PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (2023)

PetPlan is the UK’s leading provider of pet insurance, insuring 1.3 million pets in the UK. They provide cover for dogs, cats, rabbits and horses.

They’re recommended by the Supervet, Noel Fitzpatrick and have won several awards for their cover. Still, read our review (and other PetPlan reviews) to make sure they’re the right company for you. You can also see where they came on our list of best pet insurers.

PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (1)
  • UK’s leading pet insurer
  • 97% of claims paid
  • Up to £12,000/yr vet fee cover
  • Cover pets from 6 weeks old
  • £12 multi-pet discount
  • 10% online discount

Get a Quote

What Does PetPlan Cover?

PetPlan offer two types of pet insurance policy;

  1. Time-limited (Essential), and
  2. Lifetime (Classic, Classic + and Ultimate)

That said, they only offer lifetime policies for rabbits. Also, equine insurance has its own rules and policies.

EssentialClassicClassic +Ultimate
Vet Fees£3,000£4,000£7,000£12,000
Complimentary Treatment£500£1,000£1,000£2,000
Third-Party Liability£1 million£2 million£2 million£3 million
Death From Illness/Injury£1,000£1,500£1,500£2,000
Boarding Fees£1,000£1,500£1,500£2,000
Advertise/Reward For Missing Pet£1,000£1,500£1,500£2,000
Loss by Theft or Straying£1,000£1,500£1,500£2,000
Holiday Cancellation£1,000£1,500£1,500£2,000
Quarantine Expenses£1,000£1,500£1,500£1,500
Emergency Repatriation£500£500£500£500
Multi-Pet Discount (Per Pet, Per Year)£12£12£12£12
Pet Owner Support Package
Pet Bereavement Helpline
Legal Helpline

If you’re not sure how much cover you need, have a chat with your vet. They will be able to let you know how much treatment is likely to cost if your pet ever needs it.

PetPlan says they pay 97% of claims (figures from 2019). That breaks down to;

  • 98% of 883,000 covered for life plan claims (98% dog, 98% cat, 97% rabbit), and
  • 89% of the 90,000 Essential plan claims (dog 89%, cat 89%)

On top of that, they also say they have paid 90% of those claims within 5 days of receipt. If you prefer, they can pay your vet direct.

What Does PetPlan NOT Cover?

It’s one thing to know what your pet insurance covers. It’s even more important to know what it doesn’t cover. That way, you’ll not get a nasty shock when you try to claim.

With that said, this is what PetPlan doesn’t cover;

  • Pre-existing conditions – any illness or injury (or signs of them) your pet has suffered before starting a policy.
  • Your first 14 days – any illness that occurs within the first 14 of your policy start date.
  • Routine treatments – like worming and flea treatments etc.
  • Preventative treatments – like vaccinations.
  • Older pets – dogs over 8 (some over 5), cats over 10 years and rabbits over 5 years aren’t eligible for lifetime pet policies. (This is for new policies. If your pet reaches these ages while they’re covered, the cover will continue).
  • Pregnancy and breeding.
  • Euthanasia or cremation.

For more information about PetPlan’s policies, you can read their policy documents here:

PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (2)
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  • UK’s leading pet insurer
  • 97% of claims paid
  • Up to £12,000/yr vet fee cover
  • Cover pets from 6 weeks old
  • £12 multi-pet discount
  • 10% online discount

Get a Quote

How Much Does PetPlan Cost?

PetPlan aren’t cheap. In fact, they’re among the most expensive pet insurers. How much you’ll pay depends on;

  • Your pets breeds
  • Their medical history
  • Their age
  • Where you live, etc

We based our dog and cat quotes on 2-year-old, mixed breeds as they’re the most common. Our rabbit was a one-year-old mixed breed. They’re all healthy and all live in Lincoln as that’s where Pet Checkers is based.

EssentialClassicClassic +UltimateRabbit Plan
Dog£19.04£23.65£28.76£39.05
Cat£10.10£13.58£15.52£21.78
Rabbit£12.32

These are the monthly costs and have 10% online discount added.

How Much is PetPlan Excess?

PetPlans’ excess is more expensive than other pet insurers. They charge £85 on their time-limited policies and £110 on their lifetime policies. If your pet needs complementary therapy, they’ll charge you £75. For public liability, you’ll need to fork out £250.

