In a pet insurance policy two clocks run at once, and almost nobody tells them apart until it matters. One measures the time you have to send the invoice. The other measures how long the illness behind it stays covered. Both last 12 months, but they do not start on the same day.
12 months to report a claim
The deadline for reporting a claim to Petplan is 12 months from the date your pet received the treatment. That is your window to gather the invoice and the vet’s report and submit the claim.
It is a generous deadline, but there is no reward for leaving it late: the sooner the complete documentation goes in, the sooner it is processed, and an invoice mislaid for a year is the easiest way to lose a reimbursement you were entitled to.
12 months of cover for each illness
The second clock is a different one. Each illness is covered for 12 months from the moment the injury happened or the first symptoms were noticed, as long as the policy stays in force.
That last condition carries everything else: if the policy stops being in force, the cover period for that illness stops running with it.
Why it matters that there are two clocks
The first starts with the treatment; the second starts earlier, with the injury or the first symptoms. In a condition diagnosed late, the two dates can sit a long way apart.
The practical consequence is simple: write down the date you noticed the first symptom, not only the date on the invoice. That is the figure that defines how long this particular problem stays inside the policy.
You do not need prior approval
Petplan does not have to authorise treatment in advance. You can go to the vet you choose and apply the treatment they recommend.
There is no approved list of clinics, so the clinical decision stays where it belongs: between you and the vet you trust.
How and when the money arrives
Once the claim is verified and you have accepted it, Petplan sends the money by bank transfer and it reaches your account within a few days. You can follow the whole process from your customer area.
What speeds things up most is supplying all the required documentation at once. On the amount, reimbursement is 100% up to a maximum of 3,100 euros a year, with a co-payment, or excess, of 45 euros per illness, not per visit.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to send the invoice?
12 months from the date your pet received the treatment.
How long is an illness covered for?
12 months from the injury or the first symptoms, while the policy remains in force.
Do I need permission before treating my dog?
No. You can go to the vet you choose and follow the treatment they recommend.
How long does the reimbursement take?
Once the claim is verified and accepted, it is paid by transfer within a few days.
If you have treatment under way, the two dates worth writing down are the first symptom and the invoice: between them they decide what stays covered and how long you have to claim it.
