Company directory
Pet insurance companies, in their own stated facts
Nineteen US pet insurance companies, profiled only from each company's official site: the plan types it says it offers, the waiting periods it states, the eligibility it publishes, and the source and date behind every entry. There are no ratings here, no rankings, and no premium figures presented as any company's price, because the policy that fits a breed is decided by clauses, not by a score. Read the facts, compare up to three companies side by side, then judge live quotes with the comparison framework below.
Short answer: what this directory covers
This directory profiles 19 US pet insurance companies using only facts each company states on its own official site: the species it records, the plan types it offers, its stated waiting periods, and its wellness and pre-existing condition terms, each with a source and a verified date.
How to use it: answer the three finder questions below for a shortlist, or search and filter the full directory yourself, then compare up to three companies side by side.
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Showing 19 of 19 companies.
AKC Pet Insurance
Dogs and Cats: CompanionCare accident and illness plan; Accident coverage for pets over nine; Optional Defender and DefenderPlus wellness add-ons; Optional ExamPlus, HereditaryPlus, and SupportPlus coverages.
Accidents: 1 day for injuries in the North Carolina CompanionCare sample form, except cruciate ligament related conditions, which carry their own 180 day wait. Other states use other forms, so read the period printed in your own policy. Illnesses: 5 days for illnesses in the North Carolina sample form, except IVDD, which has a 180 day wait in that same form.
- Accident and illness
- Accident only
- Wellness add-on
- Dogs
- Cats
- Wellness add-on available
- Hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia need the HereditaryPlus option
- Exam fees need the ExamPlus option
- 180 day cruciate and IVDD wait in sample form
- Pets over nine eligible for accident cover only
- Pre-existing conditions may become eligible after 365 days
Source: AKC Pet Insurance official site: North Carolina CompanionCare sample policy, FAQ, and wellness coverage page (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
Dogs and Cats: Complete Coverage (accident and illness); Accident-Only Coverage; Basic and Prime preventive care add-ons.
Accidents: 14 days in the Alabama accident and illness sample form (PET-P-20000-1024), which applies one 14 day period to accidents, illnesses, and ligament and knee conditions. California, Maryland, and New Jersey publish their own forms, so check the one for your state. Illnesses: 14 days from the first effective date of coverage in the Alabama sample form.
- Accident and illness
- Accident only
- Preventive add-on
- Dogs
- Cats
- Wellness add-on available
- Accident-only plan available
- Unlimited annual limit option
- No upper enrollment age stated
- Exam fees built into the plans
- 14 day knee wait in Alabama sample
Source: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance official site: how pet insurance works, preventive care page, senior cat page, member top questions, and the Alabama sample policy (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
Embrace
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness plan; Accident-only plan; Wellness Rewards membership (not insurance).
Accidents: None stated: Embrace's waiting period page says accident coverage starts on the policy's effective date. Illnesses: 14 days from the pet's original start date, per the waiting period page and the insurer disclosure (form INDPP 01/23).
- Accident and illness
- Accident only
- Wellness membership
- Dogs
- Cats
- Accident cover from the effective date
- 180 day orthopedic exclusion window for dogs
- Orthopedic waiver exam in some states
- Wellness membership available (not insurance)
- Accident-only plan for pets 15 and over
- Exam fee cover included and removable
Source: Embrace official site: waiting period page, orthopedic waiting period help article, FAQ, Wellness Rewards page, accident-only help article, and disclosure form (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
Fetch
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness plan; Fetch Wellness endorsement (Essentials, Advantage, Prime).
Accidents: Stated two ways. Fetch's coverage page says it has no waiting period for accidents, while its waiting period FAQ describes a single period of up to 15 days, starting the day after enrollment, during which any accident, injury, or illness is treated as pre-existing. Ask Fetch which applies in your state before relying on either. Illnesses: Up to 15 days, beginning the day after you enroll, per the waiting period FAQ. The coverage page calls it a 15 day illness wait.