Once your pet reaches 10 years old, you’ll have to pay your excess, plus 20% of your claim. For breeds with a higher risk of health issues, this change happens when the animal reaches 7 years old.

PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (3)
  • UK’s leading pet insurer
  • 97% of claims paid
  • Up to £12,000/yr vet fee cover
  • Cover pets from 6 weeks old
  • £12 multi-pet discount
  • 10% online discount

Get a Quote

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How Industry Experts Rate PetPlan

Defaqto and Which? have rated PetPlan as one of the UK, best pet insurance companies.

Which? use a percentage scoring system and Defaqto use a 5 star system. This is how they score PetPlan.

EssentialClassicClassic+Ultimate
Which?66%66%66%66%
Defaqto3*5*5*5*

They have also won numerous awards award for their cover, including;

PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (4)
PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (5)
PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (6)
PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (7)
  • UK’s leading pet insurer
  • 97% of claims paid
  • Up to £12,000/yr vet fee cover
  • Cover pets from 6 weeks old
  • £12 multi-pet discount
  • 10% online discount
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Get a Quote

Customer Reviews of PetPlan

Paying customers look at insurance differently than ‘industry experts’. So, to get a more realistic understanding of how good PetPlan are, look at how their customers review them.

Here’s how they score overall on Trustpilot;

PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (8)

As you can see, PetPlan are very highly reviewed by their customers overall.

The Good

PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (9)

It appears that PetPlan excel when it comes to making the claims process easy. Customers have a high level of trust that they will pay out when they claim.

The stats back this up, with PetPlan paying out on 97% of claims during 2019.

The Average

PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (10)

There are very few average customer reviews of PetPlan. Of the ones there are, many talk about how expensive PetPlan becomes as their pets get older.

Once your pet reaches a certain age, you’ll need to pay the excess, plus 20% of the claim. This means some customers start to find their policies become too expensive to be worth it. Even more so if their pets develop an ongoing condition.

The Bad

PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (11)

Petplan’s negative reviews seen to revolve around;

  • Rising costs: Again, as your pet gets older, your premiums will rise and you’ll have to contribute more to the cost of treatment. If you make a claim, then chances are your renewal fee will increase. Many customers feel the rising costs of their premiums are unfair or unjustified. That said, our research suggests this is a problem across the industry, not exclusive to PetPlan.
  • Refusal to payout: PetPlan says they pay out on 97% of claims. That said, when you consider they insure 1.3 million pets, a small 3% of unpaid claims is still a big number. Also, our research tells us that people are more likely to leave negative reviews than positive ones. Especially when emotions run high, which they often do when our pets are involved. On balance though, PetPlan isn’t a company that tries to wriggle out of paying.
PetPlan Review: Fully Updated For 2023 - Pet Checkers (12)
  • UK’s leading pet insurer
  • 97% of claims paid
  • Up to £12,000/yr vet fee cover
  • Cover pets from 6 weeks old
  • £12 multi-pet discount
  • 10% online discount

Get a Quote

How Does PetPlan Compare to Other Insurers?

To see whether PetPlan are the right insurer for you and your pets, it helps to compare them to similat companies and policies.

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Here’s they stack up against other insurers we recommend.

PetPlanJohn LewisBought By ManyAgria PetWaggel
Vet Fees (per year)up to £12,000up to £12,000up to £15,000up to £12,500up to £10,000
Third-Party LiabilityUp to
£3m
Up to
£3m
Up to
£3m
Up to
£3m
Up to
£2m
Pre-Existing ConditionsCase by CaseNoYesNoNo
DentalIllness & InjuryInjury OnlyPolicy DependantIllness & InjuryIllness & Injury
Free Vet CallsNoYesYesYesYes
Lost or Stolen Petsup to £2,000up to £1,500Optional ExtraOptional Extra£1,000
Death From Accident/Illnessup to £2,000up to £1,500up to £6,000up to £2,500£1,000
Multi-Pet Discount£12 per pet5%15%5%No
Read Our ReviewRead Our ReviewRead Our ReviewRead Our Review

Frequently Asked Questions

In many cases, your vet can make a claim with PetPlan on your behalf.

