Pet Insurance Age Limits in Japan: Which Companies Still Accept Older Pets

Last updated: August 12, 2026

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A lot of owners start looking into pet insurance for the first time once their pet reaches its senior years. But searching for it turns up surprisingly few pages that clearly lay out age limits across providers — insurers frequently revise their age limits and plans, and some stop accepting new enrollments altogether. Here we've collected only the figures published on each company's own site and policy summary documents, with the date we checked them.

For premiums, coverage details, and underwriting conditions, always check each company's official site and policy summary document directly. This page reproduces publicly available information as of the date checked and does not recommend any specific insurer. Depending on what's disclosed at enrollment, coverage may come with conditions or be declined, and payout isn't guaranteed.

New enrollment age limits, by company

The 14 companies below were still accepting new enrollments as of August 11, 2026. Wording is taken directly from each company's own site (e.g., "up to 7y 11m").

Figures above are for each company's main plan. Where a company offers multiple plans, limits can differ between them — check the linked page for details. ("Shōtan" / 少短 in several names above is short for shōgaku tanki hoken, a small-amount, short-term insurer — a distinct regulatory category from a full insurance company, or sonpo / 損保.)

Companies that still accept pets past 8

It's easy to assume "my pet is 8, insurance is off the table now" — but several companies have limits well into the 8–10 year range or beyond. Tsubaki Shōtan (up to 8y 11m), PS Hoken (up to 8y 11m), Rakuten Sonpo (up to 10y 11m), au Sonpo (up to 10 years exact), Nihon Pet Shōtan (up to 10 years exact), SBI Pet Shōtan (up to 11y 11m), Dai-ichi Ipet Sonpo's "Uchi no Ko 30% Plan" (up to 12y 11m), and Little Family Shōtan's "Wan/Nyan Days" (up to 13y 11m) all qualify.

Beyond that, four companies offer plans with no age limit at enrollment at all. Each is explained below.

Anicom Sonpo — "Dōbutsu Kenpo Shinia"

A plan designed specifically for pets 8 and older, with no upper age limit at enrollment. Pets with any of 14 specified conditions are ineligible; pets with other pre-existing conditions may be accepted with conditions, such as a rider excluding a specific condition. There's a 30-day waiting period from the contract start date, during which any illness that develops, or is treated, hospitalized, or operated on, is excluded. A health declaration is mandatory.

Dai-ichi Ipet Sonpo — "Uchi no Ko Light"

Following an October 1, 2025 revision, this plan dropped its age limit at enrollment entirely, allowing lifetime new enrollment. Renewing contracts also have no age restriction. A health declaration is required, and detailed conditions require checking the policy summary document. The waiting period isn't stated on the official site.

SBI Prism Shōtan — "Genki Ōen Plan over8"

Launched June 30, 2025, for pets 8 and older, with no age limit. Coverage is limited to hospitalization and surgery, at a 100% reimbursement rate. Coverage begins on the 31st day after the application documents arrive, with cancer specifically excluded for the first 45 days after coverage starts. A health declaration is mandatory, and depending on what's disclosed, a health check may be required or the application may be declined.

Little Family Shōtan — "Wan Days / Nyan Days Light"

Following a 2025 revision, this plan allows new enrollment from 30 days old with no upper age limit. Renewing contracts also have no age restriction. There's no explicitly stated waiting period; the coverage start date can be set anywhere from 30–60 days after application. A health declaration is mandatory, including disclosure of pre-existing conditions and any vet visits within the last three months.

Enrolling an older pet: check waiting periods and disclosure first

When considering enrollment for an older pet, the waiting period and health declaration matter just as much as the age limit itself.

A waiting period excludes coverage for any illness that develops within a set window after the contract starts. Anicom Sonpo and Rakuten Sonpo apply 30 days; Nihon Pet Shōtan applies 30 days for illness only (injuries have no waiting period); SBI Pet Shōtan applies roughly one month; SBI Prism Shōtan applies zero days for illness and injury but 45 days specifically for cancer. Length and scope vary by company. FPC Shōtan and PS Hoken, on the other hand, advertise no waiting period at all.

A health declaration is required at enrollment by nearly every company. Having a pre-existing or ongoing condition doesn't automatically mean rejection — some companies (Anicom Sonpo's "Dōbutsu Kenpo Shinia," for example) may accept the enrollment with a condition excluding that specific ailment from coverage. The actual outcome depends on the individual pet's disclosed history, so nothing here can say definitively whether a given pet will be accepted or covered. If you're unsure, contacting the company directly before applying is the most reliable path.

Insurers that have stopped accepting new enrollments

Withdrawals and business transfers aren't rare in Japan's pet insurance market. When researching age limits, it's worth also checking whether a given insurer is still open to new enrollments at all.

• e-Pet Shōtan: its main product, "e-Pet 70/50," stopped accepting new enrollments as of July 31, 2024.
• Zurich Shōtan: its dog-only "Dog Cancer Insurance (Fracture/Dislocation Plus)" stopped accepting new enrollments as of February 28, 2025.
• Aflac Pet Shōtan: announced in December 2023 that it would stop underwriting new pet insurance, transferred all shares in October 2024, and plans to stop renewing existing contracts entirely during fiscal 2025.
• SBI Ikiiki Shōtan / SBI Resta Shōtan: both companies' pet insurance businesses were taken over by SBI Pet Shōtan effective April 1, 2025, and now operate under the single "SBI Pet Shōtan" name.

Older "list of insurers you can enroll with" articles may still include companies that have since stopped accepting new enrollments. Checking each company's official site by name is the safest way to confirm current status.

If insurance isn't an option for your pet

Age or a pre-existing condition may mean insurance simply isn't available this time. In that case, knowing roughly what treatment costs run in advance — instead of insurance — is a way to prepare calmly. Real-world senior-year veterinary cost data, and a way to work out a monthly figure for your own pet, are on our budgeting for senior years page. Cremation cost ranges are on our pet cremation cost guide. General end-of-life preparation you can do while your pet is still well is covered on our end-of-life planning page.

Genetic testing is another way to prepare. Pontely, a genetic testing provider, states that hereditary conditions are "often excluded from pet insurance coverage." Knowing your pet's inherited predispositions ahead of time can help focus your day-to-day observation. What testing can and can't tell you is covered on our dog and cat genetic testing page.

Pontely's official site — dog genetic testing

Pontely's official site — cat genetic testing

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