Field guide · 2025
Pet insurance waiting periods explained for dog owners
Pet insurance waiting periods are the days or months between buying a policy and the date you can claim. Most Australian policies have them. In the two policy documents we read, illness had a 30 day wait and accidents had a short one, from none to two days.
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This guide is for dog owners who are comparing policies. It explains why the waits exist, how they differ by type of problem, and where to find the exact numbers for the policy you are looking at.
What a waiting period is, and why it exists
A waiting period is a set time after you sign up when claims for a condition are not paid. Moneysmart, the government money guidance site, says most pet insurance policies have one and tells buyers to check the product disclosure statement (PDS) for the specific periods.
The reason is simple. Without a wait, someone could buy cover on the day their dog fell ill and claim straight away. Insurance is meant to cover unexpected costs. The wait helps keep policies fair for the many owners who sign up while their dog is well.
Illness and accidents usually wait different lengths
Insurers treat sudden injuries and illnesses differently. Here is what two policy documents, both published before this guide, say for a first period of cover.
- ING pet insurance (PDS prepared 15 March 2021, issued by Auto & General Insurance Company Limited): accidental injuries 2 days, illnesses 30 days, tick paralysis 30 days, cruciate ligament conditions 6 months.
- Petinsurance.com.au cover for dogs (PDS prepared 1 April 2021, issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd): illness 30 days, cruciate ligament conditions 6 months, specified accidental injuries 0 days.
These two are examples, not a rule for every insurer. Each company and each cover level sets its own numbers, and they can change when a PDS is updated. Always read the current document for the policy you plan to buy.
The longer waits for joints and knees
For dogs, the cruciate ligament is the one many owners hear about. Both documents above give it a 6 month wait, and the Petinsurance.com.au document says the wait may be waived in some cases on application. The ING document also notes that some conditions have their own wait, and that a condition that can come from either illness or injury takes the wait that matches its cause.
If you own a large or active breed, check these lines first. A longer wait means a longer stretch with no cover for a knee that may be costly to treat.
The trap: signs that show up during the wait
This is the part that surprises people. The ING document says that if your pet shows signs or symptoms of a condition during the waiting period, two things happen. The condition is not covered, and it is excluded from your cover as a pre-existing condition.
The Petinsurance.com.au document is similar. It says a condition that existed before the start date, or within a waiting period, may count as pre-existing if you or your vet knew of it, or a reasonable person would have. Its worked examples show a condition noticed inside the 30 day wait being refused, and still excluded when surgery is needed two years later.
So a waiting period is not only a delay. A problem that begins in that window can stay excluded for good. Moneysmart also says to tell the insurer about any known conditions, and warns that you may not be covered if you leave them out.
Where to find the waiting periods in a PDS
Pet insurance is sold as a general insurance product, so the seller must give you a PDS. Look in these places.
- The contents page, for a section called waiting periods, your cover, or when your pet is covered.
- The frequently asked questions near the front, if there are any. One of the documents we read lists the waits there.
- The benefit tables, because some benefits carry their own wait.
- The definitions and exclusions, to see how pre-existing is defined.
Moneysmart adds one more point: the person who sells you a pet must wait four days after your purchase before selling you pet insurance. If they do not, you have the right to cancel and get a full refund.
Questions to ask before you buy
Write down the answers for each policy so you can compare them side by side.
- How long is the wait for illness, for accidents, and for knee or joint conditions?
- Do the waits apply only to the first period of cover? The ING document says they do.
- If I switch insurers later, will I serve new waits? Moneysmart warns that anything you previously claimed for may count as pre-existing to a new insurer.
- What happens if my dog shows signs during the wait?
If a claim is rejected, Moneysmart says to contact the insurer's internal dispute team first. If you cannot agree, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority offers free, independent dispute resolution.
Our own limit: the editors read what insurers and regulators publish. We do not sell insurance or give financial advice, and this guide is general information only.