To claim yourself, log into your PetPlan customer dashboard. All your and your pet’s details will e pre-populated and you’ll be able to submit your claim online.

Alternatively, you can call them on0330 102 1540.

Although they don’t advertise it on their homepage, PetPlan will cover some pre-existing conditons on a case-by-case basis.

For more information read about PetPlans Approach to Pre-Existing Conditions.

To cancel your policy, call PetPlans Customer Service Centre on 0345 071 8000 or send a written confirmation to:

Petplan
Great West House (GW2)
Great West Road
Brentford
Middlesex
TW8 9DX

No.

That said, they do have a 10% online discount and a multi-pet discount of £12 per pet, per year. To claim your discounts, get a quote and sign up online.

To Sum Up

PetPlan is the UK’s largest pet insurer so it’s clear they’re doing something right.

They pay out 97% of claims, 90% of which are within 5 days. In fact, we have found their claims process is quite favorable. They also say that 90% of their customers renew each year.

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All that said, they aren’t cheap. If you’re price-conscious, shop around and get quotes from other insurers.

FAQs

What happened to Petplan? ›

In 2019, Petplan was acquired by Warburg Pincus. In 2020, The Dodo acquired a minority stake in Petplan, rebranding it as Fetch by The Dodo. Its insurance policies are administered by Fetch Insurance Services, LLC and underwritten by XL Specialty Insurance Company and AXIS Insurance Company.

Has Petplan changed? ›

We recently changed our name to Fetch by The Dodo, but there has been no change at all to our pet insurance. We still provide the most comprehensive coverage there is — the name and logo are the only thing that's different.

Why do vets recommend Petplan? ›

We pride ourselves on our breadth of cover, paying 97% of all the claims we receive and this is why thousands of vets partner with us. We can also pay vets directly.

Is Petplan worth it? ›

Petplan is also a well-known pet insurance provider that pays your vet directly so you may not even have to pay out for any veterinary treatment at all. As with all pet insurance policies it is advisable to shop around to ensure you are getting the best cover for your pet.

What is the new name for Petplan insurance? ›

Petplan is now Fetch by The Dodo. Please see our Fetch by The Dodo pet insurance review.

Who bought Petplan? ›

JAB Holding Company Acquires Petplan.

Did Petplan get bought out? ›

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Petplan, a leading pet health insurance provider in North America, today announced that the company has been acquired by Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm focused on growth investing.

Is it normal for pet insurance to increase every year? ›

It's true that you can generally expect your pet's insurance coverage cost to increase each year, along with their ever-increasing age. However, this doesn't mean that there aren't things you could—and sometimes should—consider changing about that coverage as time goes on.

What is the age limit for Petplan pet insurance? ›

Pet must be at least 6 weeks old to enroll. No upper age limits for enrollments apply.

Who won the 2023 Petplan Awards? ›

Claire McCabe named vet of the year, Pet Blood Bank's Helen Rooney wins vet nurse of the year and Milfeddygon Williams Vets in Gwynedd is vet practice of the year at annual awards.

Does Petplan cover death? ›

Your policy may not include the Death from Injury and/or Death from Illness sections of cover. These are only included if they're shown on your Certificate of Insurance. Third Party Liability applies to all dogs, unless it has been specifically excluded from your dog's cover.

How much is Petplan excess? ›

Typically a 20% excess (in addition to the fixed excess) is introduced on our Covered For Life® policies at the dogs 10th birthday (7th birthday for some breeds) and on our Essential cover at the dogs 8th birthday (5th birthday for some breeds). This helps us keep premiums affordable for older pets.

Which level of pet insurance is the best? ›

Lifetime policies offer the highest level of coverage for your pet. Lifetime policies typically cover both accidents and illnesses and the amount of money you can use each year resets every time you renew the policy.

How many times can you claim on Petplan? ›

If your pet develops a long-term health condition or needs ongoing treatment for an injury, for example, you can claim as many times as you need to until the maximum benefit has been reached. However, after this you'll no longer be able to claim for that illness or injury even if your pet needs further treatment.

How quickly do Petplan pay out? ›

We pay 90% of claims within 5 working days once we receive the claim form. Our experienced team are ready and waiting to help, and will be in touch if we need any more information about your claim.

