What happens to waiting periods if I switch to Lassie from another insurer?
Switching your pet’s insurance doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. If you’re moving from another UK insurer without a break in cover, we can waive some of our waiting periods, so your pet is protected from day one. Here’s how it works.
Will waiting periods apply if I switch?
If your pet was insured with another UK pet insurer for at least 3 months in a row, and you transfer directly to Lassie with no gap in cover, your cover applies immediately from your policy start date and the standard waiting periods are waived (48 hours for accident and 10 days for illness).
What do I need to qualify?
All of the following need to be true:
Your pet was insured with another UK pet insurer
Your previous cover ran continuously for at least 3 months
You’re switching directly to Lassie, with no gap between your old policy ending and your Lassie policy starting
Your previous cover is equivalent to the Lassie cover you’re choosing
Which waiting periods are waived?
The 10-day waiting period for illness
The 48-hour waiting period for accidents
Which waiting periods still apply?
Some waiting periods apply even if you switch from another insurer:
Tooth resorption: 12 months from your policy start date
Joint and skeletal conditions in dogs (such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and patellar luxation): 12 months from your policy start date
What about pre-existing conditions?
Switching doesn’t change our pre-existing condition rules. A pre-existing condition is any condition your pet has had in the 24 months before your Lassie policy starts, whether or not it was diagnosed or showed symptoms. These remain excluded under your Lassie policy, even if your previous insurer was covering them. If your pet has a pre-existing condition and you’d like related costs covered, it’s worth bearing this in mind before you switch.
What if I’m moving to a higher level of cover?
If you’re choosing a higher level of cover than you had before, the waiting periods are waived up to the level of your previous cover, and the standard waiting periods apply to the additional amount.
For example, if you had £8,000 of vet fee cover with your previous insurer and choose £20,000 with Lassie:
The first £8,000 of cover has no waiting periods
The additional £12,000 has the standard 10-day illness and 48-hour accident waiting periods
How can I make switching as smooth as possible?
Make sure there’s no gap between your old policy ending and your Lassie policy starting
Keep a copy of your previous policy documents, showing your level of cover and the dates it ran. We may ask for these to confirm your cover, especially if you make a claim
Need help?
If you have any questions about switching, get in touch with our Customer Support team through the Lassie app, our website live chat, or by email at hello@lassie.co.uk.