Pet Insurance Waiting Periods: What You Need to Know
No-wait pet insurance isn’t common, but there are carriers with short waiting periods.
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A pet insurance waiting period is the time between when you buy a plan and when coverage starts.
Accident coverage may take effect after one to 14 days, but some companies have no waiting period.
Illness coverage generally has a waiting period of 14 to 30 days.
Orthopedic conditions may have a six-month to one-year waiting period, while wellness plans often have no waiting period.
When you buy a pet insurance plan, coverage doesn't usually begin immediately. Instead, a waiting period often applies before you can make any claims. Pet insurance companies set their own waiting periods, so they’re not the same across the board.
In rare cases, you may be able to get certain types of pet insurance with no waiting period, but it generally won’t apply to all parts of your policy.
What are pet insurance waiting periods?
A pet insurance waiting period is the time between when you buy a policy and when coverage begins. If your pet needs to visit the vet during the waiting period, you’ll have to pay for those expenses out of pocket.
Waiting periods generally apply to new policies or those reinstated after a lapse in coverage. If you renew your policy continuously, you usually won’t have to go through another waiting period.
Why do pet insurance companies have waiting periods?
Waiting periods protect insurance companies from people who sign up for coverage only after their pet gets sick or injured. Without waiting periods, pet owners could sign up for insurance as soon as an emergency happens, file a claim, then cancel their policy once they get a payout. This would increase risk for the pet insurance company and drive up premiums for everyone else. Waiting periods help lower this risk.
» MORE: The best pet insurance companies
Are there pet insurance companies with no waiting periods?
Most pet insurance companies have waiting periods, but the best ones don’t make you wait long. For example, MetLife’s accident coverage begins immediately, as does its optional preventive care plan. MetLife’s illness coverage starts after 14 days, but the company may waive this waiting period if you adopt a pet from one of its partner shelters.
Lemonade has no waiting period for its accident or wellness coverage. However, it does have waiting periods for illnesses (14 days) and orthopedic conditions (30 days).
Types of waiting periods
Pet insurance policies often have different waiting periods for different types of coverage. Here are some common waiting periods.
Accident waiting periods
Most accident waiting periods last one to 15 days, with coverage occasionally kicking in immediately. These waiting periods apply to accidental injuries like broken bones, fractured teeth, swallowed objects or bites from other animals.
Illness waiting periods
Illness waiting periods tend to be longer than accident waiting periods and can last from 14 to 30 days. They apply to illnesses like cancer, stomach issues, ear infections, heart conditions or allergies.
Waiting periods for orthopedic conditions
Some pet insurance plans have separate waiting periods for orthopedic conditions like hip dysplasia, patellar luxation or ligament injuries. These waiting periods sometimes apply to dogs only and can be six months or longer.
For example, Embrace won't cover orthopedic conditions in dogs for the first six months of your policy in many states. However, you can reduce this waiting period to 14 days by having your vet do an orthopedic exam on your pet.
Healthy Paws’ hip dysplasia coverage begins after a 12-month waiting period and is available only to pets enrolled before age 6.
Waiting periods for pre-existing conditions
Pet insurance companies don’t cover most pre-existing conditions, but they may make exceptions in certain cases after a set waiting period.
There are two common types of pre-existing conditions: curable and incurable. Curable pre-existing conditions are temporary health issues that were treated and resolved before you bought insurance. They can include things like respiratory infections or vomiting. Many pet insurance companies will cover curable pre-existing conditions that have been symptom-free for at least six to 12 months.
Most pet insurance companies won’t pay to treat incurable pre-existing conditions, but AKC is an exception. Once you’ve had your policy for 365 days, AKC may cover pre-existing conditions other companies may consider incurable, like allergies and chronic ear infections. (This coverage isn’t available in all states.)
For more information, see our complete guide to pet insurance and pre-existing conditions.
Wellness plan waiting periods
Some pet insurance companies offer optional wellness plans to help cover routine services like check-ups, vaccinations and flea and tick prevention. Wellness plans often have no waiting periods.
» MORE: What does pet insurance cover?
Pet insurance waiting periods by company
Below are typical waiting periods for popular pet insurance companies. Note that these waiting periods may vary based on which state you live in.
Pet insurance company | Accident coverage | Illness coverage |
|---|---|---|
2 days. | 14 days. | |
14 days. | 14 days. | |
2 days. | 14 days. | |
15 days. | 15 days. | |
1 day. | 14 days. | |
14 days. | 14 days. | |
15 days. | 15 days. | |
14 days. | 14 days. | |
Immediate. | 14 days. | |
14 days. | 14 days. | |
Immediate. | 14 days. | |
14 days. | 14 days. | |
3 days. | 14 days. | |
5 days. | 14 days. | |
14 days. | 14 days. | |
14 days. | 14 days. | |
5 days. | 30 days. | |
15 days. | 15 days. |
How to handle waiting periods
Waiting periods can be frustrating, especially if your pet needs medical attention during that time. Here are some tips for handling waiting periods.
Get insurance early
One way to avoid pre-existing condition exclusions is to get pet insurance early in your pet’s life. The younger and healthier your pet is when you sign up for insurance, the less likely they are to develop a medical condition during the waiting period.
If your pet already has pre-existing conditions, pet insurance may not be worth it. Think about your vet bills over the past few years. If most of them are related to incurable or chronic conditions that a new policy won’t cover, you may be better off creating an emergency fund for your pet.
Look for ways to limit out-of-pocket costs
If you need emergency pet care during a waiting period, there are things you can do to manage costs. Some veterinary clinics offer payment plans through third-party lenders. You can also look into CareCredit, a credit card for medical expenses.
If your pet needs expensive medications, ask your vet about generic alternatives or look into pet prescription discount programs from GoodRx or AARP.
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