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Does Lemonade cover ACL tears?

By the WhichPetPlan editorial team · Last verified 2026-08-24
Short answer

Yes, with a catch on timing. Lemonade covers cruciate ligament (ACL) treatment as an illness after its standard waiting periods, but cruciate events specifically carry a 6-month wait, longer than its 30-day orthopedic clock. If a limp or knee injury is documented before enrollment or during that wait, the ACL becomes pre-existing and excluded.

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The 6-month cruciate wait

Lemonade’s general orthopedic wait is 30 days, but cruciate ligament events specifically wait 6 months. Accidents start at 2 days (immediately in many states) and other illnesses at 14 days, so the cruciate hold is the longest clock in the policy.

Once the wait clears and no prior signs are on record, surgical repair and follow-up care claim under your policy settings: deductibles from $100 to $750, 70/80/90% reimbursement, annual limits configurable up to $100,000.

Pre-existing rules and what to check

Any knee sign documented before enrollment or during the wait makes the ACL pre-existing. In most states Lemonade can re-cover curable conditions after 12 clean months, but knee or ligament conditions are explicitly barred from that path.

If speed matters most, our reviews document competitors: Spot applies no separate orthopedic wait beyond its standard 14-day period, while Embrace cuts a 6-month orthopedic hold to 14 days with an exam submitted in your first two weeks. Compare the full timelines in our insurer reviews before choosing.

Related questions

How long is Lemonade’s ACL waiting period?
6 months specifically for cruciate ligament events, against 30 days for orthopedic conditions generally and 14 days for other illnesses.
Does Lemonade cover both knees if one ACL tears?
Our review data does not document a bilateral-knee exclusion in Lemonade’s terms, so we do not make that claim either way; check the sample policy or ask Lemonade directly before enrolling a dog with any knee history.
Is ACL surgery subject to the annual limit?
Yes. Reimbursement runs to your configured limit, up to $100,000, after your deductible at your chosen 70/80/90% rate.

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