The waiting period worth asking about
It is often free, it is rarely volunteered, and there is a deadline.
Pet insurance does not start the day you enrol. What surprises people is that a single policy usually runs several different waiting periods at once, and one of them is much longer than the others.
That one can often be shortened, and almost nobody is told so.
Three separate clocks
Lengths vary by insurer, by state and sometimes by breed, so check your own policy rather than any general figure.
- Accidents — generally the shortest
- Illnesses — generally longer than accidents
- Orthopaedic conditions such as cruciate ligament injuries and hip dysplasia — often substantially longer than either
Why the orthopaedic one is long
Cruciate and hip problems often develop gradually and can be present before any symptom appears. A longer waiting period is how insurers manage the risk of insuring something that already exists.
For a breed prone to joint problems, that is the waiting period that matters most — because it covers the conditions you are most likely to claim for.
The part worth asking about
Several insurers will waive or shorten the orthopaedic waiting period if your vet completes an examination showing no current signs, usually within a set window after you enrol.
It is frequently free. It is almost never mentioned unless you ask. And it has a deadline measured from enrolment, so it is one of the highest-value few minutes available to a new policyholder.
Ask two questions: is a waiver available, and by when do I need the examination done?
The trap at the other end
Signs that appear during a waiting period generally make that condition pre-existing — permanently — even if the diagnosis comes later.
So a limp noticed in week two that turns out to be a cruciate problem diagnosed in month three can be excluded for the animal's life. This is the single most consequential mechanic in pet insurance.
If something appears during a waiting period, see your vet anyway. Delaying care does not help, since records and history are exactly what the insurer examines, and the animal needs seeing.
What to ask before enrolling
- What are the waiting periods for accident, illness and orthopaedic conditions?
- Can the orthopaedic period be waived with a vet examination, and by when?
- Do waiting periods restart if I change plan level later?
- Are there separate waiting periods for any specific conditions?
- Does the plan apply bilateral exclusions — where a problem on one side excludes the other?
The general rule underneath all of this: enrol while the medical records are still blank. Timing affects what you can insure far more than shopping affects what you pay.
Want this checked for your situation?
General information only. A licensed insurance professional can tell you what actually applies to you.
General information only, not insurance advice. Coverage, availability, and terms vary by insurer and by state. Quote My Policy LLC is a licensed insurance producer.