CostByBreedCondition guide
Pet insurance for patellar luxation
Surgery for patellar luxation is generally covered when the policy includes hereditary and orthopedic conditions and the waiting period for orthopedic problems has passed. Mild cases noted in the record before enrollment can make the knee, and sometimes both knees, pre-existing.
What it is
Patellar luxation is when the kneecap slips out of the groove it normally rides in, most often toward the inside of the leg, and it is graded from mild to severe. Owners often visit a vet because a dog skips on a back leg for a few steps, then walks normally again, or has trouble jumping.
What treatment typically costs
Surgery by a board certified surgeon, per knee typically runs $2,000 to $3,000
Source: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, quoted in DogWatch (Belvoir Media), When the kneecap slips out of place, 2015. A range this wide reflects how much the bill depends on the treatment chosen and where you live.
How policies treat it
Surgery for patellar luxation is generally covered when the policy includes hereditary and orthopedic conditions and the waiting period for orthopedic problems has passed. Mild cases noted in the record before enrollment can make the knee, and sometimes both knees, pre-existing.
Embrace: 6 months for orthopedic conditions for dogs in the V5 sample policy, reducible on review of a vet orthopedic exam to 2 days for accidents or 14 days for illnesses, or the exam date, whichever is later. State pages vary: some states have a 30 day period for IVDD, cruciate, patellar luxation and hip dysplasia, with other orthopedic conditions at 14 days, and cats at 14 days.
Fetch (Fetch by The Dodo): 6 months exclusionary period before injuries of the hips and knees can be covered. The 6 month period for knee conditions and disorders can be waived if a vet examines the pet in the first 30 days of the policy and documents that there are no relevant pre-existing knee conditions.
Lemonade: 30 days for orthopedic conditions in Lemonade's current waiting-period guide and vet guide. Note: Lemonade's main pet page FAQ and its older sample policy say 6 months for cruciate ligament events, which conflicts with the current guide's 30 day orthopedic period.
What a claim would pay
A worked example
- The bill for treating patellar luxation comes to $2,500.
- The yearly deductible takes off $500, leaving $2,000.
- The policy reimburses 80 percent of $2,000, which is $1,600.00.
The policy pays $1,600.00 and you pay $900.00.
Example terms only: a $500 yearly deductible and 80 percent reimbursement, with the deductible not yet met this year. Your own policy terms decide a real claim.
Breeds most associated with patellar luxation
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Frequently asked questions
Does pet insurance cover patellar luxation?
Surgery for patellar luxation is generally covered when the policy includes hereditary and orthopedic conditions and the waiting period for orthopedic problems has passed. Mild cases noted in the record before enrollment can make the knee, and sometimes both knees, pre-existing.
What does patellar luxation treatment cost?
Surgery by a board certified surgeon, per knee typically runs $2,000 to $3,000. Source: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, quoted in DogWatch (Belvoir Media), When the kneecap slips out of place, 2015.
Is patellar luxation hereditary?
For the breeds on this page it is one of the conditions breed registries and studies track, which is why hereditary coverage in a policy matters. The breed pages list the evidence breed by breed.
What waiting period applies to patellar luxation?
Illness waiting periods are commonly 14 days, and orthopedic conditions carry longer waits at some insurers, up to six months, sometimes reducible with a vet exam. The policy treatment section above names the insurers whose documents say so.
Treatment costs: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, quoted in DogWatch (Belvoir Media), When the kneecap slips out of place, 2015. Policy treatment: the insurers' own published policy documents and term pages, captured October 27, 2026. Premium benchmark: North American Pet Health Insurance Association, State of the Industry Report, 2026 edition, reporting 2025 data. See the methodology page for how every source is used.