- Accident and illness
- Wellness add-on
- Dogs
- Cats
- 6 month orthopedic wait
- Knee waiver exam within 180 days of enrollment
- No upper age limit stated
- No breed restrictions stated
- Wellness add-on available
- Sick-visit exam fees included
- 90 day claim deadline
- Curable pre-existing conditions may re-qualify
Source: Fetch official site: waiting period FAQ, coverage page, exam fee FAQ, direct pay FAQ, and Fetch Wellness page (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
Figo
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness plan; Wellness Powerup (rider); Veterinary Exam Fees Powerup (rider).
Accidents: Figo's California insurer disclosure says injury cover begins 5 days after the effective date. Its multi-state dog sample policy (form IAIC FPI POL 0320) uses 1 day for injuries, and states that orthopedic accidents in dogs fall under the orthopedic wait. Read the period in your own state's policy. Illnesses: 14 days from the original start date, in both the California disclosure and the dog sample policy.
- Accident and illness
- Wellness add-on
- Dogs
- Cats
- 6 month orthopedic wait for dogs in sample policy
- Orthopedic waiver form due within 30 days
- Exam fees need the Exam Fees Powerup
- Wellness add-on available
- Curable pre-existing conditions may re-qualify
- No upper age limit stated
- Up to 100 percent reimbursement option
Source: Figo official site: dog sample policy (form IAIC FPI POL 0320), California insurer disclosure, coverage page, and dog insurance page (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
Healthy Paws
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness plan.
Accidents: 15 days after the policy effective date in most states, per the Healthy Paws FAQ. In 16 states it lists (CA, DE, FL, HI, LA, MD, ME, MS, MT, NE, NH, OH, PA, RI, VT, WA), there is no waiting period for illness, injury, or orthopedic conditions that result from an accident. Illnesses: 15 days after the effective date. In the 16 listed states, the 15 day period for illness, injury, and non-accident orthopedic conditions is waived on completion of a complete clinical exam.
- Accident and illness
- Dogs
- Cats
- Hip dysplasia cover requires enrollment before the 6th birthday
- 12 month hip dysplasia wait
- Exam fees not covered
- Routine care not covered
- Direct Pay to vet by advance arrangement
- Annual limit cannot be raised later
- Unlimited annual limit option
Source: Healthy Paws official site: FAQ, coverage and exclusions page, and puppy and kitten pages (read November 1, 2026)
Verified November 1, 2026.
Lemonade
Dogs and Cats: Base accident and illness policy; Preventative care packages; Optional add-ons.
Accidents: None. Lemonade's waiting period explainer lists 0 days for accidents and says policies take effect at 12:01 AM the day after purchase. An older version of this profile showed 2 days; Lemonade's current pages no longer state that. Illnesses: 14 days, per the /pet page, the FAQ, and the waiting period explainer.
- Accident and illness
- Preventive packages
- Optional add-ons
- Dogs
- Cats
- No accident wait stated
- 30 day orthopedic wait
- Waiting period waiver form due within 2 days of exam
- Preventive packages available
- Exam fees need the vet visit fee add-on
- Age limit exists, figure not published
Source: Lemonade official site: pet page, pet insurance FAQ, waiting period explainer, vet waiver guide, add-ons guide, and preventative care guide (read November 1, 2026)
Verified November 1, 2026.
ManyPets
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness plan (US sales and renewals paused).
Accidents: Not applicable to new buyers: ManyPets is not selling new US policies. Existing policyholders keep the terms printed in their current policy until renewal. Illnesses: Not applicable to new buyers while US sales are paused; current policies follow their own declarations page.
- Accident and illness (not sold in the US)
- Dogs
- Cats
- US sales and renewals paused
- Existing policies move to Odie at renewal
- Covered conditions carried over to Odie, per ManyPets
Source: ManyPets official US site: ManyPets is transitioning to Odie notice (read November 1, 2026)
Verified November 1, 2026.
