Best Pet Insurance For Hip Dysplasia (2023)

Does Pet Insurance Cover Hip Dysplasia In Dogs?

More often than not, pet health insurance will cover your pet for hip dysplasia, so long as no symptoms are pre-existing.

Hip dysplasia is a congenital condition, meaning it begins to manifest before or at birth. Yet, symptoms might not be apparent in your pet until it reaches its adult or senior years, once the hip has already deteriorated significantly. 

Because no pet insurance company will cover pre-existing conditions, enrolling your pet in comprehensive coverage as early as possible is the most effective way to ensure you’ll be able to afford your dog’s treatment should it develop hip dysplasia. 

Large dog breeds, including but not limited to Great Danes, German Shepards, Golden Retrievers, and St. Bernards, are at a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia. This condition also occasionally occurs in small dogs and some purebred cats.

Are There Any Exclusions Or Limitations For Hip Dysplasia Coverage?

Few providers exclude hip dysplasia entirely from their insurance coverage terms, but several have strict prerequisites for coverage eligibility. For example, Healthy Paws pet insurance won’t cover your pet for hip dysplasia if it’s over the age of six at initial enrollment. 

Some pet insurance companies have extensive waiting periods for hip dysplasia or orthopedic conditions in general, typically lasting between six months and one year. Hip dysplasia worsens with time and, when left untreated, can result in long-term complications like hip labral tears, osteoarthritis, and dislocations. So, if you have a pet that’s at risk for hip dysplasia, prioritize finding a pet insurance policy that doesn’t have long waiting periods for orthopedic conditions.

How Much Does Hip Dysplasia Surgery Cost?

Hip dysplasia surgery for dogs can cost anywhere between $1,200 and $7,000 per hip, depending on the surgical approach you and a veterinary surgeon settle on. 

Below are the three most common surgical treatment options for hip dysplasia and their average price ranges:

1. Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) — $1,200 to $2,500+ per hip
2. Double or Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (DPO/TPO) — $1,700 to $4,800+ per hip
3. Total Hip Replacement (THR) — $3,500 to $7,000 per hip

If your pet develops hip dysplasia once you’re insured, the amount you’ll pay out of pocket for treatment will ultimately depend on how you customize your policy. Most providers offer reimbursement rates of up to 90%, but that coverage will only kick in after you’ve paid off your annual deductible. Remember, the higher your deductible, the less expensive your monthly premium will be, but you’ll have to pay more upfront if you ever need to file a claim. 

Best Pet Insurance Providers That Cover Hip Dysplasia

	Spot	Lemonade	Embrace
Quote	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site
Our Score	4.9/5	4.8/5	4.7/5
Deductible	$100 to $1,000	$100 to $500	$200 to $1,000
Hip Dysplasia Waiting Period	14 days	Six months	Six months (can be reduced to 14 days with an orthopedic exam)
Multi-pet Discount	10%	5%	10%
Wellness Add-on	Yes	Yes	Yes
BBB Rating	A	F	A+

Best Pet Insurance For Dogs With Hip Dysplasia 

Among the 20+ pet insurance companies currently insuring pets across the U.S., we found that the following three providers offered the most accessible hip dysplasia coverage. While each of these carriers offers coverage for cats and dogs, we’ll focus on how their policies apply specifically to dogs at risk for hip dysplasia. As always, the best way to determine which providers are best for your coverage objectives and budget is by generating a free quote. 

Spot 

With no upper age limits and an unlimited annual payout option, Spot is an ideal choice for larger-sized senior dogs that haven’t yet exhibited any symptoms of hip dysplasia but are at a higher risk due to age or breed-specific predispositions. 

In its later years, a dog diagnosed with hip dysplasia will require more advanced physical therapy and rehab, which Spot includes in all of its plan levels. Pet owners who sign up with Spot will be covered for alternative therapies such as physiotherapy, low-level laser therapy, chiropractic care, and more.  

