When Should You Get Pet Insurance?
Updated June 10, 2026 · 4 min read
The short answer: as early as possible — ideally while your pet is young and healthy. Here’s why the timing of your decision matters more than almost anything else.
Why earlier is better
- Fewer exclusions. Insurers won’t cover pre-existing conditions. The younger your pet, the less medical history exists to exclude — so your coverage is broader.
- Lower premiums, locked in earlier. Age is the biggest driver of price. Enrolling a young pet means starting at the lowest rate tier (premiums still rise as your pet ages, but you avoid starting from a higher baseline).
- You’re covered before the surprises. Puppies and kittens swallow things, get injured, and develop early conditions. Coverage in place means a vet visit is a medical decision, not a financial one.
When can you start?
Most insurers will enroll pets as young as 6 to 8 weeks. There’s a waiting period after you sign up (often a few days for accidents, up to 14 days or more for illnesses, and longer for certain orthopedic conditions) before claims are covered — another reason not to wait until something’s wrong.
What about older pets?
You can still insure an older pet, and it can absolutely be worth it — but expect higher premiums and more exclusions for conditions they’ve already developed. Some insurers cap the enrollment age, so don’t delay if you’re considering it.
The bottom line
The best time to get pet insurance was when your pet was a puppy or kitten; the second-best time is today, before the next condition becomes pre-existing. Compare quotes for your pet and see what coverage looks like now.