Does pet insurance cover hip dysplasia?
Pet insurance can cover hip dysplasia, but this is one condition where the rules really differ between insurers, so it's worth checking before you choose. Some ask you to wait 6 or 12 months before it's covered, some exclude it for good if signs show in the first weeks or months, and one only covers it if your dog joins before age 6. If you have a breed prone to hip problems, insuring them young gives you the most choice.
What is hip dysplasia?
It's a condition where the hip joint doesn't develop properly, so the ball and socket rub and wear instead of sliding smoothly. It's often inherited, which is why insurers treat it as a special case with its own waiting periods.
5 of the US insurers we compare have special rules for hip dysplasia: 2 make you wait longer, 2 exclude it if signs show early on, and 1 covers it only as an add-on.
- 2Covered after a longer waiting period
- 2Covered, unless signs show before or soon after you join
- 1Only with an optional add-on
From each insurer’s own policy documents, read in October 2026.
How does each insurer cover hip dysplasia?
Grouped by what the policy does, with each insurer’s answer in plain English. Click an insurer’s name for everything its policy covers.
Covered after a longer waiting period
- Healthy PawsWaiting period 12 monthsCovered after a 12-month waiting period, but only for dogs who join before age 6. Dogs aged 6 or older when they join get no hip dysplasia cover at all.
- FigoWaiting period 6 monthsTreated as an orthopedic condition: a 6-month waiting period for dogs, which a vet can waive with an orthopedic exam and waiver form.
Covered, unless signs show before or soon after you join
Only with an optional add-on
- NationwideCongenital and hereditary conditions are an optional add-on to the Modular Plan.
Your questions answered
Can I insure a dog with hip dysplasia?
You can insure your dog, but hip dysplasia they already have, or that showed signs before the policy started, will be excluded as pre-existing. Figo also says it will never treat orthopedic conditions like this as cured, so it stays excluded.
What age should I insure my dog to cover hip dysplasia?
As young as you can. Healthy Paws only covers hip dysplasia for dogs who join before age 6, and every insurer excludes it once signs have appeared. Most insurers accept puppies from 8 weeks.
Every answer is a plain-English summary of the insurer’s own policy wording, read in October 2026. Policies change and terms can differ by plan and state, so check the policy before you buy. Each insurer’s page shows the exact section we read.
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