Dog insurance waiting periods
How long each insurer makes you wait before coverage starts, and the orthopedic clause that catches large-breed owners.
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.
What a waiting period is
A waiting period is the time between buying a policy and the day it starts paying. Anything that happens or shows symptoms during that window is treated as pre-existing, and stays excluded after the waiting period ends. It stops people from buying a policy on the way to the vet.
Waiting periods by insurer
Across the 8 insurers we compare, accident waiting periods run from 0 to 15 days and illness waiting periods from 14 to 30 days:
| Insurer | Accidents | Illness |
|---|---|---|
| Embrace | 0 days | 14 days |
| Lemonade | 2 days | 14 days |
| Pets Best | 3 days | 14 days |
| Odie | 3 days | 14 days |
| Spot | 14 days | 14 days |
| Fetch | 0 days | 15 days |
| Healthy Paws | 15 days | 15 days |
| Trupanion | 5 days | 30 days |
Plan facts as published by each insurer; the policy documents always control.
The one to read carefully: orthopedic
Some insurers add a separate, longer orthopedic waiting period, often around six months, for conditions like hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament tears. For large breeds prone to joint problems, that clause can matter more than the headline numbers above. Some insurers waive it after a vet exam; others, like Trupanion, don't have one.
How to avoid getting caught by it
- Buy before you need it. The best time is when your dog is young and healthy, before the first vet visit that finds something.
- Don't cancel one policy before the next one starts. A new insurer's waiting period starts over, and anything that happens in the gap becomes pre-existing.
- Use the free-look period to read the policy. Many insurers let you cancel for a full refund within the first couple of weeks.
Check how this applies to your breed
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