Pet insurance for hip dysplasia and cruciate tears

The clause that decides whether a knee or hip claim is paid: how long each insurer makes you wait, and how to shorten it.

German Shepherd
On this page
  1. The short answer
  2. By insurer
  3. What this means for your dog
  4. Before you buy
  5. Questions owners ask

Updated October 2, 2026. Plan facts come from each insurer's published documents; each insurer's policy documents control.

The short answer

Most insurers make you wait longer for knee and hip problems than for other illnesses: six months for cruciate ligament conditions at Lemonade, Odie and Pets Best, 180 days for orthopedic conditions at Embrace and Fetch, and 12 months for hip dysplasia at Healthy Paws. Spot applies its standard 14-day wait.

Several insurers let a vet exam shorten or waive that wait, depending on the state.

What will it cost for your dog?

Pick your breed, age and ZIP code to see the estimated monthly price from the insurers we compare.

Model updated Sep 2026 · No phone calls · Independent

Orthopedic waiting period, by insurer

InsurerOrthopedic waiting periodNotes
Embrace180-day exclusion for CCL, IVDD, hips, patella[1][2]Dogs: these conditions appearing in the first 180 days are excluded for the life of the policy. In some states a post-purchase vet orthopedic exam (report card) can cut the orthopedic waiting period to 14 days. Illness waiting period is 14 days from the pet original start date; no waiting period applies to accidents.
Fetch180 days; knee waiver with vet exam[3][4]Orthopedic conditions in first 180 days excluded for life; knees covered if vet exam within 180 days notes no knee issues. General waiting period of up to 15 days for illness; no waiting period for accidents.
Healthy PawsHip dysplasia 12 months; others 15 days[5]15-day accident/illness wait; hip dysplasia covered only if enrolled under age 6; no separate cruciate waiting period stated. In 16 states (CA, FL, PA, WA, etc.) hip dysplasia wait is 30 days, waivable with a clinical exam.
LemonadeOrtho 30 days; CCL 6 months (some states)[6]Waiting periods vary by state: 2 days accidents, 14 days illness, 30 days orthopedic, 6 months cruciate.
OdieCruciate 6 months; injury 3, illness 14 days[7][8]Standard waiting periods; the cruciate ligament wait is shorter in some states. No separate hip dysplasia wait stated. Waiting periods may be reduced or waived when bought through pre-approved channels with a participating vet certifying health.
Pets BestCruciate 6 months; may be waived[9]Illness 14 days, injury 3 days, cruciate 6 months; may be reduced or waived if a participating vet certifies pet health.
Spot14 days, incl. ligament/knee[10]Same 14-day wait for accidents, illnesses and ligament/knee conditions; no waiver option stated in sample policy.
TrupanionNot verified yetTrupanion's website blocks automated requests, so we could not check this against its policy yet. Ask Trupanion directly.

From each insurer's own sample policy, terms or FAQ, checked October 2, 2026. Terms vary by state and plan, and the policy you buy controls.

Check how this applies to your breed

What this means for your dog

A knee or hip problem that appears during the orthopedic waiting period isn't just unpaid for those months. At Embrace and Fetch, orthopedic conditions that show up in the first 180 days are excluded for the life of the policy. That makes this clause the one to read first for breeds prone to hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cruciate ligament tears and patellar luxation: the Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Newfoundland and, for kneecaps, small breeds like the Pomeranian and Yorkshire Terrier.

Two practical steps: enroll early, so the waiting period passes while your dog is young, and ask about the waiver. Embrace (in some states), Fetch (for knees), Healthy Paws (for hip dysplasia in some states) and Pets Best describe ways to shorten or waive the wait with a vet exam, each with its own deadline.

Cruciate tears often affect both knees over time, and several insurers exclude the second knee if the first was pre-existing. The bilateral exclusion, by insurer.

Before you buy

  • Find the orthopedic or cruciate ligament waiting period on the policy's declarations page; it can differ by state.
  • Ask whether a vet exam can shorten or waive it, and the deadline for that exam.
  • Check what happens to a knee or hip problem that appears during the wait: excluded for now, or for life.
  • Read the bilateral clause at the same time, since the second knee is often affected later.

Questions owners ask

How long is the waiting period for cruciate ligament tears?

Six months at Lemonade, Odie and Pets Best (shorter in some states at Odie), 180 days for orthopedic conditions at Embrace and Fetch, and 14 days at Spot, which applies its standard waiting period to ligament and knee conditions.

Does pet insurance cover hip dysplasia?

Yes, if it is not pre-existing. Embrace and Fetch exclude orthopedic conditions that appear in the first 180 days for the life of the policy, and Healthy Paws applies a 12-month hip dysplasia wait and covers it only for dogs enrolled at age five or younger.

Can the orthopedic waiting period be waived?

Sometimes. Embrace offers an orthopedic exam waiver in some states, Fetch covers knees after a vet exam within the first 180 days, Healthy Paws waives the 30-day hip dysplasia wait in some states after a clinical exam, and Pets Best may reduce or waive waiting periods when a participating vet certifies your dog's health.

What happens if my dog tears a ligament during the waiting period?

It is not covered, and at insurers like Embrace and Fetch an orthopedic condition that appears in the first 180 days stays excluded for the life of the policy. If the other knee later tears, a bilateral exclusion may apply too.

Sources

  1. Embrace Pet Insurance Sample Policy Terms & Conditions (v6, most states). Embrace Pet Insurance.
  2. What is the waiting period for orthopedic conditions?. Embrace Pet Insurance.
  3. Pet Health Insurance Policy Terms and Conditions (sample, GPTM 050 0326 A). Fetch, 2026.
  4. View a Sample Pet Insurance Policy | Fetch. Fetch.
  5. Frequently Asked Questions | Healthy Paws. Healthy Paws.
  6. Lemonade FAQ (Pet Health Insurance section). Lemonade.
  7. Insurance Terms - Odie Pet Insurance. Odie Pet Insurance.
  8. Sample Illness & Injury Insurance Policy (Trisura Insurance Company, TRSA-OPI-PC101-ILL). Odie Pet Insurance, 2026.
  9. Accident and Illness Policy Form, Arizona sample (IAIC-PB10001-ILL). Pets Best Insurance Services.
  10. Accident & Illness Sample Policy (Arizona, form PET-P-20000-1024, Independence American Insurance Company). Spot Pet Insurance.

How we choose and check sources: Sources we use.

Orthopedic waiting period. A longer waiting period some insurers apply specifically to joint and ligament conditions, such as cruciate ligament tears, often around six months. More in the glossaryWaiting period. How long after the policy starts before accidents, and then illnesses, are covered. Anything that begins during the wait is excluded. More in the glossaryPre-existing condition. Anything diagnosed or showing symptoms before coverage starts or during the waiting period. No insurer we list covers it. More in the glossary