Reviewing your policy
Ten minutes a year, and it's mostly about the settings rather than the insurer.
Pet insurance renews quietly, and the settings chosen for a puppy carry on into old age without anyone looking.
The annual review is worth doing, and it's almost never about switching.
The ten-minute check
- Is the annual limit still adequate for your pet's stage of life?
- Is the deductible still an amount you could pay tomorrow?
- Is the reimbursement percentage still what you want?
- Has a chronic condition been diagnosed that changes what matters?
- Are per-condition limits close to being reached?
- Are your contact and vet details current?
What changes as a pet ages
Claims generally become more frequent and more expensive with age, which argues for a higher annual limit rather than a lower one — the opposite of the instinct when the premium rises.
It also makes per-condition and lifetime caps more consequential, since an older animal is more likely to have an ongoing condition running against them.
When the premium rises
Adjust the settings before you consider the insurer. A higher deductible or lower reimbursement percentage reduces the premium while keeping your coverage history — and your coverage history is the asset here.
Ask the insurer to explain the increase too. Outdated details and errors do happen.
Things worth asking about at renewal
- Multi-pet discounts, if your household has changed
- Whether an unlimited annual option is available and what it costs
- Whether a wellness add-on still makes sense for your pet's stage
- Whether coverage for a diagnosed condition continues at renewal, in writing
- Whether the insurer now offers direct payment to practices
Keep your records tidy
Ask your vet to send records to the insurer after significant visits rather than waiting for a claim. It smooths later claims and it gives you a chance to see what's actually in the file.
Reading your pet's records once a year is also the only way to know what a future insurer would treat as pre-existing.
Common questions
Whether the annual limit still suits your pet's stage of life, whether the deductible is still affordable, whether per-condition limits are close to being reached, and whether a diagnosed condition stays covered.
Generally the opposite. Claims become more frequent and expensive with age, which argues for a higher annual limit — and makes per-condition and lifetime caps more consequential.
Adjust the settings rather than the insurer. A higher deductible or lower reimbursement percentage cuts the premium while keeping your coverage history, which is the asset here.
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This page is general information, not advice about your specific circumstances. A licensed insurance professional can tell you what’s actually available to you.
General information only, not insurance advice. Coverage, availability, and terms vary by insurer and by state, and are subject to underwriting. Quote My Policy LLC is a licensed insurance producer. Nothing here binds coverage.