It is one of the first questions that comes up when comparing insurance for dogs and cats: if I take out a policy, do I have to change vet? The answer depends a great deal on the company, and it is worth checking before signing anything.
What free choice of vet means
Some Spanish companies operate a panel of approved vets and oblige the owner to attend a vet they do not know and trust. With Petplan it is the other way round: you can go to the vet you decide on.
There is no panel to stick to and no prior authorisation needed to pick a clinic. The vet who already knows your dog or cat stays your vet after you take out the policy.
So how does payment work
It runs on a pay-and-claim basis. When your pet has an illness or an accident, you take it to your vet for the best possible treatment and you pay the invoice.
You then send us that invoice together with the vet’s report and we transfer the costs to your bank account. The reimbursement rate is 100%, up to a maximum of 3,100 € a year.
Why it matters more than it looks
A relationship with a vet is built over time: they know the animal’s history, its temperament and how it responded to earlier treatment. Changing clinic because of an insurance clause means starting from scratch.
In an emergency, distance also rules. Being able to walk into the nearest clinic without first checking whether it sits inside an approved panel saves time that sometimes counts.
And if you cannot reach your vet
For those moments, Petplan gives you a veterinary telephone assistance service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, designed precisely for when your usual vet cannot be reached.
There is also a chat with licensed vets from Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00, where you can send images and videos, and a video consultation by prior appointment in those same hours.
What the policy does set out
Choosing your vet freely does not change the rest of the conditions. The co-payment (excess) of 45 € per illness still applies, and it is not charged per visit, as do the waiting periods of 15 days for accidents and 1 month for illnesses.
The exclusions stand too: pre-existing conditions, deworming, neutering or spaying and routine or preventive visits stay outside, whichever vet you go to.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to change vet when I take out the policy?
No. With Petplan you go to the vet you decide on, with no panel of approved vets you are obliged to use.
Do I need authorisation before going?
It works on a pay-and-claim basis: you take your pet in, pay the invoice and send it to us afterwards with the vet’s report.
Do I get back everything I pay?
The reimbursement rate is 100%, up to a maximum of 3,100 € a year, with a 45 € excess per illness rather than per visit.
Does it also cover the medicines prescribed?
Yes. Petplan pays for the medicines your vet prescribes and those given during the consultation.
