Free printable
Pet insurance questions checklist for a diabetic dog or cat
Print one copy for each insurer you speak to. Ask the same fifteen questions, write the answer under each one, and ask for the key answers in writing. The policy wording and schedule are what bind, so keep this page with them.
Use your browser's print option to keep a paper copy for the fridge or the consulting room.
About this call
- Insurer or broker name, the date, and the name of the person you spoke to
- The policy name or reference, and the quote or premium you were given
What kind of cover is it?
- Is this a lifetime, maximum-benefit (per condition), time-limited or accident-only policy?
- What is the annual limit, and does it reset at each renewal?
- Is there also a limit for each condition, and what counts as the same condition (for example ongoing medicines, tests, check-ups and complications)?
- Is there a time limit on how long you pay for one condition?
What happens with existing conditions?
- How do you define a pre-existing condition, and how far back do you look at my pet’s history?
- If something is excluded, can it ever be covered later, for example after a period with no treatment or symptoms, or after a medical screening?
- Would the policy still pay for other conditions that are unrelated to anything excluded?
Waiting periods and renewal
- What are the waiting periods for illness and for accidents, and are they waived if I am switching from another insurer?
- Will you offer renewal every year, and can you change my cover or add exclusions at renewal?
- How is the renewal premium set, and does it rise as my pet gets older?
What will you pay for, and what will I pay?
- What is the excess, and is it per claim, per condition or per year?
- Is there a co-payment, and does it rise as my pet gets older?
Making a claim
- Do you pay the vet directly, or do I pay and claim back? How long do claims take, and what is the deadline for submitting one?
- What documents do you need, such as itemised invoices and clinical notes? Do you need to approve treatment first, or can a person I name authorise urgent treatment?
- Is treatment abroad covered, in which countries, and what must I do before I travel and when I claim?
Go deeper
Before you sign: check the firm is authorised using the FCA Firm Checker, ask for the policy wording and schedule in writing, and do not cancel an existing policy until the new one is in force. Complain to the insurer first; if you have no final response within eight weeks, the Financial Ombudsman Service can look at it. This is general information, not financial advice. Mello is a tracking tool, so your vet is always the one to ask.