MetLife Pet
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness plan; Preventive Care add-on (Preventive 365 or Preventive 575); Family Plan for up to three pets.
Accidents: 0 days. MetLife's waiting period article says accident cover begins at midnight on the day you enroll. Illnesses: 14 days. The article says you wait 2 weeks after enrolling before claiming for a newly diagnosed illness.
- Accident and illness
- Preventive add-on
- Family plan
- Dogs
- Cats
- Accident cover from midnight on the enrollment day
- No separate orthopedic wait stated
- Family plan for up to three pets
- Wellness add-on available
- Exam fees covered incl. specialty and emergency
- No direct payment to vets
- 90 day claim deadline in sample policy
Source: MetLife Pet Insurance official site: waiting period article, FAQ, Preventive Care page, multiple pets page, and Ohio sample policy (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
Nationwide
Dogs and Cats and Birds and Exotic pets: Major Medical; Modular plan (accident, illness, and wellness modules); Employer plans such as My Pet Protection Choice; Avian and exotic pet plans; Add-on wellness.
Accidents: Nationwide's FAQ says most plans start 14 days after the application is approved and payment is received, and that group enrollments have their own effective dates. Its waiting period waiver form describes a way to waive the illness wait with an early exam. Illnesses: Most plans start 14 days after approval and payment, per the FAQ. The waiver form says the illness wait may be waived if the pet has a full in-person vet exam within 14 days.
- Accident and illness
- Wellness add-on
- Employer group plans
- Dogs
- Cats
- Birds
- Exotic pets
- Birds and exotic pets covered
- Wellness add-on available
- Some plans employer-only
- Exam fees covered on standard plan
- Major Medical enrollment 9 and younger
- Cats 8 and older cannot add hereditary coverage
- Illness wait waiver with exam in 14 days
Source: Nationwide pet insurance official site (petinsurance.com): all products page, FAQ, dog insurance FAQ, and waiting period waiver form (read November 1, 2026)
Verified November 1, 2026.
Odie
Dogs and Cats: Illness and Injury Plan (accident and illness, Trisura); Accident Only Plan; Routine Care endorsement; Wellness Plan (not insurance).
Accidents: 3 days from the policy effective date for accidental injuries, per Odie's insurance terms page, which notes the periods are also printed on the declarations page. Illnesses: 14 days from the policy effective date, per the insurance terms page.
- Accident and illness
- Accident only
- Wellness plan
- Routine care add-on
- Dogs
- Cats
- 3 day accident wait
- 6 month cruciate wait
- Enroll from 7 weeks, no upper age limit
- Wellness plan available (not insurance)
- Routine care endorsement available
- Exam fees as a supplemental benefit
- 180 day claim deadline
- Takes over ManyPets US renewals
Source: Odie official site: insurance terms page, help center, and Wellness Plan page (read November 1, 2026)
Verified November 1, 2026.
PetPartners
Dogs and Cats: Accident and Illness Coverage; Accident Only Coverage (AccidentCare); Defender and DefenderPlus wellness add-ons; Optional ExamPlus and Hereditary coverage.
Accidents: 2 days for injuries on the accident and illness plan, except cruciate ligament related conditions, per the plan page and the Arizona sample policy. The AccidentCare accident-only plan also lists a 2 day wait. Illnesses: 14 days for illnesses, except IVDD, per the accident and illness plan page.
- Accident and illness
- Accident only
- Wellness add-on
- Dogs
- Cats
- Accident-only plan available
- No maximum age for accident-only enrollment
- Wellness add-on available
- Accident and illness enrollment before 9th birthday
- 180 day IVDD and cruciate wait
- Hip dysplasia needs the Hereditary coverage option
- Exam fees need the ExamPlus option
Source: PetPartners official site: FAQ, accident and illness plan page, accident-only page, and Arizona sample policy (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
Pets Best
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness plans; Accident only plan; EssentialWellness and BestWellness routine care add-ons.
