Any Questions

Pet insurance started in the 1970s when just a small handful of providers existed. Then pet insurance became recognised and sought after which resulted in an increase in the number of players within the pet insurace market. Petplan, the market leader, was founded by Patsy Bloom who saw an opportunity in the market after facing mounting vet bills for her own dog´s illness. It wasn/t long before pet insurance became recognised and sought after which resulted in an increase in the number of players within the pet insurance market.

As one in three pets will require an unexpected visit to the vet each year (source: Petplan) it´s easy to see why pet insurance is such an important part of responsible pet ownership. Did you know that more people claim against their pet insurance policy than on their household or car insurance? (Allianz Insurance plc) This just goes to show how important it is to ensure that your best friend has the best possible pet insurance on the market.

The cost of pet insurance can vary enormously and is dependent on a range of different things such as where you live, your pet's species, age, breed and most importantly, the product you choose. As pet insurance is so specific to each and every pet, there is no fixed cost to insure your best friend so it's important to make sure you do some research to find out which policy suits you best both in terms of cost and benefits.

With so many insurance providers in the market offering pet insurance, it can be difficult to decide which policy is right for you and your pet. Make sure you ask some of the following questions to be sure you get the best pet insurance you can.

Petplan offers two types of pet insurance policies: Covered for Life pet insurance policies and a 12-month pet insurance policy. Covered for Life policies provide cover for ongoing illnesses such as diabetes for the duration of your pet´s life as long as you renew your policy each year without a break in cover. Petplans 12-month pet insurance product is for owners requiring a less comprehensive policy for their cat or dog. It is important to remember that under a 12-month policy each illness and injury will only be covered for either 12-months, or up to the maximum benefit, whichever is reached first. Should your dog or cat suffer from the same condition again you will not be able to claim for it.

If your pet has previously been ill or injured you can still purchase pet insurance. Before you take out a pet insurance policy you must inform us of any conditions, injuries and prior illnesses they´ve had and like all other insurance providers Petplan unfortunately will not be able to cover you for these. These exclusions will be clearly stated on your certificate of insurance and will not affect the price of your premium.

With over 30 years experience we really are the pet specialists. In a recent survey it came to light that 9 out of 10 vets support Petplan in their practices (Headcount 2008). Here at Petplan we know people have different needs when it comes to pet insurance. That's why we've a range of policies including cat insurance, dog insurance, rabbit insurance and insurance for horses and riders (Petplan Equine) designed to suit both your pocket and your pet's needs.

Our Covered for Life policies are designed for pet owners concerned about their pet developing a long-term, chronic or recurring illness. We have cat insurance, dog insurance and rabbit insurance Covered for Life policies. These cover conditions such as arthritis or eczema which require treatment from a vet over a long period of time, often for life. As long as the Covered for Life policy is renewed each policy year without a break, we will continue to provide cover for new illnesses after the policy starts right into your dog, cat or rabbit's old age.

Many other dog and cat insurance policies, including one of our own, Petplan Essential, will limit the amount and/or time you can claim for each illness of injury. It is definitely worth checking the small print before you buy so that you understand the terms, conditions and any excesses that apply.

There are three different levels of cat insurance available. For the maximum cover available from Petplan, choose one of our Covered for Life policies; Petplan Classic or Petplan Ultimate plan. These are designed for cat owners worried about their cat developing a long-term illness like arthritis or eczema, and needing ongoing treatment from a vet.

Petplan Essential is designed for cat owners who want cover to provide help with the initial high cost of veterinary treatment but are happy to fund ongoing treatments for the same illness or injury themselves after the cover has finished.

There are three different levels of dog insurance on offer. For the maximum cover available from Petplan, choose one of our Covered for Life policies. These are designed for dog owners worried about their dog developing a long-term illness, like arthritis or eczema, needing extensive ongoing treatment from a vet.

Petplan Essential is designed for dog owners who want cover to provide help with the initial high cost of veterinary treatment.

There is one rabbit insurance plan available; Rabbit Plan, a Covered for Life option designed especially for rabbits. These are designed for rabbit owners worried about their pet developing a long term illness, like arthritis or eczema, needing extensive ongoing treatment from a vet.

Whether your pet is a cat, dog or rabbit you can start your pet's insurance from 6 weeks of age. Once your pet is insured with Petplan, as long as you renew your cover each year without a break, we will continue to pay claims for ongoing conditions.

For our Covered for Life cat insurance products you must start the insurance before your cats 10th birthday. On the Covered for Life dog insurance products, cover must start from 6 weeks of age and before their 8th birthday and if your dog is a select breed the insurance must begin before their 5th birthday.

