Pets Best covers hip dysplasia only if you enroll your pet before any signs appear
Pets Best Insurance will not cover hip dysplasia if your veterinarian has already diagnosed it or if your pet showed symptoms before you bought the policy. Hip dysplasia is treated as a pre-existing condition, which means the company excludes it from coverage from day one. If your pet has no history of hip problems when you sign up, Pets Best will cover treatment for dysplasia that develops after your policy starts — but only if you choose a plan that includes orthopedic coverage.
The timing matters because Pets Best does not waive pre-existing conditions for any breed or any reason. Even if hip dysplasia runs in your pet's family line, if there is no diagnosis or clinical sign in your veterinary records before enrollment, the condition is not considered pre-existing. Once you are covered, claims for hip dysplasia treatment go through the same deductible and reimbursement structure as any other condition.
Key Takeaways
- Pets Best will not cover hip dysplasia if your pet was diagnosed or showed symptoms before you enrolled, regardless of breed or family history.
- If your pet has no history of hip problems, Pets Best covers dysplasia treatment after your policy begins, subject to your chosen deductible and reimbursement percentage.
- You must enroll before any veterinary visit mentions hip dysplasia, lameness, or joint pain — even if the vet did not formally diagnose it.
- Pets Best reimburses a percentage of may be able to access costs (typically 70%, 80%, or 90% depending on your plan), after you pay the deductible.
How Pets Best defines pre-existing conditions
Pets Best uses your pet's medical history at the time you enroll to decide what is pre-existing. If a veterinarian has written a diagnosis of hip dysplasia in your pet's records, or if your pet received treatment for it, the condition is permanently excluded. The same applies if your vet documented lameness, limping, or joint pain that points to hip dysplasia, even without a formal diagnosis.
The company does not make exceptions for breeds known to develop hip dysplasia, such as German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, or Golden Retrievers. Genetic predisposition alone does not trigger the pre-existing label — only an actual clinical sign or diagnosis in your records does. This means a young dog from a dysplasia-prone breed can be enrolled and covered for hip dysplasia if no symptoms have appeared yet.
What treatment costs Pets Best will reimburse
Once hip dysplasia is covered under your policy, Pets Best reimburses costs for diagnosis and treatment. This includes X-rays, ultrasounds, orthopedic exams, pain medication, physical therapy, and surgery. The amount you receive depends on your reimbursement level — Pets Best offers plans that reimburse 70%, 80%, or 90% of may be able to access veterinary charges after you meet your annual deductible.
If your deductible is $500 and you choose 80% reimbursement, you pay the first $500 of hip dysplasia costs out of pocket. After that, Pets Best covers 80% of the remaining bill, and you pay 20%. There is an annual maximum benefit cap that varies by plan, so a very expensive surgery might not be fully covered if it pushes past that limit. Check your specific policy documents to see your annual maximum.
Enrollment timing and what counts as a symptom
The critical moment is the day you enroll. Any veterinary visit before that date — even a routine checkup where the vet noted your pet seemed stiff or favored a back leg — can disqualify you from coverage. You do not need a formal diagnosis. If your vet's notes say "possible hip dysplasia" or "lameness in rear limbs," Pets Best will treat hip dysplasia as pre-existing.
This is why it matters to enroll young, before any joint issues appear. A puppy with no symptoms at enrollment can develop dysplasia at age three or four and still be covered, because the condition was not present when the policy began. If you wait until your dog shows signs of limping or stiffness, you have likely missed the window — the vet will document those signs, and Pets Best will deny coverage for dysplasia.
How to check your pet's coverage before filing a claim
Before you pay for hip dysplasia treatment, contact Pets Best directly with your policy number and ask them to confirm in writing whether hip dysplasia is covered under your plan. You can reach them by phone or through your online account portal. Ask them to specify whether the condition is excluded as pre-existing or whether it is covered subject to your deductible and reimbursement percentage.
If Pets Best says hip dysplasia is excluded, ask them to explain which veterinary visit or diagnosis triggered the exclusion. Sometimes there is a misunderstanding about what your vet documented. If you believe the exclusion is wrong — for example, if your pet was never diagnosed with hip dysplasia before enrollment — you can dispute it by providing your complete veterinary records from before your policy start date. Pets Best will review the records and may reverse the exclusion if no pre-existing sign appears.
What happens if your pet is diagnosed after enrollment
If your pet has no hip dysplasia history when you enroll and is later diagnosed, the treatment is covered like any other condition. You file a claim with Pets Best by submitting your veterinary invoice and medical records. Pets Best typically processes claims within 10 to 15 business days and sends reimbursement to your bank account or by check.
Keep in mind that Pets Best has an annual deductible that resets each year. If you already met your deductible for another condition earlier in the year, hip dysplasia claims will not require you to pay it again. However, if you have not met your deductible yet, you will need to pay it before Pets Best begins reimbursing hip dysplasia costs.
Comparing Pets Best to other insurers on hip dysplasia
Most pet insurance companies treat hip dysplasia the same way Pets Best does — they exclude it if it was diagnosed or symptomatic before enrollment. Some insurers, such as Embrace and Trupanion, offer a "wellness" or "preventive care" rider that may cover screening X-rays for at-risk breeds, but this is different from covering dysplasia treatment itself. Nationwide and State Farm also exclude pre-existing hip dysplasia.
The main difference between insurers is the reimbursement percentage and annual maximum. If you are comparing plans, look at whether the company covers orthopedic surgery at the same reimbursement level as other conditions, or whether it applies a lower percentage to joint problems. Pets Best does not have a separate orthopedic tier — hip dysplasia is treated like any other condition under your chosen plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add hip dysplasia coverage if my pet was already diagnosed?
No. Once hip dysplasia is diagnosed or documented in your pet's veterinary records, no pet insurance company will cover treatment for it, even if you switch insurers or buy a new policy. Hip dysplasia is a permanent pre-existing condition from the moment of diagnosis.
Does Pets Best cover hip dysplasia surgery?
Yes, if hip dysplasia is not excluded as pre-existing. Pets Best covers orthopedic surgery, including hip dysplasia procedures like femoral head ostectomy or total hip replacement, at your chosen reimbursement level (70%, 80%, or 90%) after you pay your deductible.
What if my vet suspects hip dysplasia but hasn't diagnosed it yet?
If your vet has written any note about limping, stiffness, or joint pain — even without a formal diagnosis — Pets Best may treat hip dysplasia as pre-existing. Enroll before your next vet visit if you want to avoid this. If you have already had a visit where symptoms were noted, contact Pets Best to ask whether they will exclude the condition.
Do I need to tell Pets Best about my pet's family history of hip dysplasia?
No. Pets Best does not ask about family history and does not use it to exclude coverage. Only your pet's own medical history at enrollment matters. A puppy whose parents both had hip dysplasia can still be covered if the puppy shows no symptoms when you enroll.
How much does Pets Best hip dysplasia coverage cost?
Pets Best does not charge extra for hip dysplasia coverage — it is included in your standard plan premium. The cost of your policy depends on your pet's age, breed, location, and the deductible and reimbursement level you choose. Breeds prone to hip dysplasia typically have higher premiums than others.