Accidents: 3 days after the policy effective date for injuries, in the Pets Best sample policy booklet (form APIC-PBI0001-ILL, dated 12/2015). The FAQ says waiting periods vary by state and appear on each policy's declarations page. Illnesses: 14 days after the effective date for illnesses, in the same sample booklet. Once served, the FAQ says waiting periods are waived on continuous, uninterrupted renewals.
- Accident and illness
- Accident only
- Routine care add-on
- Dogs
- Cats
- Accident-only plan available
- 3 day accident wait
- 6 month cruciate wait
- Waiting period waiver exam window
- Wellness add-on available
- No upper age limit stated
- Vet Direct Pay available
- Exam fee cover included on most plans and removable
Source: Pets Best official site: FAQ, plans page, routine care page, and sample policy booklet (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
Prudent Pet
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness plans; Accident-Only policy; Optional wellness endorsement.
Accidents: 5 days for accident coverage, counted from the effective date, per the Prudent Pet FAQ. Illnesses: 14 days for illness coverage from the effective date, per the FAQ.
- Accident and illness
- Accident only
- Wellness add-on
- Dogs
- Cats
- Accident-only plan available
- 6 month knee and ligament wait
- Knee wait reducible to 30 days with vet waiver
- Wellness add-on available
- No age or breed denials stated
- Exam fee cover optional
- Curable conditions may re-qualify after 365 days
Source: Prudent Pet official site: FAQ and sample policy page (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
Pumpkin
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness plan.
Accidents: Pumpkin's FAQ describes a single wait: in most states, cover starts 14 days after the policy effective date, which is the day after purchase, and it says the wait is 14 days or less depending on the state. Illnesses: 14 days after the effective date in most states, per the FAQ, which gives the example of a plan bought on January 1 taking effect on January 2 with cover starting January 16.
- Accident and illness
- Dogs
- Cats
- One 14 day wait in most states
- No breed or upper age restrictions stated
- Enroll from 8 weeks old
- Unlimited annual limit option
- Exam fees included, in clinic and virtual
- Former routine care package ended August 18, 2026
- Wellness Club membership sold separately (not insurance)
Source: Pumpkin official site: FAQ, home page, and waiting period article (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
Rainwalk
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness policy; Vaccine power up (standard on new policies outside NY and CA).
Accidents: The Mississippi disclosure applies its 14 day waiting period to illnesses and does not set a separate accident period. Rainwalk's FAQ describes a 14 day wait for new pets on most policies, after which accidents and illnesses are covered, so ask which reading your state form uses. Illnesses: 14 days for illnesses, per the disclosure, which refers to the policy for how the wait can be waived.
- Accident and illness
- Dogs
- Cats
- 14 day illness wait stated
- Orthopedic cover limited to 50 percent of annual limit
- New dogs under 8, new cats under 10
- No claims-based drop or rate rise if enrolled young
- Vaccine benefit up to $100
- No lifetime maximum stated
- Curable pre-existing conditions may re-qualify
- No direct payment to vets
Source: Rainwalk official site: insurer disclosure (Physicians Mutual, form PET_DIS_MS_240701), FAQ, and coverage page (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
Spot
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness plan; Accident only plan; Gold and Platinum preventive care endorsements.
Accidents: 14 days in Spot's Arizona accident and illness sample, the same period it uses for illnesses and knee conditions. Spot's waiting period article says it offers next-day accident coverage in select states, so check the declarations page for your state. Illnesses: 14 days from the first effective date of coverage in the Arizona sample.
- Accident and illness
- Accident only
- Preventive add-on
- Dogs
- Cats
- Accident-only plan available
- Wellness add-on available
- 14 day knee wait in Arizona sample
- Knee conditions treated as bilateral
- No upper age limit stated
- Exams for covered conditions included
- 270 day claim deadline
- Curable pre-existing conditions may re-qualify
Source: Spot official site: FAQ, waiting period article, wellness page, Arizona accident and illness sample, and Gold and Platinum preventive endorsements (read November 1, 2026)
Verified November 1, 2026.
