Does Pet Insurance Cover ACL/CCL Surgery?
Dog ACL/CCL surgery is covered under accident & illness plans when there's no prior limping, diagnosis, or treatment documented before the policy start. The surgery is categorized as an orthopedic injury. With a $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement, insurance typically covers $2,000–$4,000 of a $3,000–$5,500 TPLO.
ACL/CCL Surgery Cost: With vs. Without Insurance
Assumes $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement (standard plan terms)
What Pet Insurance Covers
TPLO, TTA, and extracapsular repair surgeries. Post-op medications, physical therapy (some plans), and follow-up exams.
What's Excluded
Bilateral CCL (both knees) if first knee was pre-existing at enrollment. Some plans exclude bilateral orthopedic conditions in Labs, Golden Retrievers, and Rottweilers.
Waiting Period
Orthopedic conditions: 6-month waiting period on most plans (Nationwide, Pets Best, Figo). Some plans (Trupanion) use 30-day waiting with no orthopedic carve-out.
Breed-Specific Considerations
Labs, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, and Newfoundlands have 3–5x the CCL injury rate of the general population. Some plans require an orthopedic exam at enrollment or exclude bilateral CCL for these breeds.
Plans That Cover This
The Pre-Existing Condition Rule
Pet insurance doesn't cover conditions that existed before your policy started. That means anything in your pet's vet records — a limp noted once, an ear infection two years ago, a lump your vet mentioned — can become an exclusion. Enroll before your pet has any documented health problems to get the most out of your coverage.