Why do pet insurance companies have waiting periods?

Pet insurance companies use waiting periods as a way to reduce fraud . The coverage delay prevents pet parents from getting reimbursed if they purchase pet insurance after an accident or illness occurs. For example, say your outdoor cat got into a fight with another animal and came home with wounds that need stitches. You can’t buy a cat insurance plan the next morning to cover the care.

Can I get pet insurance with immediate coverage?

Yes, you can get pet insurance with immediate coverage for accidents through Lemonade. There are no pet insurance providers that offer immediate coverage for illnesses. The shortest waiting period for illnesses is 5 days, offered by Animalia.

What is the average waiting period for pet insurance?

Depending on the pet insurance provider and claim type, your average wait time can range from 48 hours to several months. Reimbursement for accidental injuries often begins after 48 hours. Illnesses are usually covered in about 14 days. Some conditions, such as meniscus tears, may have longer wait times.

What pet insurance has the shortest wait time?

Lemonade Pet Insurance has no waiting period for accidents. MetLife Pet Insurance has the second shortest waiting period for accidents, with coverage going into effect at midnight on the day you purchase the plan (read more in our MetLife pet insurance review ). Figo Pet Insurance also has a very short wait time for accident coverage. It takes effect after only 1 day (read more in our Figo pet insurance review ). The shortest wait time for coverage of illnesses is from Animalia with a 5 day waiting period. 14 days is the pet insurance industry standard.

When is the best time to get pet insurance?

It’s a good idea to get a pet insurance policy before an illness or injury occurs. That way, your pet is protected when the need arises. However, many insurers don’t put an age limit on coverage, so it’s never too late to buy a pet insurance plan. although premiums typically rise as your dog ages or cat ages due to increased health risks. Buying a cheap pet insurance policy when your pet is young will ensure they have coverage in case of emergencies, and you can always increase benefits later on in their life if you need to.

Can I get retroactive pet insurance?

You cannot purchase pet insurance retroactively. In other words, you can’t buy a policy to cover a date that’s already passed. For example, if your dog swallowed a toy on March 1st, you can’t purchase dog insurance on March 2nd to cover surgical removal.

Can I get pet insurance if my dog is already sick?

Although you can get pet insurance for a dog that’s already sick, the illness is considered a pre-existing condition and won’t be covered unless your pet can be cured of the illness or injury. Essentially, you can only file claims for conditions that first occur at or after 12:01 of the coverage start date. We recommend having a look at our article on pet insurance for pre-existing conditions .

Does all pet insurance have a waiting period?

No, not all pet insurance has a waiting period. Lemonade offers same-day coverage for accidents, but does have a 14-day waiting period for illnesses. All other pet insurance providers have waiting periods for both accidents and illnesses ranging from 1-30 days.

Is there a waiting period for dental issues?

If you have pet dental insurance as part of your policy, waiting periods will still apply. For things such as extractions due to dental disease, you would need to wait for your illness waiting period to be over before coverage would start. If your dog needs dental work done to an accident, such as being hit by a car, the accident waiting period would apply.

Best Pet Insurance With No Waiting Period November 2024

Maximum annual coverage

$5,000 - $100,000

Reimbursement choices

70%, 80%, 90%

Deductible choices

$100, $250, $500

Maximum annual coverage

$1,000-$10,000

Reimbursement choices

70%, 80%, 90%

Deductible choices

$50, $100, $250, $500

Maximum annual coverage

$5,000 - $25,000

Reimbursement choices

70%, 80%, 90%

Deductible choices

$200, $350, $500

$5,000 - $100,000

70%, 80%, 90%

$100, $250, $500

Lemonade offers the only pet insurance with no waiting period for accident coverage.

There is a 14-day waiting period for illnesses and a 30-day waiting period for orthopedic conditions in most states.

Lemonade offers affordable accident & illness coverage and customizable plans. They are one of the few dog insurance providers that offer dental coverage and coverage for recurring conditions. Their mobile app allows you to easily manage your policy online.

Add-ons from Lemonade include coverage for preventative care, vet visit fees, dental illness, physical therapy, behavioral conditions, and end-of-life care and remembrance.

Coverage limits can be customized, but to get the most out of your policy we recommend opting for 90% reimbursement and a dental & vet fee add-on.

