A pet insurance waiting period is the time between your policy’s start date and when coverage actually begins—typically 14 days for illnesses and 0-15 days for accidents. During this period, any conditions your pet develops won’t be covered. According to NerdWallet, waiting periods exist to help prevent fraud by ensuring pet parents can’t buy coverage after their pet is already sick or injured.
Key Takeaways
Illness waiting periods are typically 14 days across most insurers
Accident waiting periods usually range from 0-15 days, with some insurers offering next-day coverage
Orthopedic conditions often have extended waiting periods of 6-12 months
Conditions occurring during the waiting period may be classified as pre-existing
Wellness and preventive care add-on plans typically have no waiting period
Standard Waiting Periods by Coverage Type
Different types of coverage have different waiting periods. Here’s what to expect from most pet insurance providers:
Coverage Type | Typical Waiting Period | Range Across Industry |
|---|---|---|
Accidents | 0-14 days | Next-day to 15 days |
Illnesses | 14 days | 14-30 days |
Orthopedic conditions | 6 months | 6-12 months |
Cruciate ligament issues | 6 months | 6-12 months |
Preventive care | None | 0-1 days |
The 14-day illness waiting period is the industry standard, though Trupanion has a 30-day illness waiting period.
Why Pet Insurance Has Waiting Periods
Waiting periods serve two main purposes:
Fraud prevention. Without waiting periods, pet parents could wait until their pet shows symptoms, buy insurance, and immediately file a claim. This would make insurance unsustainable for everyone.
Pre-existing condition screening. Insurers use the waiting period to establish a baseline for your pet’s health. Conditions documented before coverage begins or during the waiting period are classified as pre-existing and aren’t covered.
How Insurers Detect Pre-Existing Conditions
When you file a claim, your insurer reviews your pet’s veterinary medical history. They look for symptoms, diagnoses, or treatments that occurred before your policy started or during the waiting period.
For example, if your dog shows signs of limping during a 14-day waiting period and is later diagnosed with hip dysplasia, that condition would be classified as pre-existing. The insurer also compares claim dates against your pet’s documented medical timeline.
Accident vs. Illness Waiting Periods
Accident Waiting Periods
Accident coverage typically has shorter waiting periods because injuries are sudden and unexpected. Some providers or states require no waiting period for accidents. Other providers may require 1-15 days.
Illness Waiting Periods
Illness waiting periods are longer because many diseases develop gradually. Symptoms might exist before a pet parent notices them. The typical 14-day waiting period gives insurers time to identify conditions that were already developing before enrollment.
Extended Waiting Periods for Orthopedic Conditions
Orthopedic issues like hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament tears often require waiting periods of 6-12 months. Providers like Nationwide and Healthy Paws require 12-month waiting periods for orthopedic conditions, while Lemonade requires 6 months.2
Why the extended wait? Orthopedic conditions:
Develop slowly over months or years
Are common in certain breeds (large dogs especially)
Can require expensive treatments ($1,200-$6,000+ for hip surgery)
Represent higher insurer risk
Spot Pet Insurance Waiting Periods
Spot plans offer a standard 14-day waiting period for both accidents and illnesses. However, Spot offers next-day accident coverage in select states. View a sample policy to see the waiting periods in your specific state.
Spot plans may cover cured and curable pre-existing conditions after 180 days without symptom or treatment—meaning if your pet had a condition before enrollment but has been symptom and treatment-free for six months, it may become eligible for coverage.
Exception: Knee and ligament conditions that occurred before coverage or during the waiting period remain permanently excluded, even if symptoms resolve.
Tips for Managing Waiting Periods
Enroll early
The best time to get pet insurance is usually when your pet is young and healthy. According to internal data, the average enrollment age dropped from 3.6 years to 3.2 years between 2024 and 2025^—more pet parents are insuring earlier.
Review policy documents carefully
Each provider may define waiting periods differently. Check your policy for:
Exact waiting period lengths by condition type
Whether any conditions are permanently excluded
Schedule a wellness visit before enrollment
A recent veterinary exam helps establish your pet’s health baseline. This documentation helps prove that conditions occurring after coverage begins aren’t pre-existing.
What Happens If My Pet Gets Sick During the Waiting Period?
Any illness or injury that occurs during the waiting period typically won’t be covered—and may be classified as pre-existing for the life of the policy. This is why enrolling early while your pet likely hasn’t developed any pre-existing conditions can matter.
The NAPHIA 2025 report shows that 92.8% of insured pets carry accident and illness coverage. Once your waiting period ends, you’ll have protection for future unexpected health issues.
Comparing Waiting Periods Across Providers
When shopping for pet insurance, compare waiting periods alongside other factors:**
Insurer | Accident Wait | Illness Wait | Orthopedic Wait |
|---|---|---|---|
Spot | 14 days* | 14 days | 14 days |
MetLife | 0 days | 14 days | 6 months |
Embrace | 0 days | 14 days | 6 months |
Lemonade | 0 days | 14 days | 6 months |
Healthy Paws | 15 days | 15 days | 12 months |
Trupanion | 5 days | 30 days | 30 days |
Questions to Ask About Waiting Periods
Before purchasing a policy, clarify:
What is the waiting period for each coverage type?
How does the insurer define pre-existing conditions?
Can cured conditions become eligible for coverage later?
Are there any permanently excluded conditions?
For more information about Spot’s coverage and waiting periods, contact customer service at 1-800-905-1595 or visit Spot’s coverage page.
I've had the privilege of immersing myself in the realm of pet safety. As the owner of an energetic mini golden doodle, I know just how stressful being a pet owner can be. I am dedicated to ensuring our beloved pets enjoy a life brimming with good health.
Horton, C. “Pet Insurance Waiting Periods: What You Need to Know.” NerdWallet, Jun. 4 2025, https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/pet/learn/pet-insurance-waiting-periods.
Darden-King, Q. “How Do Pet Insurance Waiting Periods Work?” U.S. News, Dec. 15 2025, https://www.usnews.com/insurance/pet-insurance/how-do-pet-insurance-waiting-periods-work.
"State of the Industry Report." NAPHIA, 2025, https://naphia.org/industry-data/.
^Based on 2024-2025 Spot Pet Insurance Services, LLC claims policyholder data.
*Next-day accident coverage available in select states. View a sample policy or get a quote to learn more about waiting periods in your state.
**Comparison information is provided using publicly available information as of 12/22/2025 and is only meant to summarize program features, not a specific plan. Review the provider’s plan terms for more details. The description of the providers’ plans is not provided by that company. If you have questions about other plans, please contact an agent of that company. It is our intention to provide fair and accurate comparison information. We attempt to keep the information up to date but it may change from time to time. If you are aware of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided, let us know by emailing marketing@spotpet.com.
