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Pet insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK. Many pet owners choose insurance to help manage the cost of unexpected vet bills. 

Vet bills can rise quickly if your pet needs treatment for an accident, illness or emergency. Pet insurance provides financial protection and peace of mind, helping ensure your pet can get the care they need without putting you under financial strain. 

Why people choose pet insurance: 

• Helps cover unexpected illness or injury 
• Reduces the risk of paying for large, unplanned vet bills 
• Gives reassurance when making treatment decisions

Pet insurance can be worth it if you want financial protection against unexpected or high veterinary bills and the flexibility to choose appropriate care for your pet. 

Treatment for accidents or illness can cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds¹. 

Pet insurance can help manage the financial impact of emergencies, long‑term conditions and specialist referrals, which may otherwise be difficult to afford without cover.

By reducing uncertainty around costs, insurance can make it easier to focus on your pet’s health rather than financial pressure.

Because pet insurance is specific to each individual pet, there is no fixed cost.  

The cost depends on your pet and the cover you choose. Premiums are calculated individually and can change over time. 

Factors that affect price include: 

• Your pet’s age and breed 
• Where you live 
• Your chosen level of cover and limits 
• Your excess amount 

Petplan have been providing pet insurance for over 50 years and we use our knowledge of pet health to help us price our policies accurately. The breed, location and age of your pet are some of the factors we’ll take into consideration when calculating your premiums. 

Petplan also offers flexible plans, allowing you to tailor your level of cover to suit your budget. Our Covered For Life® plan provides ongoing help with vet bills while our Essential plan provides short-term help with vet bills. 

In addition, Petplan has a Claims Pricing Guarantee and while prices do increase every year, we never charge you more for claiming. This is very different to most other insurers.

Petplan pet insurance policies are designed to help cover the cost of unexpected veterinary treatments. This may include: 

• Vet bills for illnesses and injuries 
• Diagnostic tests such as X rays, scans and blood tests 
• Surgery and hospital stays 
• Prescription medications and treatments 
• Complementary therapies, including physiotherapy, when recommended by your vet 
• Dental treatment for illness or injury as long as your pet has an annual dental check and you undertake any recommended treatment within 6 months 
• Behavioural treatment, when referred by your vet 

Cover can vary between providers, so it is important to check your individual policy documents for full details of what is included and any limits or conditions that apply. 

Some policies may also offer limited cover for illness or injury while travelling abroad, depending on your cover and destination, so it’s important to check the terms of your specific policy.

Yes, Petplan covers dental treatment when it is needed due to illness or injury, provided your pet has regular annual dental check‑ups and that you undertake any recommended treatment within 6 months. 

For example, if your pet breaks a tooth in an accident or develops a dental illness, Petplan can help cover the cost of treatment. Routine dental cleaning, cosmetic procedures or dental treatment where recommended check‑ups have not been kept up to date are not covered. 

Cover can vary between providers, so it’s important to check your individual policy documents for full details of what is included and any limits or conditions that apply.

Vaccinations are not typically covered by pet insurance, as they are considered routine preventive care.

But, keeping your pet’s vaccinations up to date is essential for their health and wellbeing. Regular vaccinations help protect your pet from serious illnesses and support responsible pet care.

While vaccinations are not usually included in insurance cover, maintaining routine care can help ensure your pet stays healthy throughout their life. 

Routine procedures such as spaying and neutering are not typically covered by pet insurance. These treatments are considered preventative care and are not included in pet insurance, so they should be budgeted for separately. 

Lifetime plans are very similar across the pet insurance market - only some may have inner limitations where others don't. 

Covered For Life® plan is Petplan’s most comprehensive type of cover. It is designed to provide ongoing cover for illnesses and injuries throughout your pet’s life, as long as you renew your policy each year. 

If your pet develops a long‑term or recurring condition, such as diabetes or arthritis, lifetime cover allows you to continue claiming for treatment year after year. This is because the annual vet fee limit resets every year, rather than running out after a set time or amount. 

Lifetime pet insurance is often chosen by owners who want consistent, long‑term cover and reassurance that ongoing conditions can continue to be treated over their pet’s lifetime.

Lifetime cover, a Covered For Life® plan, is often considered the most comprehensive type of pet insurance, particularly for owners who want long‑term protection. 

It allows you to claim for ongoing conditions year after year, as long as you renew your policy. This can provide ongoing financial support if your pet develops a long‑term illness. 

Petplan’s Covered For Life® plan is designed to offer broad, continuous cover for unexpected illnesses and injuries, making them a popular choice for owners seeking consistent protection and added peace of mind over their pet’s lifetime.

To make a claim with Petplan:

• Complete the relevant claim form (online, by post, or through your vet) 
• Provide your pet’s medical records and any invoices or receipts 
• Petplan can pay your vet directly if they are happy for us to do so 
• You can track the progress of your claim online 

Petplan also offers a Claims Pricing Guarantee, which means we’ll never charge you more for claiming.

For over 45 years, Petplan has helped millions of pets through illness and injury. Today, we’re still the UK’s favourite pet insurer, insuring over 1.3 million pets. If you are seeking pet insurance from the specialists, then look no further. Whether it’s settling a claim quickly, paying your vet directly or finding the right cover for you, we try to make insuring your pet as easy as possible. Plus, we don’t directly increase your premium because you’ve made a claim.

We work closely with the veterinary community to help you get the best care for your pet and pay claims quickly, without a fuss and directly to your vet. 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. In fact, in the 2020 Vet Trust Awards Petplan won the prestigious title of Pet Insurance Company Most Trusted By Vets, for the second year running.

Being pet lovers ourselves, we understand the challenges animal welfare organisations face and work closely with over 1,200 animal charities to help support their work with animals. For over 30 years we have been providing 4 weeks free insurance for rehomed pets and giving 10% of rescue pet premiums back to animal charities.