17 Pet Insurance Mistakes That Will Make You Cringe

Best Pet Daily - No pet insurance policyholder wants to spend the big bucks at the veterinarian clinic only to find the insurer denies the claims.

Introduction – You Got What Covered?!

Let’s be real — pet insurance can feel more confusing than teaching a cat to use a treadmill. Whether you’re shopping for your first plan or swearing off the one that “should’ve covered that $3,000 mystery poop emergency,” there’s a lot of confusion floating around out there.

This guide dives into the cringiest pet insurance mistakes smart pet parents still make. Some are based on myths, some are wishful thinking, and others are just… well… “oops, that’s not how insurance works.” Let’s break them down so your wallet doesn’t have to.

1. “I’ll Get Pet Insurance When I Need It”

That’s like saying, “I’ll learn to swim after I fall in the pool.”
Once your dog has eaten a bee or your cat has developed a suspicious limp, it’s too late — you’re paying out of pocket.

Serious Stuff:
Pet insurance is not retroactive. Any condition your pet develops before you enroll (or during the waiting period) is considered a pre-existing condition and usually won’t be covered. Waiting until your pet “needs” insurance often means that the condition prompting you to buy coverage will never be eligible for reimbursement. The smart move? Sign up while your pet is still healthy — that way, you lock in coverage before things go sideways.

2. “I Should Get My Premiums Back in Claims”

Nope. This isn’t a cashback loyalty card.
If your pet stays healthy (yay!), you may not "get your money’s worth" — and that’s actually the goal.

Serious Stuff:
Pet insurance is a risk management tool, not a reimbursement guarantee. Like with your car or home insurance, you may pay for years and never make a big claim. That’s a good thing. You're paying for peace of mind, the ability to say yes to emergency care without checking your bank balance, and the knowledge that you’re financially prepared for a worst-case scenario.

3. “It Covers All Vet Bills, Right?”

Sure — and unicorns do your taxes.
Most policies have exclusions, limits, and fine print that could make your eyes twitch.

Serious Stuff:
Most pet insurance plans only cover accidents and illnesses — not routine care, pre-existing conditions or elective procedures. Some don’t even cover certain hereditary issues. Plus, you’ll likely have an annual coverage cap, a deductible, and a reimbursement rate (e.g., 80%). Knowing exactly what your plan covers before you need it is essential. Read the policy, compare providers, and ask questions.

4. “Routine Checkups Are Covered!”

Only if you’ve opted into a wellness or routine care add-on.
Otherwise, your pet’s annual butt thermometer moment? That’s on your tab.

Serious Stuff:
Standard pet insurance does not cover wellness visits, flea and tick preventatives, vaccines, or dental cleanings. These are typically available as optional add-ons or separate wellness plans for an extra fee. While they can help spread out costs, you should assess whether the savings outweigh the cost of the added coverage.

Another way to think of it is that pet insurance is for “unexpected vet bills” (whereas “expected vet bills” are on you… unless you pay extra for a wellness plan or routine care).

5. “My Pet Is Young and Healthy. I Don’t Need It Yet.”

That’s the best time to get insured

…while they're cute, chaos-free, and haven’t swallowed anything… yet.

Serious Stuff:
Signing up early means more conditions will be covered. Once your pet develops an issue — even a minor one — that health concern is likely to be excluded from future coverage. Puppies and kittens are especially prone to misadventures (cue the “swallowed a sock” ER trip), so getting coverage while they’re young not only gives you better protection, but often results in lower premiums.

🔗 Want to know more? Read this related article:
Starting Pet Insurance Early: The Reasons Why It's Beneficial

6. “It’s Fine, I Have Money Saved for Emergencies”

Cool flex

- but can your emergency fund take a $5,000 bloat surgery hit and still afford rent? Asking for your dog.

Serious Stuff:
Emergency vet care is expensive. A single surgery, diagnostic workup, or overnight hospital stay can cost thousands. Yes, savings are great — but pet insurance acts as a financial backup plan so you don’t have to choose between draining your emergency fund or saying no to potentially life-saving care.

7. “Older Pets Are Covered Just the Same”

Best Pet Daily - Know What Your Pet Insurance Covers and “When”, otherwise you might just get left with a fistful of bills (Pic: Digital Artistry)

If by “just the same” you mean “for triple the cost and potentially half the coverage,” then yes! Seriously, keep reading.

Serious Stuff:
Some pet insurance companies restrict coverage for pets already insured once they reach a certain age - often 9 years and up. A lot don’t apply this restriction but it’s a pretty important thing to be very sure of from the outset with your policy.

What is very “normal” is that pet insurers around the world stop offering illness coverage for new enrollees past the age of 9 years. It’s a case of sign up before that time or your options at best will be limited to Accident Only type cover.

