A waiting period is a term found in all pet insurance policies. It refers to the amount of time your pet insurer requires you to wait until your pet is eligible for reimbursement on specific conditions through your pet insurance coverage.
Let’s get into the nitty gritty of how pet insurance waiting periods work, and the typical dates you can expect from a Lemonade Pet policy.
How do pet insurance waiting periods work?
Depending on where you live, your policy could have different waiting periods. Here are a few different waiting periods your policy may include:
- 2 days for accidents
- 14 days for illnesses
- 30 days for orthopedic conditions
- 6 months for cruciate ligament events (a common knee injury for dogs, similar to a human tearing their ACL)
Its important to review your policy carefully to understand which waiting periods may affect your pet and coverage.
These waiting periods begin on your policy’s start date. We can only offer reimbursement for your claim after the applicable waiting period ends. That’s why it’s so important that you buy insurance long before you need it.
Why is having a pet insurance waiting period important?
Waiting periods are designed to protect our Lemonade pet insurance community from someone who buys a policy just to cover one procedure—and then drops out.
Let’s say you and a friend are at the dog park with your Beagle, Maple, and your friend’s German Shepherd, Stevie. A fun day turns dangerous when they both eat a bunch of grass that has just been sprayed for ticks. Oh no! As soon as you realize they’ve ingested some toxins you speed over to the vet with your dogs.
Being the responsible pet parent you are, you’ve had a pet health insurance policy for Maple for the past six months… but your friend never thought to get one for poor Stevie.
If she rushes to buy a policy on the way to the vet, Stevie’s treatment and medication still won’t be covered, because of the two-day waiting period for accidents. (Don’t worry, in this hypothetical scenario both Stevie and Maple are totally fine… your friend just had to pay a whole lot more for the veterinary care).
Is there pet insurance with no waiting periods?
Nope. Pet insurance waiting periods are standard for most major providers—including Lemonade—but some policies have longer waiting periods than others.
Are there any exclusions to pet insurance waiting periods?
Yes, depending on the coverages you include on your policy.
When you include one of Lemonade’s preventative care options on your policy, for example, your coverage related to preventative care kicks in the date your policy becomes effective. These packages help with expenses like annual wellness exams, vaccinations, routine care (like dental cleanings), and spay/neutering.
What about pre-existing conditions?
A pre-existing condition is any condition your pet showed signs of, was diagnosed with, or was treated for before the waiting period of your pet health insurance policy ended. It’s actually one of the main reasons your insurance company has waiting periods on pet insurance plans.
It’s important to know that you won’t be covered for any pre-existing conditions. Pet insurance companies, including Lemonade, won’t cover anything diagnosed, or a condition that was symptomatic, before your policy’s effective date or during any waiting periods. Once the waiting periods expire, you’ll be covered for new symptoms or conditions unrelated to any pre-existing conditions your pet may experience.
This is one of the reasons it’s so worthwhile for pet owners to get insurance coverage early in their dog or cat’s life. At Lemonade, for example, you can buy a policy for your puppy or kitten from two months old. Some dogs are especially likely to require veterinary care for hereditary conditions, like hip dysplasia or a luxating patella. If these are noted or diagnosed before a waiting period is up, your pet insurance provider (including Lemonade pet insurance) won’t be able to reimburse you for treatments related to those conditions.
But if you get your pet covered when they’re a healthy kitten or puppy, any eligible conditions that arise later in life will be fully covered (factoring in co-insurance and deductibles, of course)!
Is a vet visit required when I buy a pet insurance policy?
Depends on when your pet’s last medical exam was. At Lemonade, we require that you send us your fur fam’s pet medical record that includes info that covers the last 12 and a half months of your pet’s life (this includes the 14-day illness waiting period on your policy). If your pet is less than a year old, the medical record should include info from the first puppy, kitty, or shelter exam your pet had through the illness waiting period.
So if you just bought a policy for your 3-year old Whippet, Beau, who hasn’t been to the vet since puppyhood, he’ll need a medical exam from a licensed veterinarian to be eligible for coverage (even if he’s a vision of health). Your fur fam might not be covered if you file a pet insurance claim without an up-to-date pet medical record.
And trust us, starting a medical record as early as possible in your pup or kitty’s life will pay off in the long run. The earlier you get pet insurance, the more likely your furry friend will be free of pre-existing conditions, which means more savings on treatments and illnesses throughout their life.
FAQs
Can I get pet insurance if my pet is already sick?
Yes, you are able to purchase pet insurance if your pet is already sick. However, a pet insurance policy will not cover pre-existing conditions—meaning any illness your pet currently has, whether the illness has been diagnosed or your pet is showing signs or symptoms of the illness, will not be covered.
You can purchase a pet insurance policy for new illnesses that may occur in the future, but a current illness that is pre-existing to the policy and waiting periods will not be covered.
Keep in mind: At Lemonade Pet, there is a 14 day waiting period for illnesses from the date your policy goes into effect.
What happens if my pet gets sick or injured during the waiting period?
If your pet gets sick or injured during the waiting period, those specific conditions will not be covered by your insurance policy. You will need to cover the veterinary costs out of pocket, and only new conditions that occur after the waiting period ends will be eligible for coverage.
How can I find out the specific waiting periods for my policy?
You can find out the specific waiting periods for your policy by carefully reviewing your insurance documents or contacting your insurance provider directly. It is essential to understand these details so you can plan your pet’s care accordingly and avoid any surprises.
Does switching pet insurance providers reset the waiting periods?
Yes, switching pet insurance providers generally reset the waiting periods. When you start a new policy with a different provider, you’ll need to adhere to their specific waiting periods, even if your pet was previously covered under another policy.
When will my pet insurance go into effect?
At Lemonade, your pet insurance policy will go into effect at 12:01 AM the day after purchase, and your waiting periods start ticking down from there. If you also purchased one of Lemonade’s three Preventative Care Package options you can start using the coverage as soon as your policy activates.
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage and discounts may not be available in all states.
