It is the first question that stops people who leave the decision late: is there still time to insure my dog, my cat or my rabbit? With Petplan there is a joining window that closes on a fixed birthday, and once you are inside, the door never closes again because of age. Here is what decides each case.
The joining window: from 2 months to 7 years
For the health policy, you can insure your dog or cat if it is older than 2 months and younger than 7 years. That is the only moment when joining is decided: if your pet has already turned 7, it cannot be added.
The age that counts is the one shown on the microchip document, the passport or the health record. If you are not sure of the date, that is the figure to check before asking for a price.
Rabbits have their own limit
Petplan insures dogs, cats and rabbits, but the rabbit does not follow the same calendar: it can be added up to the age of 5, not 7.
It is an easy difference to miss if you arrive thinking about the timings for a dog. If you have a rabbit, the window is shorter.
Once you are in, the policy does not close with age
This is the reassuring part: turning 7 while already insured does not push you out. The policy stays in force and will remain in force throughout the life of the dog or cat, subject to the renewal policy.
Put another way, 7 years is a joining deadline, not an expiry date. What shapes your future with the insurer is when you join, not how many birthdays your pet has afterwards.
Third-party liability has no age limit
The third-party liability policy works separately. There are no age limits for that cover, so you can take it out for an older pet even when the health policy is no longer available to it.
At Petplan it is an optional cover taken out for 25 euros a year, with a limit of up to 300,000 euros a year.
Why the premium rises with age (and what does not raise it)
Older dogs and cats, like people, are more likely to fall ill, and that is why their insurance costs more. The price takes in your pet’s individual breed, its age and the cost of veterinary services in your area, among other factors.
What does not push the premium up is claiming. Petplan does not penalise you for claims: the price is not increased as a result of them, only in line with inflation or for reasons affecting every pet of the same breed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I insure my dog if it is already 8?
Not on the health policy. Joining is only possible between 2 months and 7 years.
What happens when my insured cat turns 7?
Nothing: the policy stays in force throughout the animal’s life, subject to the renewal policy.
Up to what age can I insure a rabbit?
Up to 5 years old.
Does third-party liability cover have an age limit too?
No. There are no such limits on third-party liability.
If you are hesitating, your pet’s age today is the figure that weighs most: it is the only thing that can shut you out of the health policy, and the only thing you cannot recover later.