What is almost a dead certainty is that older pets (newly insured, or insured since young) will attract significantly increased premiums. Is that fair, right when you likely need the insurance the most? Unfortunately, yes. Let’s say for argument’s sake that a pet ages 7 years for every 1 human year (there are differences in breeds, of course, but stick with me).. A 10 year pet therefore might be quite like a 70 year old human… and we can all appreciate a 70 year old human could face any number of health complications - and expensive to treat complications - from that stage of life.

What is worth pointing out is you already have a plan in place when your pet is young, it will typically renew for life, provided no break in cover.

8. “Coverage Kicks In Right Away”

There’s a thing called a waiting period. It’s like a relationship probation.

Serious Stuff:
Most policies don’t provide instant coverage.

Waiting periods vary, but typically you’ll have to wait 1 to 14 days for accidents, and up to 30 days for illnesses.

Some conditions (like cruciate ligament injuries or dental illness) may have even longer waits (like 6 months). This is to prevent people from buying coverage after their pet is already sick — and it’s a critical detail to check before enrolling for the first time..

9. “All Pet Insurance Plans Are Basically the Same”

That’s like saying all treats taste the same

Tell that to your dog who can detect the difference between chicken and chicken-flavored disappointment.

Serious Stuff:
Pet insurance providers differ a lot in what they cover, how they calculate claims, their customer service, and even how quickly they reimburse.

Some have lifetime coverage limits, others don’t.

Some cover dental issues or alternative therapies, while others exclude them.

The details matter. Use comparison tools or your own spreadsheet to evaluate key plan features before choosing one.

🔗 Let’s help you a bit more with this related read:
How To Effectively Compare Different Pet Insurance Offers

10. “It Works Just Like Human Health Insurance”

If only. Pet insurance is more like: pay the vet, file a claim, do a ritual rain dance, and wait to see what you’ll be reimbursed (which could be in 7-14 business days!).

Serious Stuff:
Unlike human health insurance, pet insurance is not subsidised by the government or employers.

Pet insurance doesn’t typically work on a copay system either. You’re usually expected to pay the full vet bill upfront, then submit a claim for reimbursement.

That said, some insurers now offer direct vet payments. Thankfully, over time, they appear to becoming more commonplace (your insurer needs to offer it AND your vet needs to have an arrangement in place with the insurer to accept it). For instance, in Australia, half the pet insurance brands in the market offer a service called GapOnly (where you only pay the vet the difference between what’s insured and your bill)… and it appears about half the veterinarians in Australia have GapOnly arrangements in play.

Last thing… depending on your provider and your plan (and unlike human health insurance) you’ll usually get back a percentage (usually 70%-90%) of the eligible veterinary costs — minus your deductible.

11. “Switching Providers Wipes My Pet’s History”

Pre-existing conditions cling harder than a wet Labrador. Switching won’t erase history — it’ll just give it a new deductible.

Serious Stuff:
Every time you switch insurers, your pet’s medical history is reviewed from scratch. Any issues already diagnosed — even minor ones — will typically be excluded as pre-existing conditions.

That means a skin rash that cleared up six months ago can still prevent future dermatology claims. Sticking with one provider long-term (as long as their service is solid) is usually the safest way to keep coverage intact.

12. “Claims Always Get Denied”

Not true anymore. Many modern providers have apps, fast turnaround, and even friendly support (yes, actual humans).

Serious Stuff:
While there have been horror stories, the industry has come a long way - particularly across Europe, North America and down in Australia and New Zealand..

Many leading pet insurers now offer simple digital claim filing, transparent approval processes, and reimbursement in as little as 48 hours.

Claim denials often happen when the condition isn’t covered by the plan, the waiting period hasn’t passed, you’re claiming an amount less than your deductible (or excess as it’s called in some places), or proper documentation isn’t submitted — not because providers are out to get you.

13. “My Vet Said It Should Be Covered”

Best Pet Daily - Your vet no doubt has your pet’s health as their no. 1 priority. Talk to them about pet insurance - but never assume they know all the details (Pic: Digital Artistry)

Your vet is a medical expert — not a licensed underwriter. “Should be covered” doesn’t mean it is. The claim department has no chill.

Serious Stuff:
Vets often don’t know the fine print of your insurance policy, especially since policies vary widely.

While they may expect a procedure or treatment to be covered, the decision ultimately lies with the insurance company — and it depends on your plan, timing, and medical history. Always check with your insurer before assuming a procedure is eligible.

