# Waiting Periods in NZ Pet Insurance > 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. **Vertical:** pet · **Topic:** waiting-periods · **Snapshot:** 2026-05-18T08:27:31.134Z **Source:** Each product's policy wording PDF (linked per row). License: CC BY 4.0 — attribute https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz. --- ## AA Pet Insurance — AA Pet Insurance Policy **Wording version:** 2025-04-05 · **Confidence:** verified > dental: 180 · illness: 14 · accident: 0 · cruciate_ligament: 180 **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/aa-pet/pet-policy/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/aa-pet/pet-policy/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.aa.co.nz/content/dam/nzaa/02-services/insurance/pet-insurance/documents/AAPetInsurancePolicyDocument.pdf --- ## Cove Pet Insurance — Cove Pet Insurance **Wording version:** 2026-05-18 · **Confidence:** verified > illness: 21 · accident: 0 · dental_illness: 180 · everyday_stuff: 180 · cruciate_ligament: 180 · emergency_boarding: 0 · intervertebral_disc_disease: 180 **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/cove-pet/pet-insurance/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/cove-pet/pet-insurance/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.coveinsurance.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Pet-Insurance-Policy-CovePet012022.pdf --- ## Petcover (Petplan NZ) — Petcover Catastrophe Plan **Wording version:** 2026-05-17 · **Confidence:** verified > illness: 30 · cruciate_ligament: 180 · brachycephalic_airway_obstruction: 365 **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petcover/catastrophe/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petcover/catastrophe/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.petcovergroup.com/nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/12/PCNZ-PDS_SOV-SN_Catastrophe-v14112022.pdf --- ## Southern Cross Pet Insurance — AcciPet (Accident-only) **Wording version:** 2023-12-01 · **Confidence:** verified > patella_luxation: 90 · cruciate_ligament: 90 **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/accipet/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/accipet/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/AcciPet-Policy-Doc.pdf --- ## Southern Cross Pet Insurance — FreeCover (Trial) **Wording version:** 2025-09-01 · **Confidence:** verified > illness: 5 **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/freecover/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/freecover/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/freecover-policy-Doc.pdf --- ## Southern Cross Pet Insurance — PetCare (Comprehensive) **Wording version:** 2023-12-01 · **Confidence:** verified > illness: 21 · patella_luxation: 90 · cruciate_ligament: 90 · dental_care_extra: 90 **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/petcare/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/petcare/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/PetCare-Policy-Doc.pdf --- ## SPCA Pet Insurance — Big Stuff Cover **Wording version:** 2026-05-17 · **Confidence:** verified > illness: 21 · accident: 0 · cruciate_ligament: 183 · emergency_boarding: 0 **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/big-stuff/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/big-stuff/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.spcapetinsurance.co.nz/documents/spca-pet-insurance-big-stuff-cover-policy-document.pdf --- ## SPCA Pet Insurance — The Works (Comprehensive) **Wording version:** 2026-05-17 · **Confidence:** verified > illness: 21 · accident: 0 · cruciate_ligament: 180 **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/the-works/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/the-works/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.spcapetinsurance.co.nz/documents/spca-pet-insurance-the-works-cover-policy-document.pdf --- ## Tower Pet Insurance — Pet Comprehensive + Essentials **Wording version:** 2026-05-18 · **Confidence:** verified > illness: 14 · accident: 0 · routine_care: 14 · dental_optional_benefit: 90 **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/tower-pet/pet-comprehensive-essentials/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/tower-pet/pet-comprehensive-essentials/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.tower.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Pet_Comprehensive_Essentials.pdf --- **9** of 11 indexed products have on-file cover language for this topic. **Canonical URL:** https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/topics/waiting-periods/