Two pet policies with the same limit can pay very different amounts on the same veterinary bill, depending on how the insurer calculates claims. So California requires the method itself to be disclosed.

Summary of the claim formula (§12880.2(c)): the insurer must disclose a summary description of the basis or formula on which it determines claim payments, both within the policy and through a link on the main page of its internet website.

Benefit schedule (§12880.2(d)): an insurer that uses a benefit schedule to determine claim payments must clearly disclose the applicable benefit schedule in the policy, and must disclose all benefit schedules used under its pet insurance policies through a link on the main page of its website.

Usual and customary fees (§12880.2(e)): an insurer that bases claim payments on usual and customary fees, or on any other reimbursement limit based on prevailing veterinary charges, must include a usual and customary fee limitation provision in the policy that clearly describes its basis for those fees and how that basis is applied in calculating claim payments. It must also disclose that basis through a link on the main page of its website.

Current law adds that these disclosures come before the sale of a policy, and that a hard copy may take the place of the website link if hard copy policy documents are requested by or provided to the consumer. A fee limit itself is allowed: the duty is to disclose it, not to drop it.