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A pet insurance waiting period is the time between when you purchased your policy and when coverage begins. For example, if your pet insurance plan has a 14-day waiting period for illnesses and your dog has an ear infection two days after you buy the policy, you won’t be covered for vet expenses related to the ear infection.
The average pet insurance waiting period for illnesses is 14 days, but you can find much shorter waiting periods for accident coverage. Embrace, Paw Protect, MetLife and Figo have the shortest accident waiting periods you’ll find.
Some pet insurers have an extended waiting period for certain orthopedic conditions, such as hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament issues. This waiting period typically ranges from six to 12 months, but you can find a pet insurer with no waiting period for orthopedic conditions. For example, ASCPA, ManyPets, Pumpkin and Spot do not have extended waiting periods. Other insurers, such as Embrace, will waive the extended waiting period pending an orthopedic exam.
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Can I Get Pet Insurance With Immediate Coverage?
You can’t get pet insurance with immediate coverage, but some pet insurance companies offer accident coverage within a day. For example, MetLife’s pet accident coverage kicks in at 12:00 a.m. ET the day after you purchase a policy, and Embrace and Paw Protect’s pet accident coverage kicks in at 12:01 a.m. ET the day after you purchase a policy.
Most insurers have a 14-day waiting period for illnesses. But ManyPets will reduce their 15-day accident and illness waiting period to 24 hours if you’re switching from a different pet insurer.
If you’re looking for an accident-only plan, the best emergency pet insurance companies offer benefits like short accident waiting periods, 24/7 pet telehealth lines, direct payment to your vet and coverage for the veterinary exam fee. But keep in mind that an accident-only pet insurance plan won’t cover illness-related vet expenses.
Can I Get Retroactive Pet Insurance?
No, you cannot get retroactive pet insurance, meaning you can’t buy a policy and have it be effective for a date that has already passed.
Pet insurance coverage will be effective after the waiting period. For example, if you buy a policy on April 1 and have a 14-day waiting period for illnesses, you’re eligible for coverage for illness-related claims on April 15.
Why Isn’t There Pet Insurance With No Waiting Periods?
Pet insurance plans are designed to cover unexpected accidents and illnesses. A waiting period helps insurers prevent fraudulent claims that are actually due to pre-existing conditions. For example, if a dog swallows an object and needs an expensive surgery, a pet owner can’t buy a policy right away and use it to pay for the surgery.
Pet Insurance Companies Offering the Shortest Waiting Periods
Here are the pet insurance companies with the shortest waiting periods:
- MetLife: Accident coverage begins at 12:00 a.m. ET the day after you purchase a policy.
- Embrace: Accident coverage begins at 12:01 a.m. ET the day after you purchase a policy.
- Paw Protect: Accident coverage begins at 12:01 a.m. ET the day after you purchase a policy.
- ManyPets: Will reduce the accident and illness waiting period to 24 hours if you’re switching from a different pet insurer.
- Figo: 1-day accident coverage waiting period.
- AKC: 2-day accident coverage waiting period.
- Felix: 2-day accident coverage waiting period. (Felix is only available for cats).
- Lemonade: 2-day accident coverage waiting period.
Here are the pet insurance companies with no extended waiting period for specified conditions such as cruciate ligament issues and hip dysplasia:
- ASCPA
- ManyPets
- Pumpkin
- Spot
- Trupanion
Some pet insurers will reduce or waive the extended waiting period if you have your pet examined by a licensed veterinarian within a certain timeframe. Here are some examples:
- Embrace will reduce the extended waiting period to 14 days if your pet has an orthopedic exam completed within the first 14 days of your policy.
- Paw Protect will reduce the extended waiting period to 14 days if your pet has an orthopedic exam completed within the first 14 days of your policy.
- Figo will waive the extended waiting period for orthopedic conditions if your vet signs a waiver within the first 30 days of your policy.
- Prudent Pet will waive the extended waiting period for knee or ligament issues if your pet passes a vet exam within the first 30 days of coverage.
