WhichPetPlan
Advisor
← All answers

When should you get pet insurance for puppies?

Get a quote from Lemonade
By the WhichPetPlan editorial team · Last verified 2026-10-02
Short answer

Pet insurance for puppies uses the same accident-and-illness policies as insurance for older dogs. Enroll as soon as the insurer allows, ideally the week you bring the puppy home, so new findings sit after the policy start. Waiting periods still apply. Current Lemonade marketing waits (your state policy controls) are 0 days for accidents from the policy effective date, 14 days for illness, and 30 days for orthopedic conditions. Pre-existing conditions are excluded by every insurer we review. Lemonade is the only live quote link. Lemonade Pet is not sold in AK, ID, KS, SD, VT, WV, or WY as of October 2026. We do not publish a puppy premium on this page.

Why puppy insurance is a timing question

A puppy shopper asking “pet insurance for puppies” is deciding when to enroll, not asking for a cost table. Symptoms that appear before the start date or during a wait can be treated as pre-existing. Enroll first, then do the first exam when the insurer allows.

For pricing, see our puppy insurance cost guide. The puppy enrollment guide explains what to check before choosing a policy.

What still waits after you enroll a puppy

Accident clocks are the shortest. Illness waits are longer. Orthopedic and cruciate waits are usually the longest. Do not treat a puppy policy as covering every claim from day one.

Breed risks still matter later. They do not create a puppy-only product. Use breed pages when the question is a named condition.

How to compare current quotes

We do not publish a puppy premium here. Ask insurers for current quotes with the same ZIP code, deductible, reimbursement rate, and annual limit.

Related questions

Is this the puppy insurance cost page?
This page explains enrollment timing. Use our puppy insurance cost guide for pricing guidance, then request current quotes for your puppy and coverage settings.
When should I insure a new puppy?
As soon as the insurer allows, before the first intake exam if you can. New findings after the start date stay out of the pre-existing bucket unless signs clearly started earlier. Waiting periods still apply.
Does pet insurance for puppies cover pre-existing conditions?
No. Pre-existing conditions are excluded by every insurer on this site. A limp or GI note before enrollment can exclude later related claims.
How much is pet insurance for puppies?
We do not have dated, comparable quotes for this price. Request current insurer quotes for the same puppy, ZIP code, and coverage settings.

Keep reading

Not sure which plan fits?

The Advisor ranks the eight reviewed plans from nine questions. The Advisor is not a quote form.

Start the Advisor

Premium figures are illustrative starting estimates, not quotes. See our methodology for how scores are set.