For dogs and cats, your premium is calculated on the number of rating factors, including your pet’s age and breed. There are a number of reasons why some breeds cost more than others, such as genetic pre-disposition, activity levels, even the size of the dog

Yes, you can use any vet who is licensed in and currently registered in Australia.

You can start your pet’s cover from 8 weeks of age and before its 9th birthday on Ultimate Pet Care and Emergency Pet Care. There is no upper age limit on Essential Pet Care, so any dog or cat can be insured for accidents and illnesses, no matter how old.

Cover is available for the life of your pet. This means once your pet is insured with Medibank Pet Insurance you will be able to renew your policy for that pet for life and your cover level will not be reduced as your pet ages, provided you continuously maintain the cover and pay premiums when due.

In addition, your policy will not be cancelled on the basis of your pet's age. But you may wish to consider joining while your pet is young before they develop any conditions that may be considered pre-existing (and therefore excluded from cover) prior to the start of the policy.

Like most insurance policies, there are some exclusions and benefit limits to help keep your premiums affordable. These include pregnancy, elective procedures, pet foods, grooming and pre-existing conditions that showed clinical signs before you took out Medibank Pet Insurance. You should carefully read the Combined Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Services Guide for a comprehensive list and full explanation of policy exclusions.

Yes, you will receive a 10% discount off the insurer’s Medibank Pet Insurance rates for non-members.

You can claim online via the PetPortal, visit medibank.com.au/pet-insurance to login or register. Or simply complete a Medibank Pet Insurance claim form. You can get a copy at medibank.com.au/pet-insurance, a Medibank store or by calling 134 190.

You are required to submit your claim within 90 days of your pet receiving treatment. The vet must complete a small section of the claim form and sign it, so it’s a good idea to take a printed claim form with you when you visit your vet.

It’s important to note if you’re lodging your first claim, you’ll need to attach a complete veterinary history from both current and previous veterinary clinics. If you’ve provided this information previously, there’s no need for you to submit it again.

Once PetSure (our administrator) receives the documentation they need, your claim will be processed without delay and payment will be made to the policyholder by cheque or directly into a nominated account.

Aside from your first claim, in many cases your claim can be processed directly without veterinary records being required. However, in some cases veterinary records may be requested to assist in understanding some aspect of your claim to ensure it is processed correctly and fairly. Sometimes this can result in a delay in payment of claims.