Pet Insurance Waiting Periods by Company
| Pet insurance company | Accident waiting period | Illness waiting period | Extended waiting period | Learn More CTA text | Learn more CTA below text | LEARN MORE | Average monthly cost for dogs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKC | 2 days | 14 days | 180 days for cruciate ligament conditions and intervertebral disc disease | - | $60 | |||||||||
| ASPCA | 14 days | 14 days | None | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $35 | ||||||||
| Chewy | Accident-only plan: 5 days; Value Plan: 2 days; Essential, Essential+ & Complete: 5 days | Value Plan: 14 days Essential, Essential+ & Complete: 14 days | Accident-only plans: 30 days for cruciate ligament conditions; Value plan: 6 months for cruciate ligaments conditions; Essential, Essential+ and Complete plans: for cruciate ligament conditions | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $114 | ||||||||
| Embrace | Begins at 12:01 a.m. ET the day after you purchase a plan | 14 days | 6 months for orthopedic conditions for dogs but can be waived with an orthopedic exam | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $76 | ||||||||
| Fetch | 15 days | 15 days | 6 months for hip dysplasia and knee injuries | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $77 | ||||||||
| Figo | 1 day | 14 days | 6 months for orthopedic conditions but can be waived with an orthopedic exam | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $60 | ||||||||
| Healthy Paws | 15 days | 15 days | 12 months for hip dysplasia; not covered if your pet is age 6 or older at time of purchase | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $55 | ||||||||
| Lemonade | 2 days | 14 days | 6 months for cruciate ligament issues | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $52 | ||||||||
| ManyPets | 15 days (or 24 hours if you’re switching from another pet insurer) | 15 days (or 24 hours if you’re switching from another pet insurer) | None | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $49 | ||||||||
| MetLife | Begins at 12:00 a.m. ET the day after you purchase a plan | 14 days | 6 months for cruciate ligament issues | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $63 | ||||||||
| Nationwide | 14 days | 14 days | 12 months for cruciate or meniscus injuries | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $69 | ||||||||
| Paw Protect | 2 days | 14 days | 6 months for orthopedic conditions for dogs but can be waived with an orthopedic exam | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $77 | ||||||||
| Pets Best | 3 days | 14 days | 6 months for cruciate ligament issues | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $48 | ||||||||
| Prudent Pet | 5 days | 14 days | 6 months for knee and ligament issues | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $83 | ||||||||
| Pumpkin | 14 days | 14 days | None | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $124 | ||||||||
| Spot | 14 days | 14 days | None | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $97 | ||||||||
| Trupanion | 5 days | 30 days | None | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $150 | ||||||||
| Source: Forbes Advisor Research. Costs are based on a plan with unlimited annual coverage ($10,000 for ASPCA and MetLife, $15,000 for Fetchand $100,000 for Lemonade), a $250 deductible ($300 for Fetch and $750 for dogs over age seven in several states for Healthy Paws) and 80% reimbursem*nt level for mixed breed dogs. | ||||||||||||||
How Does a Pet Insurance Waiting Period Work?
Pet insurance waiting periods can generally be broken down into three different groups.
Waiting Periods for Accidents
This is the amount of time before your coverage begins for an accident, such as a broken bone or swallowed object. The waiting period for accidents typically ranges from one day to 15 days, depending on your pet insurance company.
Waiting Periods for Illnesses
This is the amount of time before your coverage kicks in for an illness, such as cancer or a urinary tract infection. Most pet insurance companies have a 14-day waiting period for illnesses.
Waiting Periods for Other Types of Problems
This is the amount of time before your coverage kicks in for specific conditions, such as cruciate ligament damage or hip dysplasia. This waiting period can often range from six to 12 months.
Not all pet insurance companies have waiting periods for certain conditions. For example, ASPCA pet insurance does not have a waiting period for orthopedic conditions or any other specified issues.
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Pet Insurance Waiting Periods Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get pet insurance then use it right away?
No, you cannot get pet insurance and use it straight away. All pet insurance companies have waiting periods. That’s the amount of time between when you bought your plan and when coverage begins. The accident waiting period typically ranges between one to 15 days and the average illness waiting period is 14 days. Some pet insurers have an extended waiting period for specified problems like cruciate ligament issues that can range from six to 12 months.
You can find pet insurance with short accident waiting periods. For example, MetLife, Embrace and Paw Protect accident coverage kicks in after midnight the day after you purchase your plan. You can also find pet insurers that do not have an extended waiting period, such as ASPCA, ManyPets, Spot and Trupanion.
Do all pet insurance plans have a waiting period?
Yes, all pet insurance plans have a waiting period, but the specified time can vary depending on the pet insurance company. Waiting periods can generally be broken down into three different groups: accidents, illnesses and extended waiting periods.
While illness waiting periods are generally 14 days, you can find pet insurers that have accident waiting periods of a day or less, such as MetLife, Embrace, Paw Protect and Figo. ManyPets will reduce your accident waiting period to 24 hours if you’re switching from a different pet insurer. You can also find insurers that have no extended waiting period (such as Trupanion) or will waive the extended waiting period pending a vet exam (such as Embrace).
Are there pet insurance plans that don’t require an exam?
Yes, there are pet insurance plans that don’t require a veterinary exam. Some pet insurers require a veterinary exam or medical history review to determine if your pet has pre-existing conditions.
If you want to skip the vet exam before purchasing a pet insurance plan, we recommend finding an insurer that doesn’t require it, such as ASPCA pet insurance.