For our rabbit insurance policy, which is also a Covered for Life product, insurance must begin before their 5th birthday. If you haven't had pet insurance previously and your pet has passed the upper age limit you'll be glad to hear that there is no upper age limit on our Petplan Essential policy (N.B. This product is only available for cats and dogs).

At Petplan we like to be as clear as possible to our customers, therefore any exclusion from cover placed on your policy will be stated clearly on your Certificate of Insurance. Before taking out your dog, cat or rabbit insurance you must tell us about your pet's conditions and any prior illnesses or injuries they've had. Like all other pet insurance companies, illnesses and injuries experienced before you start your pet's insurance will unfortunately not be covered. Your pet's previous medical history will not affect your premium.

When you take out a policy you should always check your terms and conditions in conjunction with your Certificate of Insurance to see what is and what is not covered.

Cover for injury will start as soon as you take out a policy online or over the telephone. Cover for illness starts 14 days afterwards.

Covered for Life products are not for everyone, which is why Petplan created the Petplan Essential policy so that pet owners requiring a less comprehensive policy could still benefit from having their cat, dog or rabbit insured with the UK's No. 1 pet insurance provider.

It is important to remember that each illness and injury on a Petplan Essential policy is covered for a maximum of 12 months. Should your dog or cat suffer from the same condition again you will not be able to claim for it. With Covered for Life you will continue to be covered so long as you renew your policy each year without a break in cover. It's always important to think carefully about what level of cover you would like before taking out a policy.

If prescribed or carried out by a vet, we will pay for the cost of complementary treatment your pet has received during the policy year for an illness or injury. By complementary treatment we mean: Acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, herbal medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy and osteopathy. All treatments must be carried out by a vet practice or a member of our recognised associations.

Our Petplan policies are only available to residents of the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. We can offer dog, cat and rabbit insurance to British Forces Posted Overseas, as long as they are serving in Europe and can provide a BFPO mailing address.

Yes we do, this benefit is available as standard on all of our Covered for Life polices, however this does not include third party liability cover abroad. For further information please refer to your Terms and Conditions or alternatively you can call our customer service centre on 0845 071 8000.

Yes we have a number of international partners whose details are shown below.

No. We can insure many different animals - small, large, furry and even scaly! As well as cats, dogs and rabbits you can insure horses and riders with Petplan Equine (or call 0800 980 3905). To insure all other mammals as well as reptiles and birds please contact Exotic Direct (or call 01444 412118).

Yes, if you have two or more pets regardless of species (i.e. dog, cat and rabbits) then you are entitled to a Multi-Pet discount. For each animal you are given £1 per pet per month discount off your premium. For example, if you have 1 dog insurance policy, 1 cat insurance policy and 1 rabbit insurance policy you will get a £36 discount in your policy year.

We can arrange to pay most veterinary surgeons directly in the case of a vet fees claim. Please ask your vet if they are happy to do this, and we will take care of the rest.

For a simple and stress free option, you can pay your premium monthly or annually by secure Direct Debit. If you wish to pay by any other means please call our sales team on 0845 077 1934, and we'll be happy to explain some alternative payment options.

We can arrange to pay most veterinary surgeons directly in the case of a vets fee claim. Please ask your vet if they are happy to do this, and we will take care of the rest.

For our Covered for Life cat insurance products you must start the insurance before your cats 10th birthday. On the Covered for Life dog insurance products, cover must start from 6 weeks of age and before their 8th birthday and if your dog is a select breed the insurance must begin before their 5th birthday.

For our rabbit insurance policy, which is also a Covered for Life product, insurance must begin before their 5th birthday. If you haven't had pet insurance previously and your pet has passed the upper age limit you'll be glad to hear that there is no upper age limit on our Petplan Essential policy (N.B. This product is only available for cats and dogs).

While the age of your pet does affect the premium you pay we will strive to ensure premiums for older pets are not unfair or unrealistic.

Whether you have a cat insurance, dog insurance or rabbit insurance policy, you must take reasonable steps to maintain your pet's health throughout the policy year and to prevent injury, illness and loss. Therefore you must arrange and pay for your pet to have an annual dental examination by a vet in order to prevent illness or injury. By continuing with these check-ups this shows us that you have played your part in caring for your dog, cat or rabbit, so we can play ours.

Your details will be stored on our computer system to administer your policy but will not be kept any longer then necessary. All data is handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act (DPA). We can only discuss your personal details with you or a named person specified by you. We may share your details with other insurance companies, directly or through a number of databases. This allows us to check information you give us and also helps us prevent fraud.

Your first payment will be taken 7 - 10 days after you have taken out your policy with us. This payment time will apply whether you have taken out a full policy with no discount in place or if you took your policy out online.