Read our full Lemonade review

Comprehensive coverage
Discount for bundling with other policies from Lemonade
Various add-ons available

Age restrictions
Not available in certain states
No unlimited coverage option

$1,000-$10,000

70%, 80%, 90%

$50, $100, $250, $500

MetLife is a very close second for the shortest waiting period for accidents. Coverage takes effect starting at midnight on the day you buy your policy. This is a far shorter than the average waiting period for the industry.

Illness coverage also has a short wait time at just 14 days before coverage takes effect. Additionally, many orthopedic conditions are also covered at the time that illness coverage kicks in.

Other things we like about MetLife:

With MetLife, you don’t need an initial exam to enroll your pet, there is no upper age limit for older pets. A wide variety of accidents and illnesses are covered as part of your insurance plan. Although traditional MetLife accident and illness policies don’t include wellness exams and dental cleanings, you can opt into their preventative care add-on to get coverage for these things and more.

We like that MetLife offers a variety of discounts for pet parents, like multi-pet discounts, employer benefit discounts, first-responder discounts, health care worker discounts, and more. On top of that, your deductible has the potential to decrease each year you don’t file a claim! Their family plan for people with several pets is also a huge draw.

MetLife is available in all 50 states for cat and dog insurance and offers coverage for exotic pets in select states. These plans can be customized based on what coverage limits, deductibles, and reimbursement levels you’d like.

Read our full MetLife review

Deductible as low as $50
Coverage for exotic animals
No initial exam required for enrollment
Super short waiting period of accident coverage

No unlimited coverage option
No vet-direct pay
Max 3 pets for multipet/family policy

$5,000 - $25,000

70%, 80%, 90%

$200, $350, $500

Animalia is a smaller provider but offers the shortest waiting period we have found for illnesses at just 5-days.

This is way shorter than the industry average of 14-days. Additionally, the waiting period for accidents is also 5-days which is also shorter than many providers in the industry.

Although small, Animalia offers solid coverage and includes things like behavioral therapy, chiropractic care, and virtual vet visits all as part of their standard plan. They are also one of the few providers on the market to reimburse your for prescription food and dietary supplements that are prescribed by your vet.

One minor downside is that they don’t sell wellness plans, so reimbursements for routine care like vaccines won’t be covered.

Covers prescription foods
Shorter waiting period for illnesses than many insurers
Virtual vet visits covered

No wellness add-on available
No unlimited coverage option

$5,000 - Unlimited

70%, 80%, 90%, 100%

$100, $200, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500

Figo has a very short waiting period for accidents and injuries, only a 1-day wait. For illnesses, there is a 14-day waiting period.

For dogs, there is also a 6-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions. However, this can be waived if you get an orthopedic exam within the first 30 days of your policy and your pet is deemed healthy.

Figo is known for its fast claim processing which is a huge benefit to its customers. Figo is also one of the few providers that offer 100% reimbursement (on plans with deductibles of $500+).

It’s great for elderly dogs as it has no age limit for enrollment.

Figo has lots of plan options to suit all types of budgets. It offers several pre-set accident & illness plans but also allows you to customize your plan based on your desired coverage limits, deductible, and reimbursement level.

You can also opt for add-ons that offer continued wellness coverage and reimbursement for vet exam fees. All plans come with 24/7 vet assistance text-chat, however, video/phone telehealth consultations are also available as part of the wellness add-on.

Read our full Figo review

Fast claim processing
No max age limit for enrollment
Short waiting period for accidents and injuries
100% reimbursement option

Doesn’t pay vet directly
No accident-only plan option
More expensive than some insurers

$5,000 - Unlimited

70%, 80%, 90%

$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000

Embrace has only a 2-day waiting period for accident and injury coverage and a 14-day waiting period for illness coverage. There is a six-month waiting period for canine orthopedic conditions, which can be reduced to 14 days if you complete an orthopedic exam and waiver process.

Embrace offers highly customizable plans for dogs and ample discounts to customers with multiple pets (10% off) or who are military members (5% off). Embrace offers an accident & illness plan with optional wellness coverage as an add-on. This also includes optional coverage for exam fees and prescription drugs.

Their plans can be tailored for up to unlimited coverage. With the unlimited option combined with 90% reimbursement, you could save thousands of dollars over your dog’s lifetime or if your dog ever develops a serious illness.

In case of an emergency, you’ll also get access to 24/7 virtual assistance via telemedicine calls which can help you diagnose if it’s necessary to rush to an in-person emergency vet. This feature alone could save you hundreds on vet bills, which is another reason we love Embrace.

