{
  "vertical": "pet",
  "topic": {
    "slug": "waiting-periods",
    "title": "Waiting Periods in NZ Pet Insurance",
    "short_title": "Waiting periods",
    "description": "Waiting periods are the no-claim windows after policy commencement. NZ pet insurers typically split: accidents (1-3 days), illnesses (14-30 days), specific orthopaedic conditions like cruciate ligament rupture (6-24 months), behavioural conditions (often 6+ months). Cancer waiting periods are usually 30-90 days. This page documents each insurer's full waiting-period grid verbatim.",
    "fact_keys": [
      "waiting_periods_days"
    ],
    "keywords": [
      "pet insurance waiting period",
      "cruciate waiting period NZ",
      "pet insurance stand-down"
    ]
  },
  "snapshot": {
    "generated_at": "2026-05-18T08:27:31.134Z",
    "counts": {
      "insurers": 8,
      "products_total": 11,
      "products_active": 11
    },
    "wording_date_range": {
      "oldest_ingested_at": "2026-05-17",
      "newest_ingested_at": "2026-05-18"
    }
  },
  "products": [
    {
      "insurer": {
        "slug": "aa-pet",
        "name": "AA Pet Insurance"
      },
      "product": {
        "slug": "pet-policy",
        "name": "AA Pet Insurance Policy"
      },
      "wording_version": "2025-04-05",
      "source_url": "https://www.aa.co.nz/content/dam/nzaa/02-services/insurance/pet-insurance/documents/AAPetInsurancePolicyDocument.pdf",
      "confidence_tier": "verified",
      "primary_value": {
        "dental": 180,
        "illness": 14,
        "accident": 0,
        "cruciate_ligament": 180
      },
      "values_by_key": {
        "waiting_periods_days": {
          "dental": 180,
          "illness": 14,
          "accident": 0,
          "cruciate_ligament": 180
        }
      },
      "endpoints": {
        "product_facts": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/aa-pet/pet-policy/facts.json",
        "product_summary": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/aa-pet/pet-policy/summary.md",
        "product_wording": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/aa-pet/pet-policy/wording.md"
      }
    },
    {
      "insurer": {
        "slug": "cove-pet",
        "name": "Cove Pet Insurance"
      },
      "product": {
        "slug": "pet-insurance",
        "name": "Cove Pet Insurance"
      },
      "wording_version": "2026-05-18",
      "source_url": "https://www.coveinsurance.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Pet-Insurance-Policy-CovePet012022.pdf",
      "confidence_tier": "verified",
      "primary_value": {
        "illness": 21,
        "accident": 0,
        "dental_illness": 180,
        "everyday_stuff": 180,
        "cruciate_ligament": 180,
        "emergency_boarding": 0,
        "intervertebral_disc_disease": 180
      },
      "values_by_key": {
        "waiting_periods_days": {
          "illness": 21,
          "accident": 0,
          "dental_illness": 180,
          "everyday_stuff": 180,
          "cruciate_ligament": 180,
          "emergency_boarding": 0,
          "intervertebral_disc_disease": 180
        }
      },
      "endpoints": {
        "product_facts": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/cove-pet/pet-insurance/facts.json",
        "product_summary": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/cove-pet/pet-insurance/summary.md",
        "product_wording": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/cove-pet/pet-insurance/wording.md"
      }
    },
    {
      "insurer": {
        "slug": "pd-insurance",
        "name": "PD Insurance"
      },
      "product": {
        "slug": "pet-insurance-pds",
        "name": "PD Pet Insurance (PDS)"
      },
      "wording_version": null,
      "source_url": null,
      "confidence_tier": "unknown",
      "primary_value": null,
      "values_by_key": {},
      "endpoints": {
        "product_facts": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/pd-insurance/pet-insurance-pds/facts.json",
        "product_summary": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/pd-insurance/pet-insurance-pds/summary.md",
        "product_wording": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/pd-insurance/pet-insurance-pds/wording.md"
      }
    },
    {
      "insurer": {
        "slug": "petcover",
        "name": "Petcover (Petplan NZ)"
      },
      "product": {
        "slug": "catastrophe",
        "name": "Petcover Catastrophe Plan"
      },
      "wording_version": "2026-05-17",
      "source_url": "https://www.petcovergroup.com/nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/12/PCNZ-PDS_SOV-SN_Catastrophe-v14112022.pdf",
      "confidence_tier": "verified",
      "primary_value": {
        "illness": 30,
        "cruciate_ligament": 180,
        "brachycephalic_airway_obstruction": 365
      },
      "values_by_key": {
        "waiting_periods_days": {
          "illness": 30,
          "cruciate_ligament": 180,
          "brachycephalic_airway_obstruction": 365
        }
      },
      "endpoints": {
        "product_facts": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petcover/catastrophe/facts.json",
        "product_summary": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petcover/catastrophe/summary.md",
        "product_wording": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petcover/catastrophe/wording.md"
      }
    },
    {
      "insurer": {
        "slug": "petnsur",
        "name": "PetNSur"
      },
      "product": {
        "slug": "rhodium",
        "name": "PetNSur Rhodium / Standard"
      },
      "wording_version": null,
      "source_url": null,
      "confidence_tier": "unknown",
      "primary_value": null,
      "values_by_key": {},
      "endpoints": {
        "product_facts": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petnsur/rhodium/facts.json",
        "product_summary": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petnsur/rhodium/summary.md",
        "product_wording": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petnsur/rhodium/wording.md"
      }
    },
    {
      "insurer": {
        "slug": "southern-cross-pet",
        "name": "Southern Cross Pet Insurance"
      },
      "product": {
        "slug": "accipet",
        "name": "AcciPet (Accident-only)"
      },
      "wording_version": "2023-12-01",
