I just bought pet insurance for my dog and I’m not sure when I can start using it. Has anyone been able to claim their pet insurance in India right after purchase or did you have to wait for some time?
How soon can you claim pet insurance in India after purchase?
You can claim immediately for accidents, but you must wait out a short illness waiting period before the insurer will pay vet bills for sickness.
Standard Waiting Periods in India
- 0 days : Accidental injuries (fracture, poisoning, bite wounds, etc.) are covered from the purchase date.
- 30 days : Any illness fever, infection, stomach upset, skin disease can be claimed only after the first 30 days of the policy.
- 90 days : Theft / loss / straying cover begins after 90 days.
- 12-24 months : Hereditary or congenital conditions are excluded for the first 1–2 years unless you buy a special rider.
Example timeline:
- Day 1 : Policy starts, accident claims allowed.
- Day 31 : Illness claims allowed.
- Day 91 : Theft claims allowed.
When You Can First Claim
| Event | Earliest You Can Claim |
|---|---|
| Accident | Day 1 (no wait) |
| General illness | After 30 days |
| Theft / loss | After 90 days |
| Congenital disease | After 12-24 months (if covered by rider) |
Points to Remember
- These waits apply only to the first policy year, on continuous renewal, the clock resets to zero for accidents and illnesses.
- If any symptom was noted before the policy start date, that problem is treated as “pre-existing” and is never covered, even after the waiting period.
- You can still use the policy for new illnesses that appear after 30 days, each year’s cover is independent.