Due to the excess stress that obesity puts on your dog’s joints, overweight dogs are at a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia as well. Spot, unfortunately, doesn’t cover prescription pet food or supplements for weight loss, nor will it reimburse expenses related to non-medical supplies like orthopedic beds or ramps.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• No limitations based on a pet’s age or breed
• Only a 14-day waiting period for coverage of hip dysplasia and other orthopedic conditions
• Covers rehabilitative and physical therapies at no additional cost

Cons

• Doesn’t cover pet diets, which may be useful for pets with hip dysplasia onset by obesity and poor nutrition
• Doesn’t cover non-medical supplies that aren’t directly related to treatment

Check out our Spot pet insurance review to learn more about how Spot might be the right choice for you and your pet’s needs.

Lemonade

Aside from the cost of canine hip surgery, which can easily creep into the high thousands, hip dysplasia will also require you to budget for long-term medical management, from prescription medications to specialized rehabilitation. Lemonade offers an annual limit of up to $100,000 in standard benefits, ensuring pet parents can afford any treatment their pets need, with easy access to their plans directly via its mobile app. 

Although Lemonade has a six-month waiting period for hip dysplasia and other orthopedic conditions — if you’re enrolling a younger dog — that shouldn’t pose much of an issue for you. We probably wouldn’t recommend this provider for seniors anyway, as Lemonade won’t cover dogs over the age of 14 and may also turn away larger breeds under 14 years old if they’re known to have a shorter life expectancy. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Offers physical therapy and exam fee wellness plan add-ons for only $1 to $3 per month
• Lower than average monthly cost 
• Covers arthritis treatment, which can be a complication of hip dysplasia 

Cons

• Dogs over the age of 14 aren’t eligible for initial enrollment, and breed-specific life expectancies may also disqualify older dogs from coverage
• Isn’t yet available nationwide; only in 36 select states and Washington, D.C.

Read more in our full Lemonade pet insurance review for additional information on this New York-based company’s coverage details. 

Embrace

Alternative therapies like acupuncture, which can relieve joint pressure and improve range of motion, and laser therapy for reducing isolated areas of inflammation, are a few of the several proven effective non-invasive hip dysplasia treatment options that Embrace covers. 

Bilateral conditions, like hip dysplasia, are covered under Embrace’s accident/illness plan, but only if your pet hasn’t had any pre-existing incidents. For example, suppose your pet has already experienced hip dysplasia in its left side before enrollment. In that case, Embrace won’t cover treatment costs if it develops in your pet’s right side during its active policy term.

Embrace offers a free, optional medical history review after enrollment, which can help you better understand what Embrace might deem as a pre-existing condition specific to your pet’s medical record. If anything comes up that drastically affects the breadth of your coverage, you’re entitled to a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Covers mobility aids and pet prosthetics, including a hip prosthesis
• 14-day waiting period for orthopedic conditions so long as a licensed veterinarian performs an orthopedic exam within the first two weeks of an active Embrace pet insurance plan
• Covers complementary treatments like therapeutic laser treatment and hydrotherapy 

Cons

• Exclusions on bilateral conditions may apply
• Pets over the age of 15 at initial enrollment are only eligible for the accident-only policy, by default excluding hip dysplasia coverage

If you’re interested in hearing more about Embrace and its policies, head over to our official Embrace pet insurance review. 

Final Thoughts

The ultimate way to secure the best pet insurance for hip dysplasia is by enrolling in a policy with no extensive waiting periods or breed restrictions as early as possible.

 If you own a breed at risk of hip dysplasia, it’s always a good idea to have your pet screened ahead of time, which is usually done through standard X-rays that are sent out and analyzed by the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA). 

By adding preventative care coverage to your accident/illness policy, you’ll be reimbursed for a portion of any vet bills related to routine orthopedic screenings as well as annual checkups, vaccinations, heartworm tests, and other wellness coverage items. 

Our Methodology

The 365 Pet Insurance research team looks at all pet insurance policies and comes up with our reviews based on coverage, plan options, cost, reputation, customer service, and species eligibility. We’ve also created a rating system to score pet insurance brands.

We’ve consulted with pet experts and dug into plans to develop what we think are the best overall plans, complete with ratings on coverage, how they handle claims, reimbursements, deductibles, limits, and more.

To make our list, pet insurance companies must have:

• A variety of plan options
• Affordable monthly rates

Our team revisits each company’s information at the end of every month to make updates and ensure the information is as accurate as possible.