even training them at home.