Trupanion
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness medical plan; Optional riders.
Accidents: 5 days for injuries, per Trupanion's coverage start FAQ. The 2019 sample policy treats injuries in the first 5 days after enrollment as pre-existing. Illnesses: 30 days for illnesses, per the FAQ. The 2019 sample deems illnesses that occur or recur through day 30 after enrollment to be pre-existing.
- Accident and illness
- Optional riders
- Dogs
- Cats
- No separate condition waiting periods
- 30 day illness wait
- 30 day post-enrollment window for knees, hips, and spine in sample
- Enroll before the 14th birthday
- Exam fees not covered
- Routine care not covered
- VetDirect Pay at participating hospitals
- 12 months to file a claim
Source: Trupanion official site: coverage start FAQ, oldest age FAQ, what a policy covers FAQ, claim form FAQ, puppy page, and 2019 sample policy (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
Wagmo
Dogs and Cats: Accident and illness policy; Wagmo Wellness plans (Value, Classic, Deluxe).
Accidents: 14 days from the first effective date of coverage in Wagmo's Texas accident and illness sample, a period that form applies equally to accidents, illnesses, and ligament and knee conditions. Illnesses: 14 days in the Texas sample.
- Accident and illness
- Wellness plans
- Dogs
- Cats
- One 14 day wait for accidents, illnesses, and knee conditions
- Standalone wellness plans available
- Wellness plans are not insurance
- Exams included in the sample's covered treatment
- No pre-approval of treatment
- Curable pre-existing conditions may re-qualify
Source: Wagmo official sample policy (Texas accident and illness form) and Wagmo help center articles on wellness tiers, premiums, claim deadlines, and pre-approval (read October 22, 2026)
Verified October 22, 2026.
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| Company | Species | Plan types | Accident waiting period | Illness waiting period | Special waiting periods | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKC Pet Insurance | Dogs, Cats | CompanionCare accident and illness plan; Accident coverage for pets over nine; Optional Defender and DefenderPlus wellness add-ons; Optional ExamPlus, HereditaryPlus, and SupportPlus coverages | 1 day for injuries in the North Carolina CompanionCare sample form, except cruciate ligament related conditions, which carry their own 180 day wait. Other states use other forms, so read the period printed in your own policy. | 5 days for illnesses in the North Carolina sample form, except IVDD, which has a 180 day wait in that same form. | 180 days for cruciate ligament related conditions and 180 days for IVDD in the North Carolina sample form. HereditaryPlus, if bought, starts after its own 30 day wait. Pre-existing conditions need 365 days of continuous cover before they can become eligible. | October 22, 2026 |
| ASPCA Pet Health Insurance | Dogs, Cats | Complete Coverage (accident and illness); Accident-Only Coverage; Basic and Prime preventive care add-ons | 14 days in the Alabama accident and illness sample form (PET-P-20000-1024), which applies one 14 day period to accidents, illnesses, and ligament and knee conditions. California, Maryland, and New Jersey publish their own forms, so check the one for your state. | 14 days from the first effective date of coverage in the Alabama sample form. | No longer wait for knees in the Alabama form: ligament and knee conditions share the same 14 day period as other conditions. The form names no separate IVDD period. Other state forms can differ. | October 22, 2026 |
| Embrace | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness plan; Accident-only plan; Wellness Rewards membership (not insurance) | None stated: Embrace's waiting period page says accident coverage starts on the policy's effective date. | 14 days from the pet's original start date, per the waiting period page and the insurer disclosure (form INDPP 01/23). | Dogs: IVDD, cruciate ligament injury, patellar luxation, and canine hip dysplasia that show signs before the illness wait ends or in the first 180 days are excluded for the life of the policy. Orthopedic waits vary by state, and some states let an Orthopedic Report Card exam cut the period to as few as 14 days. Cats: 14 days for orthopedic conditions. | October 22, 2026 |
