Dog insurance with no waiting period
The honest answer, the shortest waiting periods available, and what to do if you need coverage now.
Updated September 25, 2026. Prices are BreedSure estimates; each insurer's policy documents control.
What will it cost for your dog?
Pick your breed, age and ZIP code to see the estimated monthly price from the insurers we compare.
The short answer
Embrace and Fetch list a zero-day waiting period for some coverage. The shortest are 0 days for accidents (Embrace, Fetch) and 14 days for illness (Lemonade, Embrace, Spot, Pets Best, Odie).
Waiting periods exist so that nobody buys a policy on the way to the vet. Without them, insurance would cost far more for everyone.
Shortest waiting periods, by insurer
| Insurer | Accidents | Illness |
|---|---|---|
| Embrace | 0 days | 14 days |
| Fetch | 0 days | 15 days |
| Lemonade | 2 days | 14 days |
| Pets Best | 3 days | 14 days |
| Odie | 3 days | 14 days |
| Trupanion | 5 days | 30 days |
| Spot | 14 days | 14 days |
| Healthy Paws | 15 days | 15 days |
If your dog is already sick or hurt
No policy will cover it. Anything that started before the policy, or during its waiting period, is pre-existing and stays excluded. Be wary of any offer that suggests otherwise, and read the policy's definition of pre-existing before you pay.
The closest thing to no waiting period
- Buy today. With the shortest plans, accident coverage starts in 0 days. Every day you wait is a day uncovered.
- Switching insurers? Keep the old policy until the new one's waiting periods have passed. Some insurers may shorten waiting periods for dogs switching without a gap in coverage; ask before you buy.
- Large breed? Ask about the orthopedic waiting period. Some insurers shorten it after a vet exam.
Everything about waiting periods.
Check how this applies to your breed
Get an email if prices for your breed change
We update our estimates monthly. We will email you when the estimate for your dog changes, and nothing else.