When Should You Get Pet Insurance? (Best Age to Start)

The Best Age to Get Pet Insurance

The short answer: as soon as possible. The ideal time to take out pet insurance in Australia is when your puppy or kitten is around 8 weeks old. Most insurers accept pets from 8 weeks of age, and starting early gives you the best premiums and the broadest coverage.

Every week you wait is another week where your pet could develop a condition that becomes a permanent exclusion on any future policy. Once something is classified as pre-existing, no Australian insurer will cover it.

Why Starting Early Saves You Money

Pet insurance premiums are calculated based on your pet’s age, breed, and location. The younger your pet, the lower your premium. Here’s what typical monthly premiums look like for a medium mixed-breed dog with comprehensive cover:

• 8 weeks old: $30 – $45/month
• 1 year old: $35 – $50/month
• 3 years old: $45 – $65/month
• 5 years old: $55 – $80/month
• 7 years old: $70 – $110/month
• 10 years old: $100 – $160/month

Over a pet’s lifetime, starting at 8 weeks versus waiting until age 3 can save you thousands of dollars in premiums while also protecting you against early-onset conditions.

The Pre-Existing Condition Trap

This is the single biggest reason to insure early. A pre-existing condition is anything your pet has been diagnosed with, shown symptoms of, or received treatment for before the policy start date. Australian insurers define this broadly.

Common conditions that can develop in the first year include:

• Skin allergies: Often appear by 6-12 months of age
• Ear infections: Common in floppy-eared breeds from puppyhood
• Luxating patella: Can be detected as early as 4-6 months
• Gastrointestinal issues: Foreign body ingestion is common in puppies
• Hip dysplasia signs: Early indicators can show from 5 months

If any of these are noted in your pet’s veterinary records before you take out insurance, they will be excluded from coverage permanently.

Age Limits by Insurer

Each Australian insurer sets its own age limits for new policies. Here are the common thresholds:

• Most insurers: Accept pets from 8 weeks to 8-9 years for new policies
• Some providers (e.g. Petplan, RSPCA): No upper age limit for new policies
• Renewal: Most insurers will continue to renew existing policies regardless of age
• Senior pets: Limited options, higher premiums, and more exclusions after age 8

If your pet is already older, don’t assume you can’t get cover. Several insurers cater to senior pets, though premiums will be higher and coverage may have more restrictions.

Cost Comparison: Insuring Young vs Old

Let’s look at the real numbers. For a Labrador Retriever with comprehensive cover:

• Insured at 8 weeks: $40/month starting premium, total premiums over 12-year life approximately $8,400
• Insured at 3 years: $55/month starting premium, total premiums over remaining 9 years approximately $8,100 (but 3 years of no coverage during high-risk puppy period)
• Insured at 6 years: $85/month starting premium, total premiums over remaining 6 years approximately $7,200 (but likely pre-existing exclusions and 6 years of uncovered risk)

While the total premium cost may look similar, insuring at 8 weeks gives you complete coverage from day one. If your Lab develops hip dysplasia at age 2, you’re covered. If you waited until age 3 and it was already in the vet records, it’s permanently excluded.

What About Kittens?

The same logic applies to cats. Kittens should ideally be insured at 8 weeks, especially if they are a breed prone to conditions like:

• Bengal cats: Heart disease (HCM) can develop early
• Persian cats: Polycystic kidney disease is hereditary
• Ragdolls: Prone to bladder stones and HCM
• Siamese: Higher risk of respiratory and dental issues

Even domestic shorthairs benefit from early insurance. Cats are excellent at hiding illness, and by the time symptoms are obvious, treatment can be expensive.

Waiting Periods to Be Aware Of

Even after you take out a policy, there are waiting periods before coverage begins:

• Accidents: 0-2 days (some insurers offer immediate accident cover)
• Illnesses: 30 days
• Cruciate ligament conditions: 6 months with most insurers
• Dental illness: 6 months (where covered)

These waiting periods apply from the policy start date, so there’s no benefit to delaying. The sooner you start, the sooner your waiting periods are behind you.

Our Recommendation

Insure your pet at 8 weeks of age or as soon as you bring them home. Don’t wait for their first vet visit to “see if everything is okay” because anything found during that visit becomes pre-existing. Take out the policy first, then visit the vet.

If your pet is already older, it’s still better to insure today than tomorrow. Every day without cover is another day where a new condition could develop and become uninsurable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I insure a puppy before 8 weeks?

No, most Australian insurers require pets to be at least 8 weeks old. This is because very young animals are still with the breeder and haven’t had their initial vet health check. Take out a policy the day you bring your puppy home.

Is there an age where pet insurance stops being worth it?

There’s no hard cutoff. Even senior pets can benefit from insurance, especially for accident cover. However, if your older pet already has several pre-existing conditions that would be excluded, the value of the policy is reduced. Crunch the numbers for your specific situation.

What if my pet already has a condition?

You can still get insurance, but that specific condition will be excluded. The policy will still cover new, unrelated conditions. Some insurers will review pre-existing conditions after 18 months of no symptoms or treatment and may remove the exclusion.

Do premiums increase every year?

Yes, premiums typically increase annually as your pet ages. This is normal across all Australian insurers. Some providers cap annual increases, so ask about this when comparing plans. Starting with lower premiums at a young age helps offset these increases over time.