| Fetch | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness plan; Fetch Wellness endorsement (Essentials, Advantage, Prime) | Stated two ways. Fetch's coverage page says it has no waiting period for accidents, while its waiting period FAQ describes a single period of up to 15 days, starting the day after enrollment, during which any accident, injury, or illness is treated as pre-existing. Ask Fetch which applies in your state before relying on either. | Up to 15 days, beginning the day after you enroll, per the waiting period FAQ. The coverage page calls it a 15 day illness wait. | 6 months for orthopedic conditions, which the waiting period FAQ says include elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, intervertebral disc degeneration, patellar luxation, and ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments. For knees, the FAQ describes a waiver: a vet exam within 180 days of enrollment, with detailed records (SOAP notes) sent with the first claim. | October 22, 2026 |
| Figo | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness plan; Wellness Powerup (rider); Veterinary Exam Fees Powerup (rider) | Figo's California insurer disclosure says injury cover begins 5 days after the effective date. Its multi-state dog sample policy (form IAIC FPI POL 0320) uses 1 day for injuries, and states that orthopedic accidents in dogs fall under the orthopedic wait. Read the period in your own state's policy. | 14 days from the original start date, in both the California disclosure and the dog sample policy. | 6 months for orthopedic conditions in dogs under the sample policy, with intervertebral spaces included in its orthopedic definition. An Orthopedic Waiver Form completed by a vet must reach Figo within 30 days of the effective date to shorten that wait. | October 22, 2026 |
| Healthy Paws | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness plan | 15 days after the policy effective date in most states, per the Healthy Paws FAQ. In 16 states it lists (CA, DE, FL, HI, LA, MD, ME, MS, MT, NE, NH, OH, PA, RI, VT, WA), there is no waiting period for illness, injury, or orthopedic conditions that result from an accident. | 15 days after the effective date. In the 16 listed states, the 15 day period for illness, injury, and non-accident orthopedic conditions is waived on completion of a complete clinical exam. | Hip dysplasia: a 12 month wait for pets enrolled at age five or below; in the 16 listed states, a 30 day wait for hip dysplasia not caused by an accident, waived after a complete clinical exam. Pets enrolled at six or older have no hip dysplasia cover. No separate cruciate or IVDD wait is described. | November 1, 2026 |
| Lemonade | Dogs, Cats | Base accident and illness policy; Preventative care packages; Optional add-ons | None. Lemonade's waiting period explainer lists 0 days for accidents and says policies take effect at 12:01 AM the day after purchase. An older version of this profile showed 2 days; Lemonade's current pages no longer state that. | 14 days, per the /pet page, the FAQ, and the waiting period explainer. | 30 days for orthopedic conditions. Lemonade's FAQ says a cruciate ligament issue that shows signs before or during the orthopedic waiting period is pre-existing. Its vet guide describes a waiver: a wellness exam after the start date, with Lemonade's form submitted within 2 days of that exam. Lemonade notes that coverage options and availability vary by state, so confirm the periods on your own policy. | November 1, 2026 |
| ManyPets | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness plan (US sales and renewals paused) | Not applicable to new buyers: ManyPets is not selling new US policies. Existing policyholders keep the terms printed in their current policy until renewal. | Not applicable to new buyers while US sales are paused; current policies follow their own declarations page. | Not applicable to new buyers. Existing ManyPets policies keep their own terms until renewal moves them to Odie. | November 1, 2026 |
| MetLife Pet | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness plan; Preventive Care add-on (Preventive 365 or Preventive 575); Family Plan for up to three pets | 0 days. MetLife's waiting period article says accident cover begins at midnight on the day you enroll. | 14 days. The article says you wait 2 weeks after enrolling before claiming for a newly diagnosed illness. | None separate. MetLife says it has no separate waiting period for orthopedic conditions; they fall under the accident or illness wait that applies. | October 22, 2026 |