🔗 Want to make the right decision when choosing a vet… check out this helpful article:
Choosing the Right Vet: Essential Tips for Pet Owners

14. “Accident-Only Plans Are Enough”

Until they chase a squirrel into a fence post and need dental surgery. Illness-only or accident-only plans can leave big gaps.

Serious Stuff:
Accident-only plans usually exclude illnesses like infections, chronic disease, allergies, and cancer — which, ironically, are some of the most common (and expensive) issues pets face.

They often exclude ingestions (if you swallowed a tennis ball, would you call it an accident?!).

While Accident-only plans are more affordable, they leave you exposed if your pet develops anything other than a clear physical injury (often assessed as being one of a set list of accidents or perils in your policy documents).

A comprehensive (accident and illness) plan may cost more upfront, but it offers peace of mind across the board.

15. “The Cheapest Plan Will Do”

Cool until your “budget” plan covers everything except what’s actually wrong. Read the policy before the price tag.

Serious Stuff:
Cheap doesn’t always equal value. Low-cost plans may have low annual limits, narrow coverage, and lots of exclusions. Worse, some only cover emergencies and deny reimbursement for ongoing care.

Always compare what’s actually covered — not just the monthly premium.

A “bargain” plan that never pays out isn’t a bargain at all.

16. “I’ll Just Cancel It If I Don’t Use It”

Sure — just don’t expect to sign back up and have that itchy mystery lump covered. Insurance is for before life happens.

Serious Stuff:
Canceling pet insurance might save money short-term, but re-enrolling later means everything your pet developed while uninsured will now be considered a pre-existing condition.

Also, many insurers reserve the right to change pricing and policy terms at re-enrollment. If you’re struggling with premiums, consider adjusting coverage levels instead of canceling outright. Or contact your insurer if you’re in a short-term financial bind… they might just show you some love for a month or two to get you over the hump.

17. “They Won’t Raise My Premiums After I Claim”

That’s adorable. Some providers will, some won’t - but many do.

Serious Stuff:
Pet insurance premiums more often than not increase with your pet’s age - that’s standard. And the increases can be substantial (like 25% substantial is not unusual).

But some providers also increase your rate after large or frequent claims, even if your pet is still young, particularly if your claim reflects a future propensity for frequent or large claims (for example, once your pet has a chronic illness - think diabetes or cancer - future claims are expected.

Check your provider’s policy on rate increases and renewals. Some companies offer fixed premiums or clearly outline their pricing structures, so it pays to do your homework before signing on.

Conclusion – Mistakes Happen, But They Don’t Have To

Pet insurance isn’t just about reimbursement. It’s about options. The option to say yes to diagnostics instead of waiting and worrying. The option to approve surgery without stressing over cost. The option to protect your pet - and your peace of mind - long before anything goes wrong.

Avoiding these 17 cringeworthy mistakes can help you choose better coverage for you and your pet, use it correctly, and sleep better knowing you’ve got a sturdy safety net in place.

FAQs

1. Is pet insurance worth it for indoor cats?
Yes! Indoor cats can still develop chronic illnesses, need dental care, or suffer accidents. Insurance helps offset those unexpected costs.

2. What’s the difference between wellness plans and accident-only plans?
Wellness plans cover preventative care like vaccines and checkups. Accident-only plans cover injuries like broken bones, but not illnesses.

3. Are hereditary conditions covered?
Many insurers cover hereditary and congenital conditions — but only if you enroll your pet young and(n ptosms appear.

4. How soon can I file a claim after enrolling?
After your plan’s waiting period ends. That’s usually 1–14 days for accidents and up to 30 days for illnesses. Note some conditions might require a longer wait, like 6 months (cruciate ligament issues and dental illness are two that come to mind, for policies that cover these things)

5. Can I change my coverage later?
Yes, most insurers let you adjust coverage at renewal. Just note that new conditions might be subject to exclusions or waiting periods. Also, once your pet turns 9, the options to adjust coverage might be more limited.

Resources

For more insights on this topic, check out these helpful articles on Best Pet Daily:

• Pet Insurance Myths Debunked: Know The Facts – A great myth-busting companion to this article, perfect for pet parents still on the fence.

• How To Effectively Compare Different Pet Insurance Offers – Step-by-step help to compare plans like a pro.

• Starting Pet Insurance Early: The Reasons Why It's Beneficial – Why early coverage is a smart (and cost-saving) move.

• Warning Signs Your Pet Urgently Needs to See a Vet – Know what to watch for before you're Googling symptoms at 2 a.m.

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Editor’s Note - At Best Pet Daily we’re generally advocates of the pet insurance concept for the best pet health and welfare outcomes. However, our comments should never be read as advice (we’d love to know you and your pet, but we don’t!). Always do your homework when choosing a financial product, like pet insurance, to ensure it’s right for you.