Pet Insurance Waiting Periods: What the Model Law Allows
Under the NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act, a waiting period for illness or orthopedic conditions may not exceed 30 days, and accidents may have no waiting period at all (Section 5B). A waiting period is the time after a policy starts during which conditions that begin are not covered. Anything that shows signs during it counts as pre-existing under the model's definition (Section 3F), so it can stay excluded after the wait ends.
What the model act sets
| Rule | Model act |
|---|---|
| Illness and orthopedic waiting period | No more than 30 days (Section 5B) |
| Accident waiting period | Not allowed |
| Waiver | Must be available after a vet exam; owner pays unless the policy says otherwise |
| Free look | 15 days to return the policy for a refund if no claim was filed (Section 4B(1)) |
| Disclosure | Waiting periods must be disclosed before purchase |
The NAIC's Property and Casualty Insurance Committee adopted the model on August 1, 2022. A model law binds no one until a state enacts it, so the policy wording and the state insurance department (via the NAIC directory) are the authority.
Why the wait matters for breed-prone conditions
The conditions the American College of Veterinary Surgeons links to particular breeds are expensive: Trupanion's average claim is $5,439 for a cruciate ligament tear and $4,012 for patellar luxation. If a Labrador Retriever, one of the breeds ACVS names for cruciate disease, starts limping inside the waiting period, that knee can be treated as pre-existing. See Labrador Retriever health problems and pre-existing conditions.
A worked example
A policy bought on the 1st with a 30-day illness wait covers an illness that first shows signs on day 31, not on day 28. An accident on day 2 is covered from the start. At NAPHIA's 2025 average dog premium of $69.67 a month, the premium paid during a 30-day wait is about one month's worth, $69.67.
Sources
- NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act #633, sections 3F, 4B and 5B, checked October 20, 2026
- Trupanion: actual claims and vet cost examples, checked October 20, 2026
- ACVS: Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease
- NAPHIA State of the Industry Report 2026
Questions
How long is a pet insurance waiting period?
Under the NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act (Section 5B), a waiting period for illness or orthopedic conditions may not exceed 30 days, and there may be no waiting period for accidents. States that adopt the model apply these limits; others may differ.
Can a waiting period be waived?
The model act requires policies to let the waiting period be waived after a veterinary examination. The owner pays for the exam unless the policy says the insurer does.
Can I cancel a new pet insurance policy?
The model act gives a 15-day free-look period to return a policy for a refund of premium, provided no claim has been filed.