| Nationwide | Dogs, Cats, Birds, Exotic pets | Major Medical; Modular plan (accident, illness, and wellness modules); Employer plans such as My Pet Protection Choice; Avian and exotic pet plans; Add-on wellness | Nationwide's FAQ says most plans start 14 days after the application is approved and payment is received, and that group enrollments have their own effective dates. Its waiting period waiver form describes a way to waive the illness wait with an early exam. | Most plans start 14 days after approval and payment, per the FAQ. The waiver form says the illness wait may be waived if the pet has a full in-person vet exam within 14 days. | Not published on the plan pages read. No sample policy was available on the forms page, so ask for the orthopedic and cruciate schedule for your specific plan in writing. | November 1, 2026 |
| Odie | Dogs, Cats | Illness and Injury Plan (accident and illness, Trisura); Accident Only Plan; Routine Care endorsement; Wellness Plan (not insurance) | 3 days from the policy effective date for accidental injuries, per Odie's insurance terms page, which notes the periods are also printed on the declarations page. | 14 days from the policy effective date, per the insurance terms page. | 6 months from the policy effective date for cruciate ligament events, per the insurance terms page. The pages read do not mention a separate wait for IVDD or other orthopedic conditions. | November 1, 2026 |
| PetPartners | Dogs, Cats | Accident and Illness Coverage; Accident Only Coverage (AccidentCare); Defender and DefenderPlus wellness add-ons; Optional ExamPlus and Hereditary coverage | 2 days for injuries on the accident and illness plan, except cruciate ligament related conditions, per the plan page and the Arizona sample policy. The AccidentCare accident-only plan also lists a 2 day wait. | 14 days for illnesses, except IVDD, per the accident and illness plan page. | 180 days for IVDD and for cruciate ligament related conditions on the accident and illness plan. The Hereditary coverage option carries its own 30 day wait in the Arizona form. | October 22, 2026 |
| Pets Best | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness plans; Accident only plan; EssentialWellness and BestWellness routine care add-ons | 3 days after the policy effective date for injuries, in the Pets Best sample policy booklet (form APIC-PBI0001-ILL, dated 12/2015). The FAQ says waiting periods vary by state and appear on each policy's declarations page. | 14 days after the effective date for illnesses, in the same sample booklet. Once served, the FAQ says waiting periods are waived on continuous, uninterrupted renewals. | 6 months after the effective date for cruciate ligament events and related conditions, per the 2015 sample booklet. The FAQ offers a waiver route: a vet exam from 3 days before to 7 days after the effective date, with the form returned within 30 days of the exam. | October 22, 2026 |
| Prudent Pet | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness plans; Accident-Only policy; Optional wellness endorsement | 5 days for accident coverage, counted from the effective date, per the Prudent Pet FAQ. | 14 days for illness coverage from the effective date, per the FAQ. | 6 months for all knee and ligament issues on every policy. The sample policy page says a vet's orthopedic consent waiver can reduce that to 30 days, and the FAQ says the waiver must be completed and submitted within the first 30 days of the policy. | October 22, 2026 |
| Pumpkin | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness plan | Pumpkin's FAQ describes a single wait: in most states, cover starts 14 days after the policy effective date, which is the day after purchase, and it says the wait is 14 days or less depending on the state. | 14 days after the effective date in most states, per the FAQ, which gives the example of a plan bought on January 1 taking effect on January 2 with cover starting January 16. | No separate orthopedic or knee wait appears on the pages read today; the FAQ describes the one 14 day period. A knee or hind leg ligament condition that occurs before the day after purchase or during the wait means any future ones won't be covered. | October 22, 2026 |
| Rainwalk | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness policy; Vaccine power up (standard on new policies outside NY and CA) | The Mississippi disclosure applies its 14 day waiting period to illnesses and does not set a separate accident period. Rainwalk's FAQ describes a 14 day wait for new pets on most policies, after which accidents and illnesses are covered, so ask which reading your state form uses. | 14 days for illnesses, per the disclosure, which refers to the policy for how the wait can be waived. | No separate orthopedic or knee wait is stated in the disclosure. Instead, orthopedic expenses are covered but limited to 50 percent of the annual limit in each policy period. | October 22, 2026 |