What are the 4 types of pet insurance? ›

There are four main types of pet insurance – Lifetime, Annual (or time limited), Accident only and Maximum benefit.

Is pet insurance becoming more popular? ›

The pet insurance industry is growing rapidly and is becoming increasingly popular among pet owners. As more pet owners become aware of the benefits of pet insurance, the industry is expected to continue to grow.

What is the rising of pet insurance? ›

The global pet insurance market size was valued at USD 9.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.30% from 2022 to 2030. The North American region dominated the pet insurance market in 2022, accounting for over 60% of the market share.

Is Petplan a Canadian company? ›

That's why they founded Petplan in 2003. Although their company originated in the United States, they are now one of the most popular and affordable pet insurance services for dog and cat owners in Canada.

How many customers do Petplan have? ›

Petplan is the UK's No. 1 pet insurance provider with over 1.3. million pets insured.

What are the oldest pet insurance companies? ›

In 1982, the first pet insurance policy was sold in the United States, and issued to television's Lassie by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI).

Does Petplan insurance cover prescription food? ›

Petplan covers prescription supplements but not prescription food. ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance plans cover both prescription food and supplements to treat covered conditions (not for general maintenance or weight management).

How popular is pet insurance? ›

So how many pet owners have pet insurance? About half, or 44.6%, of pet owners stated they currently have pet insurance in our survey. On a larger scale, NAPHIA's 2022 State of the Industry Report found that more than 4.41 million pets were insured in North America in 2021, up from 3.45 million in 2020.

How does Petplan deductible work? ›

The lower the deductible you choose, the higher the premium you'll pay. The higher deductible you choose, the lower the premium will be.

How much does the average person spend on pet insurance per month? ›

Most pet owners can expect to pay between $20 and $50 per month for an accident and illness plan with decent coverage. Your pet's age, species and breed, as well as where you live and the coverage you choose all factor into your insurance rates.

Should I add preventive care to my pet insurance? ›

Adding preventative care coverage to your plan can help you pay for the expected, routine medical care your pet may need yearly throughout their life, like heartworm tests, vaccinations, annual wellness checkups, fecal tests, and bloodwork.

Do dogs get more expensive as they get older? ›

The premiums on most policies skyrocket as the pets get older. Rates double by the time a puppy or kitten reaches 4- or 5-years-old and might actually need expensive veterinary care,” Brasler told NBC News BETTER. “Most pet owners will understandably drop coverage once they have to pay more than $200 a month for it.”

Does Petplan automatically renew? ›

If you pay your premium by Direct Debit your policy will renew automatically and we will notify you of your renewal premium each year before your renewal date. If you pay your premium by Direct Debit your policy will renew automatically and we will notify you of your renewal premium each year before your renewal date.

Does Petplan cover diabetes? ›

If your dog developed an ongoing condition such as diabetes: Petplan will pay the cost of the treatment (up to the vet fees limit) for diabetes every year for as long as you renew your policy without a break in cover.

Does age matter pet insurance? ›

Young and healthy pets are less risky to insure than pets that are older and more prone to nagging health conditions. That lack of risk is reflected in lower monthly premiums to the owner. The longer you wait, the more likely your pet is to run into health conditions that could raise the cost of coverage.

Who are the underwriters for Petplan? ›

Petplan insurance is underwritten by Allianz Insurance plc.

What is pet of the Year award? ›

The national title of “Pet Partners Pet of the Year” is awarded to the pet whose fundraising team raises the most funds during the six-week competition.

What is my Petplan? ›

My Petplan is a self-service area where you can make claims, update your account and access your policy information securely whenever you choose.

What type of death is not covered by insurance? ›

Accidental death: Accidental drug overdose, motor vehicle accident, poisoning, drowning, or any other tragedy. Pandemic-related illness: Pandemic-related illness such as coronavirus is categorized as a natural cause.

What happens if you have pet insurance and your pet dies? ›

Some pet insurance will cover other costs like cremation or burial, and the process will work the same way. If the coverage period extends past your pet's death, you must usually continue to pay your premium until the coverage period ends.