      "source_url": "https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/AcciPet-Policy-Doc.pdf",
      "confidence_tier": "verified",
      "primary_value": {
        "patella_luxation": 90,
        "cruciate_ligament": 90
      },
      "values_by_key": {
        "waiting_periods_days": {
          "patella_luxation": 90,
          "cruciate_ligament": 90
        }
      },
      "endpoints": {
        "product_facts": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/accipet/facts.json",
        "product_summary": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/accipet/summary.md",
        "product_wording": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/accipet/wording.md"
      }
    },
    {
      "insurer": {
        "slug": "southern-cross-pet",
        "name": "Southern Cross Pet Insurance"
      },
      "product": {
        "slug": "freecover",
        "name": "FreeCover (Trial)"
      },
      "wording_version": "2025-09-01",
      "source_url": "https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/freecover-policy-Doc.pdf",
      "confidence_tier": "verified",
      "primary_value": {
        "illness": 5
      },
      "values_by_key": {
        "waiting_periods_days": {
          "illness": 5
        }
      },
      "endpoints": {
        "product_facts": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/freecover/facts.json",
        "product_summary": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/freecover/summary.md",
        "product_wording": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/freecover/wording.md"
      }
    },
    {
      "insurer": {
        "slug": "southern-cross-pet",
        "name": "Southern Cross Pet Insurance"
      },
      "product": {
        "slug": "petcare",
        "name": "PetCare (Comprehensive)"
      },
      "wording_version": "2023-12-01",
      "source_url": "https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/PetCare-Policy-Doc.pdf",
      "confidence_tier": "verified",
      "primary_value": {
        "illness": 21,
        "patella_luxation": 90,
        "cruciate_ligament": 90,
        "dental_care_extra": 90
      },
      "values_by_key": {
        "waiting_periods_days": {
          "illness": 21,
          "patella_luxation": 90,
          "cruciate_ligament": 90,
          "dental_care_extra": 90
        }
      },
      "endpoints": {
        "product_facts": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/petcare/facts.json",
        "product_summary": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/petcare/summary.md",
        "product_wording": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/petcare/wording.md"
      }
    },
    {
      "insurer": {
        "slug": "spca-pet",
        "name": "SPCA Pet Insurance"
      },
      "product": {
        "slug": "big-stuff",
        "name": "Big Stuff Cover"
      },
      "wording_version": "2026-05-17",
      "source_url": "https://www.spcapetinsurance.co.nz/documents/spca-pet-insurance-big-stuff-cover-policy-document.pdf",
      "confidence_tier": "verified",
      "primary_value": {
        "illness": 21,
        "accident": 0,
        "cruciate_ligament": 183,
        "emergency_boarding": 0
      },
      "values_by_key": {
        "waiting_periods_days": {
          "illness": 21,
          "accident": 0,
          "cruciate_ligament": 183,
          "emergency_boarding": 0
        }
      },
      "endpoints": {
        "product_facts": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/big-stuff/facts.json",
        "product_summary": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/big-stuff/summary.md",
        "product_wording": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/big-stuff/wording.md"
      }
    },
    {
      "insurer": {
        "slug": "spca-pet",
        "name": "SPCA Pet Insurance"
      },
      "product": {
        "slug": "the-works",
        "name": "The Works (Comprehensive)"
      },
      "wording_version": "2026-05-17",
      "source_url": "https://www.spcapetinsurance.co.nz/documents/spca-pet-insurance-the-works-cover-policy-document.pdf",
      "confidence_tier": "verified",
      "primary_value": {
        "illness": 21,
        "accident": 0,
        "cruciate_ligament": 180
      },
      "values_by_key": {
        "waiting_periods_days": {
          "illness": 21,
          "accident": 0,
          "cruciate_ligament": 180
        }
      },
      "endpoints": {
        "product_facts": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/the-works/facts.json",
        "product_summary": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/the-works/summary.md",
        "product_wording": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/the-works/wording.md"
      }
    },
    {
      "insurer": {
        "slug": "tower-pet",
        "name": "Tower Pet Insurance"
      },
      "product": {
        "slug": "pet-comprehensive-essentials",
        "name": "Pet Comprehensive + Essentials"
      },
      "wording_version": "2026-05-18",
      "source_url": "https://www.tower.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Pet_Comprehensive_Essentials.pdf",
      "confidence_tier": "verified",
      "primary_value": {
        "illness": 14,
        "accident": 0,
        "routine_care": 14,
        "dental_optional_benefit": 90
      },
      "values_by_key": {
        "waiting_periods_days": {
          "illness": 14,
          "accident": 0,
          "routine_care": 14,
          "dental_optional_benefit": 90
        }
      },
      "endpoints": {
        "product_facts": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/tower-pet/pet-comprehensive-essentials/facts.json",
        "product_summary": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/tower-pet/pet-comprehensive-essentials/summary.md",
        "product_wording": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/tower-pet/pet-comprehensive-essentials/wording.md"
      }
    }
  ],
  "canonical_url": "https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/topics/waiting-periods/",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0 — attribute https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz",
  "citation_note": "Each product.primary_value is a verbatim excerpt from the cited insurer wording PDF (source_url). For the authoritative answer in any specific case, refer to the source PDF."
}