Effective Date

by Pawlicy Advisor
Dictionary
>
Pet Insurance Terms
>
Effective Date

What is an Effective Date?

An effective date is when your pet insurance policy begins providing coverage to your pet (when your protection kicks in). Often, there are different waiting periods following your enrollment date for different types of coverage, such as illness coverage versus accident coverage.

More importantly, policies may have fine print that describes certain conditions as having unique waiting periods. For example, Healthy Paws has a 15 day waiting period for illnesses BUT a 12 month waiting period on hip dysplasia in pets younger than 6 years old. This is a critical reason that you want to find the best provider based on your breed’s specific health risks.

Once a waiting period has ended, your policy becomes effective, creating your “effective date.”

How Effective Dates Work

Effective dates are when your policy becomes eligible to reimburse you for covered costs. There may be a difference between when accident coverage versus illness coverage becomes effective based on your particular pet insurance plan.

For example, suppose you sign up for a pet insurance plan with a 5 day waiting period for accidents, a 15 day waiting period for illnesses, and a 6 month waiting period for orthopedic conditions. If you signed up for your policy on March 1st, your accident coverage would kick in on March 6th, illness coverage on March 16th, and orthopedic condition coverage on September 1st.

Any accidents or illnesses developed during or before your effective date will be considered pre-existing. If you’re unsure about your effective dates, check with your pet insurance provider for specific information on your plan’s effective dates and waiting periods.


Key Takeaways

  • An effective date marks the day your insurance policy begins covering your pet.
  • Usually, you must complete a waiting period following enrollment. Once the waiting period is over, your pet’s coverage begins, which is your effective date.
  • Different plans/providers have different waiting periods and these can also vary for specific conditions.

Continue Reading

Eligibility
Eligibility determines whether or not your pet can be insured through a particular pet insurance provider or under a specific pet insurance plan
Read More.
Employee Benefits
Employee benefits are a form of non-wage compensation provided to employees in addition to salary or wages. Many companies have started offering new, innovative employee benefits - such as flexible hours, gym memberships, and pet insurance - to recruit top talent in the Millennial workforce.
Read More.
Enrollment
For pet insurance, enrollment is the process of registering your pet with an insurance provider/carrier after they’ve approved your application.
Read More.

See related articles

This pet insurance comparison guide will help you understand the types of pet insurance available, find out what each plan covers, discover top providers, and find the best coverage and price options across the web.

17 minute read

How To Compare Pet Insurance Plans

Pet insurance can help you pay for the cost of veterinary care if your pet becomes sick or injured. Learn more about how pet insurance works and what it covers here.

18 minute read

How Pet Insurance Works: Your Essential Guide

Wondering if pet insurance is worth it for your dog or cat? We cover EVERYTHING pet parents should consider when making the decision to enroll in coverage.

15 minute read

Is Pet Insurance Worth It? Here's A Vet's Perspective

Wondering if pet insurance is worth it for your dog or cat? We cover EVERYTHING pet parents should consider when making the decision to enroll in coverage.

16 minute read

Is Pet Insurance Worth It? Here's A Vet's Perspective

If your pet has a pre-existing condition, don’t panic just yet. You can still get pet insurance coverage, and you likely have other options to save on your vet bills, too.

7 minute read

Is There Pet Insurance That Covers Pre-Existing Conditions?

Girl holding dog

Compare Top Pet Insurance Companies

A family with pets that are insured by Pawlicy Advisor
Pawlicy Advisor is the leading independent marketplace for finding the best coverage for your pet at the lowest rate.
Join 2,438,795+ insured dogs and cats across the US.
Get a Quote
Our pet insurance partners
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Logo
Pets Best Pet Insurance Logo
Embrace Pet Insurance Logo
Pumpkin Pet Insurance Logo
MetLife Pet Insurance Logo
Prudent Pet Insurance Logo