Pet Insurance Waiting Periods: Complete 2025 Company Comparison

Waiting periods are critical when choosing pet insurance. Here’s the complete data on how long you’ll wait for coverage to begin.

Waiting Period Comparison: All Major Insurers

Insurer	Accidents	Illness	Orthopedic	Cruciate
Trupanion	0 days*	30 days	30 days	30 days
Embrace	2 days	14 days	14 days	6 months
Healthy Paws	15 days	15 days	12 months	12 months
Lemonade	2 days	14 days	6 months	6 months
Spot	14 days	14 days	14 days	14 days
Figo	1 day	14 days	6 months	6 months
Pets Best	3 days	14 days	14 days	6 months
ASPCA	14 days	14 days	14 days	6 months
Nationwide	14 days	14 days	14 days	12 months
ManyPets	2 days	14 days	6 months	6 months

Trupanion: requires vet exam within 30 days; effectively 0-day wait after exam

Understanding Waiting Period Types

1. Accident Waiting Period

Covers injuries from accidents (broken bones, cuts, ingested objects).

Wait Time	Insurers
0-2 days	Trupanion, Embrace, Lemonade, ManyPets, Figo
3 days	Pets Best
14-15 days	Healthy Paws, Spot, ASPCA, Nationwide

2. Illness Waiting Period

Covers diseases and health conditions.

Wait Time	Insurers
14 days	Most insurers
15 days	Healthy Paws
30 days	Trupanion

3. Orthopedic/Cruciate Waiting Period

Special extended waiting for hip, elbow, and cruciate ligament conditions.

Wait Time	Insurers
14-30 days	Spot, Pets Best, Trupanion, ASPCA
6 months	Embrace, Lemonade, Figo, ManyPets
12 months	Healthy Paws, Nationwide

Why Waiting Periods Differ

Short Waiting Periods

Pros:

• Coverage starts faster
• Protection during critical early days

Tradeoffs:

• May require vet exam
• Extended waits for specific conditions

Long Waiting Periods

Pros:

• Often lower premiums
• Simple enrollment (no exam required)

Tradeoffs:

• 2+ weeks vulnerable
• May need to avoid risky activities

The Orthopedic Problem

Many insurers extend waiting periods for orthopedic conditions because:

• Hip dysplasia can be pre-existing but undiagnosed
• Cruciate tears are extremely common and expensive ($3,000-$6,000)
• These conditions often show symptoms slowly

Cruciate (ACL) Waiting Periods Ranked

Rank	Insurer	Wait Period
1	Spot	14 days
2	Trupanion	30 days
3	Embrace	6 months
4	Lemonade	6 months
5	Figo	6 months
6	Pets Best	6 months
7	Healthy Paws	12 months
8	Nationwide	12 months

Cost of Coverage Gaps

What can happen during waiting periods:

Incident	Avg Cost	Could Happen During
Broken leg	$2,500	14-day wait
Parvovirus	$2,500	14-day wait
Foreign object ingestion	$3,500	2-14 day wait
Cruciate tear	$4,500	6-12 month wait
Hip dysplasia surgery	$5,000	6-12 month wait

Strategies to Minimize Waiting Period Risk

1. Enroll During Low-Risk Period

• Avoid high-activity seasons
• Limit outdoor exposure during illness wait
• Avoid dog parks during initial period

2. Choose Shortest Waiting Periods

For puppies especially, consider Embrace or Lemonade (2-day accident wait).

3. Get Vet Exam Before Enrollment

Trupanion’s vet exam model provides immediate accident coverage if pet is healthy.

4. Consider Multiple Policies (Short-Term)

Some owners purchase short-term accident-only coverage during waiting period.

Waiting Period + Breed Risk Matrix

Breed Risk Level	Recommended Waiting Strategy
Low Risk (mixed breed, healthy lineage)	Standard waits acceptable
Moderate Risk (Labs, Retrievers)	Avoid 12-month orthopedic waits
High Risk (Bulldogs, Giant breeds)	Shortest possible waits, enroll young

Best Overall for Fast Coverage

Priority	Best Choice	Waiting Summary
Fastest Accident	Trupanion (with exam)	0 days
Fastest Illness	Multiple options	14 days
Fastest Orthopedic	Spot	14 days
Best Balance	Embrace	2/14/14 (6mo cruciate)

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Data compiled from official insurer policy documents, February 2025