If you have any questions regarding your payment details or you wish to change the date your payments are made on each month please contact our customer service team on 0845 071 8000.

Petplan has been providing dog insurance, cat insurance and rabbit insurance for over 30 years; we use this experience to help us price policies in a realistic and sustainable way. They are carefully calculated so what you pay is fair and accurately reflects the likelihood of claiming.

The size, breed and age of your pet are some of the factors which are taken into consideration when calculating your premiums.

The main reason why your premium will increase each year is due to advances in a range of diagnostic, medical and surgical procedures, which means that veterinary fees will inevitably rise. These improvements will go a long way to making sure your cat, dog or rabbit remains healthy for longer.

If you have a Petplan Essential policy, you 'may be able to upgrade your level of cover at renewal, subject to an underwriting review.

If a higher plan is available for your pet you can apply for an upgrade at renewal of your policy and at this time the request will be subject to an underwriting review of your pet's veterinary history

We can arrange to pay most veterinary surgeons directly in the case of a vets fee claim. Please ask your vet if they are happy to do this.

At Petplan we aim to process your claims quickly and fairly. To make a claim you will need to complete the relevant claim form for the treatment or incident in question. There are forms for veterinary fees, loss by theft or straying, third party liability, holiday cancellation, boarding and kennel fees and death. You can download copies of the claim forms by clicking here. Alternatively, you may phone our Customer Service Centre on 0845 071 8000.

Visit our dedicated claims area on the website to download a claim form for your dog, cat or rabbit. Your Claim

The excess is the amount you pay towards the cost of treating each illness or injury during the period of cover (i.e. the policy year), which is not related to any other illness or injury treated during the same period of cover.

Each time you need to make a new claim in your policy year, you will be required to pay an excess first. You will be informed of this exact amount when you take out a policy. If you have a policy with us already, your excess amount can be found on your Certificate of Insurance. If you need help completing your claim form you can call our claims team on 0845 071 8000

We aim to process claims within a week. You can monitor the progress of your claim with our online claims tracking service.

You have 12 months from the point of the illness or injury taking place in which to submit a claim, this will be based on the start date of the treatment.

Each year, the premiums you pay are based on the cover you have chosen and the information you have provided about your pet's age, breed and address.

Please rest assured, the amount you pay is in no way connected to any claim you need to make for your pet. To put this into context, if you have two pets of the same breed and age, you will pay the same premium for both, even if one pet has claimed every year and the other has managed to avoid illness or injury.

As a responsible pet insurer we wouldn't do anything to discourage our customers from getting their dog, cat or rabbit treated when they are unwell or injured. This is why when you make a claim we will not increase your premiums as a result. It is for this reason that we do not have a 'no claims discount'

If you would like to cancel your policy you have 14 days from purchase in which to do so. Simply call Petplan Customer Service Centre on 0845 071 8000 or send a written confirmation to: Petplan, Great West House (GW2), Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 9DX.

If you do cancel after the 14 days you are still eligible to receive a refund however this is subject to terms and conditions.

With a Petplan Instant Puppy Policy and Instant Kitten Policy you can make sure your puppies or kittens are covered by a period of free insurance from Petplan when you see them off to their new homes. Petplan Instant Puppy or Kitten Policies are free for you to issue and are free to the new owner. They are quick and simple to use and give you and the new owner maximum peace of mind by providing immediate cover for unexpected vet fees, death and loss by theft or straying.

What's more, with each Instant Policy you activate you, will receive Breeder Bonus credits that can be exchanged for a range of high street vouchers. You can even use your credits to make donations to the animal charity of your choice.

Further Information on the Petplan's breeder scheme can be found, by clicking on the following link. Breeder website

Petplan's 'Find a Pet' service is a quick and easy way to find your perfect puppy or kitten. Just let us know the breed you are looking for and we will provide you with details of the breeders in your area with available litters. Please check our online service. Alternatively you can contact any of our affliliated Animal Welfare Charities, it's as simple as that! Find a Pet

Our caring for pets goes beyond providing dog insurance, cat insurance and rabbit insurance. As 'the pet people' we are passionate about animal welfare and the principle of responsible pet ownership. We support many charities and have set up The Petplan Charitable Trust, which has so far raised almost £5 million towards a better, healthier world for animals. Click here for more information on: The Petplan Charitable Trust

Yes we do. Simply click here to read stories from existing dog, cat and rabbit policyholders.
Testimonials

Sales Team:
If you are new to Petplan or have a general query not involving an existing dog, cat or rabbit policy then call the Petplan Sales team on 0845 077 1934 8am ´ 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm Saturday.

Customer Service:
If you have a query regarding an existing dog, cat or rabbit policy, call our customer service centre on 0845 071 8000 8am ‐ 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm Saturday.