Read our full review

Affordable plans
Many options to customize plans
Various discounts available

Doesn’t pay vet directly
No exotic pet coverage

$5,000 - Unlimited

70%, 80%, 90%

$100, $250, $500

Paw Protect has a short 2-day waiting period for accidents and injuries and a 14-day waiting period for illnesses. There is a six-month waiting period for canine orthopedic conditions, which can be reduced to 14 days if you complete an orthopedic exam and waiver process.

Paw Protect offers customers a $2,000 interest-free charge card that can be used to pay the vet directly, so you have no out-of-pocket expenses when your dog sees the vet for a covered reason. Most other providers require you to pay upfront and be reimbursed later.

Paw Protect offers an accident & illness plan for dogs, as well as an optional Wellness plan available as an add-on. Like some other providers, it comes with 24/7 telemedicine coverage which allows you to speak to a vet in case your pup has an emergency and you aren’t sure whether to take him in for a visit. It also offers discounts if you have multiple pets (10% off) or are a military member (5% off).

Read our full Paw Protect review

Unlimited coverage option
Wellness plan add-on available
Pays vet directly

Max age for full coverage
Doesn’t cover boarding

Unlimited

70%, 80%

$250, $500, $1000

ManyPets is a top choice for those seeking pet insurance with no waiting period when switching from another provider. If you’re switching, the waiting periods for accidents and illnesses can be reduced to 24 hours, making it feel like pet insurance with immediate coverage. This is ideal for pet owners who want coverage without delays.

For first-time policies or those restarting after cancellation, the waiting period is 15 days for accidents and illnesses. While this is longer than some competitors, ManyPets stands out by not having separate, extended waiting periods for specific conditions like orthopedic or cruciate ligament injuries, which many other providers impose.

With ManyPets, you get an accident and illness policy featuring unlimited coverage. You can add a wellness package for preventative care, but they do not offer an accident-only option.

Unlimited coverage on all plans
No sign-up fee
Affordable accident & illness plan

Less customizable than other plans
No accident-only option
Longer waiting periods for new policy holders

Company Name	Waiting Period for Accident Coverage	Waiting Period for Illness Coverage
Lemonade	No waiting period	14 days
MetLife	After midnight on same-day of purchase	14 days
Figo	1 day	14 days
Embrace	2 days	14 days
Paw Protect	2 days	14 days
Odie	3 days	14 days
Pets Best	3 days	14 days
CarePlus by Chewy	2-5 days	14 days
Animalia	5 days	5 days
Trupanion	5 days	30 days
Spot	14 days	14 days
Fetch	15 days	15 days
Pumpkin	14 days	14 days
Healthy Paws	15 days	15 days

Name of Company	Waiting Period for Certain Orthopedic Conditions
Pumpkin	14 days for ligament & knee conditions
Spot	14 days for ligament & knee conditions
Embrace	14 days with an orthopedic exam - (otherwise 6 months for Orthopedic conditions)
Paw Protect	14 days with an orthopedic exam - (otherwise 6 months for Orthopedic conditions)
CarePlus by Chewy	14 days, 30 days, or 6 months for Orthopedic injuries - depending on the animal’s medical history
Trupanion	30 days for Cranial Cruciate Ligament injuries
Figo	30 days with an waiver - (otherwise 6 months for Orthopedic conditions)
Fetch	6 months for knee & hip injuries
Lemonade	6 months for Cranial Cruciate Ligament injuries
MetLife	6 months for Cranial Cruciate Ligament injuries
Pets Best	6 months for Cranial Cruciate Ligament tears and related conditions
Healthy Paws	12 months for hip dysplasia - (for dogs younger than 5 years old at the time of purchase)

Let’s take a closer look at how the wait times for these types of claims differ.

Waiting periods for accidents

Accident insurance usually has the shortest waiting time. The diagnosis and treatment of injuries such as broken bones, bite wounds, and toxicities may begin as soon as you buy a policy.

Waiting periods for illnesses

Illnesses may include chronic diseases, congenital conditions or common ailments, such as kennel cough or diarrhea. You’ll typically have to wait about 14 days for illness coverage to begin.

Waiting periods for other issues

Insurers often categorize orthopedic and cruciate ligament problems separately, and you may have to wait 6 months or more for coverage. However, your pet insurance company may shorten the wait time if your pet has a professional orthopedic exam.