Hi Trellis,
My vet told me to get insurance that says the cover is a life time cover so that if they get a problem that goes on forever they will be covered. My last Yorkie had a stroke at 8 years old and she needed daily tablets for the rest of her life which was another 8 years as she lived to 16years and we was able to claim for all her tablets for all that time. you still have to pay the excess on each claim so my vet gave us a 6 months supply at a time, which meant I only had to pay twice a year. You need to speak to the insurance company when you take it out to ask them all your queries and not do it on line.
Pamela