Before taking out pet insurance it helps to know which documents come with it and what each one says. Petplan publishes its policy documentation: the general conditions, the IPID, the particular conditions and a separate document for each service. Knowing what sits in each file avoids surprises when the moment comes to claim.
The general conditions
The general conditions are the document explaining how the insurance works: what it covers, what it does not cover and the rules that apply to the policy. This is the long text, the one holding the detail.
They apply to every customer who takes out that insurance, so they do not depend on your particular case. If you want to know how the policy behaves in a given situation, that is where it is written down.
The IPID, or prior information document
The IPID is an easy-to-understand summary given to the customer before the insurance is taken out. It does not replace the general conditions: it condenses them so you can form a quick picture of the essentials.
It is the most convenient document for comparing before you decide, because it is designed to be read quickly. If something in the summary is not clear, the full version is in the general conditions.
Civil liability has its own documentation
Civil liability cover is optional at Petplan: it costs 25 euros a year and covers up to 300,000 euros annually. Because it is a separate insurance, it has its own general conditions and its own IPID.
It is worth not mixing those up with the health policy ones. If your home insurance already includes civil liability, you do not need to pay for it again here, and that documentation then does not concern you.
The service documents
Each service has its own document. The one for remote veterinary consultations sets out how it works by channel: telephone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, veterinary chat Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00, and video consultation by appointment, also Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00.
There is a document of its own for the prevention and vaccines plan, which complements and extends the health policy cover; for the GPS tracker for dogs, which includes sending the tracker and twelve months of geolocation service; and for individual cremation with full recovery of the ashes.
What to look at before you buy
The financial terms are set out plainly: 100% reimbursement of veterinary costs up to a maximum of 3,100 euros a year, with a co-payment (excess) of 45 euros per illness rather than per visit, and waiting periods of 15 days for accidents and 30 days for illnesses.
On the exclusions side you will find pre-existing conditions, deworming, neutering or sterilisation, and routine or preventive visits. The complete list, however, is in the policy, and that is the one worth reading before signing.
Frequently asked questions
How does the IPID differ from the general conditions?
The IPID is a short summary handed over before you buy; the general conditions are the full document setting out the rules that apply to the policy.
Does civil liability have separate documentation?
Yes. Being an optional and independent cover, it has its own general conditions and its own IPID.
Where is the complete list of exclusions?
In the policy. The website names some of the main ones but refers you to the document for the full list.
Do the services have their own documents?
Yes. Remote consultations, the vaccines plan, the GPS tracker and individual cremation each have their own information document.