Can I leave my life insurance to my dog? ›

Whether you have a life insurance trust or want some of your policy's death benefit to go toward your pet, you'll have to name an official guardian to accept the funds and take care of your pet after you pass away.

Do dogs cost more to insure? ›

The lender you choose, type of pet, age and even breed are all factors. For example, because dogs are larger and usually require more medication and sedation than cats, pet insurance premiums are typically higher for dogs than cats.

Can you cancel Petplan at any time? ›

If you would like to cancel your policy you have 14 days from purchase in which to do so.

What does the vet fee cover for a claim mean? ›

Vet fees that are typically covered include the cost of diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries to your cat or dog. This normally includes: Vet consultations. Examinations and tests.

What does vet fees per condition mean? ›

For example, if your canine friend is diagnosed with a long-term medical condition such as diabetes mellitus, a 'per condition' claim will mean that once you have reached your limit, you will unfortunately no longer be able to claim towards any part of your dog's diabetic management or treatment.

Do vets expect you to pay upfront? ›

Most will ask for a percentage up front, anywhere from 10 to 50 percent, depending on the total bill,” Dr. Bonk said. “They may then set up weekly, biweekly or monthly payments until the balance is taken care of.” Keep in mind that corporate-owned vets don't usually offer payment plans.

Why is there a waiting period for pet insurance? ›

A pet insurance waiting period is the set amount of time after the purchase of a policy that you must wait before making any claims. Waiting periods help to prevent fraud by making it impossible to receive an insurance payout on a pre-existing condition or accident that occurred before the policy was purchased.

Does Petplan cover hip dysplasia? ›

A condition that your pet has inherited or is predisposed to such as hip dysplasia. We will cover conditions that haven't shown symptoms before the start of your policy.

Does Petplan exist? ›

Petplan is a leading pet health insurance provider in the United States and Canada the preferred provider of pet insurance for the American Animal Hospital Association and AARP members.

Did Petplan change to fetch? ›

Fetch was founded in September 2003 by husband and wife entrepreneurs Chris and Natasha Ashton after experiencing a high veterinary bill. In November 2003, Fetch Inc. was awarded the exclusive license for the Petplan brand in the United States.

What is the oldest pet insurance? ›

1982– Lassie receives the first pet insurance policy in the United States, issued by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI).

How long is the waiting period for Petplan? ›

Any illnesses that occurs in the first 21 days of cover (Waiting Period), or any Pre-Existing Conditions are not covered.

Does pet insurance go up every year? ›

It's true that you can generally expect your pet's insurance coverage cost to increase each year, along with their ever-increasing age. However, this doesn't mean that there aren't things you could—and sometimes should—consider changing about that coverage as time goes on.

Is Petcover the same as Petplan? ›

Petcover and Petplan have merged. Read more

Don't risk leaving your cat unprotected, view our plans for more.

Is Petplan insurance the same as Fetch? ›

Yes. In early 2022, Petplan was rebranded as Fetch by The Dodo. The company's pet policies are still issued by Fetch Insurance Services, LLC, and are underwritten by XL Specialty Insurance Company, and AXIS Insurance Company.

Why did bought by many pet insurance change their name? ›

“After leaning into our established UK brand, it feels right to reflect our growth with a more universally recognisable name. ”The new name forms part of our wider mission to offer pet insurance for cats and dogs of all ages, breeds and health conditions that actually works and is loved by owners.”

What is the average cost for pet insurance in Canada? ›

The cost of pet insurance in Canada can vary by company, location and the type of services offered and requested. Whether you live in Ontario, Alberta or Quebec, based on sample premiums we obtained from insurers, the average premium for pet insurance in Canada is $29 a month for a cat and $39 a month for a dog.

What is an annual deductible for pet insurance? ›

An annual deductible is the amount of money you must pay for veterinary services out-of-pocket before you'll begin receiving reimbursement from your pet insurance provider for eligible expenses. A lower annual deductible means you'll have to spend less out-of-pocket for veterinary care annually.

Who owns pets in Canada? ›

Pet ownership almost equal between men and women

According to a recent online survey by GfK, more than half (56%) of over 27,000 people surveyed in 22 countries have at least one pet. Canadians surpass the global average, with 61% of the population owning a pet.

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