1300 489 873
Waiting periods are one of the most misunderstood parts of pet insurance — and one of the most important to understand before you need to make a claim, not after.
What is a waiting period?
A waiting period is the length of time between your pet’s cover starting and when you’re able to claim for a particular type of condition. It’s a standard feature across the pet insurance industry, not something unique to any one insurer.
Why do waiting periods exist at all?
Waiting periods exist to keep pet insurance fair and sustainable for everyone. Without them, a pet could be enrolled the day after an injury or illness first appears, which would undermine the entire model of insurance — protection against the unexpected, not a way to fund an already-known issue.
How long are typical waiting periods?
Waiting periods generally differ by condition type: accidental injury cover often has a shorter waiting period than illness cover, and some specific conditions — like cruciate ligament injuries — commonly carry a longer waiting period again, reflecting how these conditions typically develop and present. Always check the specific waiting periods listed in your plan’s Product Disclosure Statement, as these vary between insurers.
Does the waiting period apply to pre-existing conditions too?
Pre-existing conditions are treated differently to waiting periods. A condition that showed signs before your plan started, or during a waiting period, is generally treated as pre-existing and excluded from cover — which is a separate concept worth understanding on its own terms.
Is there any way to avoid a waiting period?
Generally no — waiting periods are a standard feature designed into the plan itself. The best way to “avoid” the impact of a waiting period is simply to get your pet covered as early as possible, ideally as a puppy or kitten, before any conditions have had the chance to appear.
What should I do while I’m in the waiting period?
Keep up with normal preventative care, note any symptoms that appear (with dates), and speak to your vet as usual. Being upfront and accurate about your pet’s health history from day one is the best way to ensure smooth claims later, whether or not something arises during the waiting period.
Where can I check my exact waiting periods?
Your Product Disclosure Statement sets out the exact waiting periods that apply to your plan. If anything is unclear, PetsOnMe’s team can talk you through exactly how your plan’s waiting periods work before you need to rely on them.
Understanding waiting periods before you’re in the middle of a vet visit means fewer surprises and a much smoother claims experience when you actually need it.
