Pet insurance age limits
How young a puppy can be insured, and whether there is an upper age limit, at each insurer.
Updated October 2, 2026. Plan facts come from each insurer's published documents; each insurer's policy documents control.
The short answer
Puppies can be insured from 6 to 8 weeks old, depending on the insurer. Odie, Pets Best and Spot say they have no upper age limit; Embrace takes dogs up to 14 on accident and illness plans and older dogs on accident-only.
Fetch, Healthy Paws and Lemonade publish a minimum age but no maximum that we could find.
What will it cost for your dog?
Pick your breed, age and ZIP code to see the estimated monthly price from the insurers we compare.
Enrollment age, by insurer
| Insurer | Enrollment age | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Embrace | 6 weeks+; A&I to age 14[1] | No upper age limit; dogs 15+ can enroll only in accident-only coverage. |
| Fetch | 6 weeks minimum; no maximum age[2] | Fetch states it welcomes all dogs and cats 6 weeks and older; no upper enrollment age stated. |
| Healthy Paws | 8 weeks minimum; no maximum stated[3] | Older dogs (6+) can enroll but hip dysplasia then excluded; no maximum enrollment age found on fetched pages. |
| Lemonade | From 8 weeks; max not stated[4] | An upper enrollment age limit exists but its value is not stated on the pages checked. |
| Odie | 7 weeks minimum; no upper age limit[5] | Applies to current Trisura policies; legacy Accredited policies were limited to 8 weeks-14 years. |
| Pets Best | 7 weeks minimum; no upper limit[6] | Dogs and cats can be insured at any age over 7 weeks; no upper age limit. |
| Spot | 8 weeks minimum; no upper limit[7] | Pets 8 weeks and older can enroll any time; no upper age limit and no enrollment periods. |
| Trupanion | Not verified yet | Trupanion's website blocks automated requests, so we could not check this against its policy yet. Ask Trupanion directly. |
From each insurer's own sample policy, terms or FAQ, checked October 2, 2026. Terms vary by state and plan, and the policy you buy controls.
Check how this applies to your breed
What this means for your dog
The minimum age matters because the first weeks are when you can enroll a puppy before any vet visit has found something. Fetch and Embrace accept puppies from 6 weeks, Odie and Pets Best from 7, and Healthy Paws, Lemonade and Spot from 8. What to know about insuring a puppy.
For an older dog, no upper age limit doesn't mean the same cover as for a young one. Anything in the vet history is pre-existing, and some insurers change what they offer with age: Embrace moves dogs 15 and older to an accident-only plan. Conditions that tend to appear later, like cancer, heart disease and kidney disease, are covered only if they haven't shown yet. Insuring an older dog.
Each breed page lists its typical lifespan, and shorter-lived giant breeds like the Great Dane or Bernese Mountain Dog reach their senior years sooner than a Chihuahua. If you have one, enroll early so that age limits and pre-existing exclusions are less likely to matter.
Before you buy
- Check the minimum and maximum enrollment age, and whether options change for older dogs.
- Ask whether an older dog needs a vet exam or records before the policy is issued.
- Read how premiums change with age at renewal.
- For a senior dog, compare accident and illness with accident-only cover.
Questions owners ask
Is there an age limit for pet insurance?
Odie, Pets Best and Spot say they have no upper age limit. Embrace accepts dogs up to 14 for accident and illness cover and older dogs for accident-only. Fetch, Healthy Paws and Lemonade did not publish a maximum that we could find.
How young can a puppy be insured?
From 6 weeks at Fetch and Embrace, 7 weeks at Odie and Pets Best, and 8 weeks at Healthy Paws, Lemonade and Spot.
Can I insure a 12-year-old dog?
Yes, with insurers that have no upper age limit, such as Odie, Pets Best and Spot. Expect a higher premium, and anything already in the vet record will be excluded as pre-existing.
Does my dog lose coverage when it gets old?
Age limits apply to new enrollments. Once enrolled, policies generally renew as your dog ages, though the premium rises.
Sources
- Embrace Dog Insurance. Embrace Pet Insurance.
- Does pet insurance exclude any breeds? | Fetch FAQs. Fetch.
- Pet Insurance for Dogs | Healthy Paws. Healthy Paws.
- Is Pet Insurance Worth It?. Lemonade.
- Help Center - Odie Pet Insurance. Odie Pet Insurance.
- Frequently Asked Questions | Pets Best. Pets Best Insurance Services.
- Commonly Asked Questions | Spot Pet Insurance. Spot Pet Insurance.
How we choose and check sources: Sources we use.
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