| Spot | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness plan; Accident only plan; Gold and Platinum preventive care endorsements | 14 days in Spot's Arizona accident and illness sample, the same period it uses for illnesses and knee conditions. Spot's waiting period article says it offers next-day accident coverage in select states, so check the declarations page for your state. | 14 days from the first effective date of coverage in the Arizona sample. | Knee and ligament conditions are inside the same 14 day period in the Arizona sample, with no longer orthopedic or spinal wait. Spot's waiting period article points owners to the sample policy for their own state. | November 1, 2026 |
| Trupanion | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness medical plan; Optional riders | 5 days for injuries, per Trupanion's coverage start FAQ. The 2019 sample policy treats injuries in the first 5 days after enrollment as pre-existing. | 30 days for illnesses, per the FAQ. The 2019 sample deems illnesses that occur or recur through day 30 after enrollment to be pre-existing. | No condition-specific waiting periods, per the FAQ. The 2019 sample instead excludes cruciate disease, luxating patella, and hip dysplasia, and IVDD, if signs appear before enrollment or in the first 30 days after it. | October 22, 2026 |
| Wagmo | Dogs, Cats | Accident and illness policy; Wagmo Wellness plans (Value, Classic, Deluxe) | 14 days from the first effective date of coverage in Wagmo's Texas accident and illness sample, a period that form applies equally to accidents, illnesses, and ligament and knee conditions. | 14 days in the Texas sample. | No longer separate wait in the Texas sample: ligament and knee conditions fall within the general 14 day period, and the form names no spinal wait. | October 22, 2026 |
The comparison framework: judge quotes on the same settings
A premium means nothing until the settings behind it match. When you collect live quotes, ask every company for the same three levers: the same deductible, the same reimbursement percentage, and the same annual limit. A cheaper quote at a $1,000 deductible and 70 percent reimbursement is not cheaper cover; it is less cover. Then run each quote through the plan comparison worksheet against one example bill taken from your breed profile, and check the winning quote against the clauses in the coverage decoder. The full method, including a quiet-year and bad-year worked example, is in how to compare pet insurance quotes line by line. Once you have a sample policy in hand, the section map for reading a pet insurance policy shows where waits, exclusions, claim deadlines and appeal rights sit in two real forms. Get a live quote before deciding.
Plan comparison worksheet
Enter the plans you are actually considering, with the premium, deductible, reimbursement percentage, and annual limit from each live quote, and line them up side by side against one example bill. Your figures never leave your browser.
Open the worksheet
Breed-to-plan checklist
Pick your breed and get the plan features worth checking for its known health tendencies: hereditary and bilateral clauses, waiting periods, and chronic-condition rules, written as questions to put to each insurer.
Open the checklist
How this directory was built
Each entry was read from the company's official site on the verified date shown with the entry: a waiting period page, an insurer disclosure, a sample policy, or the company's plan pages. Where a company's pages did not state a fact, the entry says so instead of filling the gap from a review site. Facts change when companies revise their policy forms, so treat the verified date as the start of your own check: open the official source linked in the entry, confirm the waiting periods and eligibility for your state, and get the answers that matter for your breed in writing before you enroll.
This directory does not rank these companies and does not declare any of them the right choice for any breed. That judgment belongs to the clauses read against your dog's profile, which is the rest of this site: start with your breed profile, then the coverage decoder, then a live quote.