Pet insurance is made to cover pets in times of unforeseen expenses, such as illness and accidents. When you purchase a policy for your pet, you will not get access to your coverage immediately due to certain issues. This process is called a waiting period, and it is practiced in most cases. You must clear the waiting period before your pet insurance coverage kicks in. Every pet insurance company has a waiting period after issuing insurance policies. Some insurance companies have longer waiting periods, while the best pet insurance companies have shorter ones.
Generally, you are required to complete the waiting period before you can file a claim on your pet coverage. While most insurance companies impose a waiting period, some rare policies offer immediate coverage with no waiting period, providing pet owners with instant protection for their pets.
What Is a Pet Insurance Waiting Period?
A pet insurance waiting period is the time a pet owner has to wait after purchasing pet insurance coverage before they can file a claim. For instance, if a pet insurance plan has a waiting period of 14 days for illnesses and your dog requires urgent medical attention, you will not be covered by your insurance policy until the waiting period is over.
Can I get Pet Insurance with Immediate Coverage?
Pet insurance plans do not offer insurance coverage immediately after they issue insurance coverage. There is a waiting period added to your insurance coverage, irrespective of type, including illnesses and specific ailments, accidents, hip dysplasia, and knee injuries. Some of the best insurance companies have shorter pet insurance waiting periods, but they do not activate the coverage immediately.
Pet insurance companies with the shortest waiting periods
Some of the best insurance companies with the shortest waiting periods are:
- Costco and Figo: This insurer has a single-day waiting period for accidents.
- ASPCA, ManyPets, Pumpkin, and Spot: Their waiting period is not extended for conditions like hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament issues.
Most pet insurance companies have only a 14-day waiting period for illnesses. Aside from these, some insurance companies will reduce or waive waiting periods if your pet has been examined by a licensed vet within a specific timeframe. Some of the examples of these companies include:
- Embrace.
- ManyPets.
- Costco and Figo.
- Figo.
- Prudent Pet.
These insurance companies reduce your pet insurance waiting period for certain conditions, like orthopedic conditions.
Pet Insurance Company Waiting Periods
As previously stated, every pet insurance company has a waiting period. This means that in every company, the waiting period is different. The table below shows different pet insurance companies and their waiting periods.
| Pet insurance companies | Accident Waiting Period | Illness Waiting Period | Extended Waiting Period |
| Embrace | A single-day waiting period | 14 days | 6 months |
| ASPCA | 14 days | 14 days | None |
| Fetch | 15 days | 15 days | 6 months |
| Healthy Paws | 15 days | 14 days | 6 months |
| Figo and Costco | 1 day | 15 days | 12 months |
| Lemonade | 2 days | 14 days | 6 months |
| MetLife | 1 day | 14 days | 6 months |
| ManyPets | 1 to 15 days | 1 to 15 days | None |
Staying aware of your pet policy waiting period can help you determine how long it takes for your coverage to kick in.
How Does It Work?
This is classified into three different groups. These groups are:
Waiting Periods for Accidents
This waiting period is how long you are to wait before your coverage covers pet accidents like swallowed objects or broken bones. This waiting period lasts between 1 and 15 days after the purchase. However, this depends on your insurance company.
Waiting Period for Illnesses
This is how long a pet owner should wait before their pet insurance coverage begins. It is usually a waiting period of 14 days before it covers illnesses such as cancer and urinary tract infections.
Waiting Period for Other Types of Problems
This is the amount of time you have to wait before your insurance covers certain conditions, like hip dysplasia or ligament damage. This waiting period usually ranges from 6 to 12 months after the coverage has been purchased. However, not every insurance company has a waiting period for these types of conditions.
Why Does Pet Insurance have a Waiting Period?
The pet insurance waiting period is designed to help pet insurance companies avoid fraudulent claims that are most often due to already existing conditions. An example is when a dog requires surgery because it swallowed an object. The pet owner can’t file a claim for newly purchased pet insurance to cover this expense.