No I’m not asking for legal advice, I’m more asking like where to start and what benefits it might offer my roommate.

Brownie is an awesome friendly dog, and I think he deserves the badge of emotional support animal. Question is, where to start?

  • cattywampas@lemmy.world
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    23 hours ago

    No, there is no way. That will be entirely up to the airline. They treat non-service animals as pets, with all the rules and regulations that apply. There’s nothing that obligates them to treat an emotional support animal any differently than any other pet.

    I did a little digging into that horse story. It seems it may actually have been a trained service animal and not just an ESA. But in either case, the DOT has since updated its rules to exclude miniature horses from being allowed on airplanes.

    • over_clox@lemmy.worldOP
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      23 hours ago

      Again, airplane not necessary, my roommate ain’t planning to fly anywhere.

      I’m just curious to try to help him get qualified to purchase dog food from his health insurance card…

      • cattywampas@lemmy.world
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        23 hours ago

        That sounds like it’s up to the insurance company. But, again, there is nothing in the way of being an emotional support animal that would compel it to be covered by insurance, so I wouldn’t get your hopes up for it being covered. A service animal may be a different story.

        • early_riser@lemmy.world
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          2 hours ago

          I’m pretty sure you can’t even do that with traditional service dogs. I think vet and food expenses for a service dog can be deducted from taxes as a medical expense (not financial advice!) but not charged to human health insurance.

        • over_clox@lemmy.worldOP
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          23 hours ago

          I do thank you for your advice, but I’m just not sure.

          His previous healthcare provider allowed him to purchase dog food, but he switched providers and not sure if there’s a proper solution to that this year…

          I dunno, just trying to help my roommate ya know.

          I don’t have my hopes up, but I don’t have my hopes down either. Just asking around ya know…

          • early_riser@lemmy.world
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            2 hours ago

            I don’t know you or your roommate’s current financial situation, but if they’re struggling to buy dog food there may be assistance programs, perhaps not for the dog, but for his own expenses, that can free up money for the dog.

            • over_clox@lemmy.worldOP
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              43 minutes ago

              Oh it’s not exactly a dire financial struggle, hell one big bag of dog food for him costs something like $8 a bag, and might last upwards of 2 months. And yes he has a dedicated airtight container to keep the food fresh.

              Just looking and talking around to see what all, if any options he might have with his new health insurance provider to try to save a few dollars here and there.

              Best I’ve gathered so far from comments here, I’ve already advised him to just talk to his doctors and perhaps his case manager next time he’s got an appointment.

      • Zomg@piefed.world
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        21 hours ago

        Hey man, if "my dog is loved by everyone " can be used as a cheat code for food covered with insurance, I don’t think you’d need to use Lemmy to find answers.

        • over_clox@lemmy.worldOP
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          21 hours ago

          He’s not my dog, he’s my elderly roommate’s dog.

          I’m just asking basic advice on where to start and how to help my roommate…

          • Zomg@piefed.world
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            21 hours ago

            Yeah, but you’ve been given information, but you didn’t seem to want it? Guy above this kinda lays out why this isn’t a thing.

            • over_clox@lemmy.worldOP
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              20 hours ago

              Umm, do you realize it takes 60 days for my roommate to register or process anything?

              Yeah, I figured I might try helping him by asking other people.

              Guess you’re no help then, thanks.

              • Zomg@piefed.world
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                20 hours ago

                If you can’t afford food you should surrender the dog, it’s what a responsible owner would do if left with no choice, and it’s unfortunate if anyone would have to have that course. But rejecting sound advice or information because it’s not what you want to hear is something you should work on being better at.

                • over_clox@lemmy.worldOP
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                  20 hours ago

                  Did you see how fat Brownie is? He’s definitely not starving…

                  Roommate’s health insurance changed this year, he’s just trying to figure out what to do…

                  • Zomg@piefed.world
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                    12 hours ago

                    And we’re here to tell you that you’re not going to find a cheat code to turn a friendly dog with pet insurance into a gateway for free dog food by having your insurance pay for it. Insurance is for health, not for good behavior.

                    It’s almost like you willingly ignored what I and others have said because you don’t like what you’re hearing.