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100% back, not 90% minus an excess
Petplan pays back 100% of every bill minus €45. With AXA you always pay 10% of every bill, plus a €70 annual excess. And AXA costs €505 a year against €279.
Pet insurance comparison 2026 · Spain
Petplan or AXA Mascota: which one pays you back more?
We compare AXA Mascota on its Premium plan, the one that pays back the most, against Petplan: price, what each one pays, and what you pay out of your own pocket, using the official documents of each insurer.
Updated · Sources
Real case: a broken leg
Vet bill
Broken leg after an accident
- Consultation and emergency care€80
- X-rays (2 views)€90
- Pre-operative blood tests€80
- Anaesthesia and monitoring€150
- Orthopaedic surgery€900
- Fixation implants (plate and screws)€500
- Hospital stay (2 days)€250
- Medication and post-operative care€150
- Check-ups + follow-up X-ray€180
Total€2,380
Petplan
You only pay
€45
We pay you back €2,335
100% reimbursement with a €45 excess per accident, at any vet.
AXA Premium
You pay
€308
They pay you back €2,072
90% reimbursement minus a €70 annual excess.
How much would you pay on a vet bill?
Choose the amount of the bill at your own vet.
Real case: broken leg with surgery, plate and hospital stay.
With Petplan you pay
€45
We pay you back €2,335
With AXA you pay
€308
They pay you back €2,072
With Petplan you pay €263 less on this bill.
One illness or accident, outside the waiting period. Petplan: 100% minus a €45 excess, up to €3,100 a year. AXA Premium: 90% minus a €70 annual excess (once a year), up to €5,000 a year.
The 3 differences you will notice in your pocket
02
Breed-related and behavioural conditions
AXA excludes congenital and hereditary conditions, such as hip or elbow dysplasia and luxating patella, and does not treat behavioural problems as illnesses. Petplan covers both.
03
Any vet, and time to claim
With Petplan you keep your own vet and have 12 months to report a claim. With AXA you have 7 working days to report a health problem.
Petplan vs AXA Mascota: full comparison table
| Cover | Petplan | AXA Mascota Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Price per yearYorkshire Terrier under 1 year old. Petplan: 15 October 2026. AXA: July 2026 | €279Pays back 100% | €505 |
| Vet bills reimbursed | 100%, minus a €45 excess per illness or accident | 90%, minus a €70 annual excess |
| Annual limit | €3,100 | €5,000 |
| Choice of vet | Any vet | Any vet |
| Congenital and breed-related conditions | Breed-related conditions covered | Congenital and hereditary conditions excluded, including hip and elbow dysplasia and luxating patella |
| Behavioural problems | Covered | Not considered an illness |
| Waiting periods | 15 days for accidents, 30 days for illness | 7 days for accidents, 45 days for illness, 6 months for surgery after an illness and for cruciate ligaments |
| Death and theft | Up to €600 each | Not covered |
| Euthanasia and cremation | Up to €200 | Post-mortem and cremation excluded |
| Boarding if you are hospitalised | Up to €600 | Not covered |
| Time limit to report a claim | 12 months | 7 working days |
| Species | Dogs, cats and rabbits | Dogs and cats |
| Who provides it | Petplan, a pet specialist with more than 25 million pets insured since 1976; risk underwritten by Telefónica Seguros (Spain) | AXA Seguros Generales, a general insurer |
What happens in the most common situations
A broken leg
Real case, €2,380 bill: with Petplan you pay €45; with AXA Premium you pay €308.
Hip dysplasia
Petplan covers breed-related conditions. AXA excludes hip dysplasia as a congenital condition.
A behavioural problem
Petplan covers behavioural problems. AXA does not treat them as an illness.
If your dog dies
Petplan pays up to €600 for death and up to €200 for euthanasia and cremation. AXA pays nothing and excludes cremation.
When might AXA suit you?
So you can decide with all the facts:
- If the price of the policy does not matter to you: for €505 a year, almost twice as much, you can aim for a higher annual limit (€5,000, against Petplan's €3,100).
- If your cat is over 7 years old: AXA accepts new cats up to 10.
- If you do not mind paying for a €90 preventive care allowance that is built into the price. With Petplan it is optional: you only add it if you want it.
If you want 100% of every bill back, breed-related and behavioural conditions covered, and a lower price, Petplan is the better choice.
Thermometer for your vet
What happens to your usual vet if you choose AXA?
There are more than 7,000 vet clinics in Spain. Some insurers only work with a few hundred of them. AXA reimburses at any vet clinic, although only 90% and with a €70 annual excess.
Your vet loses the client
Policies with a vet network and set prices: they pay nothing back at your usual clinic, so the client ends up at their network clinics.
Your vet will almost certainly lose the client
At their partner clinics the client pays nothing; at the usual clinic they pay upfront and get 80% back. They will go where they do not have to pay.
Your vet will lose the client sooner or later
They pay 80% at any clinic but 100% only at their own. With the first expensive bill, the client switches.
Your vet keeps the client AXA Petplan
Reimbursement at any vet. The client stays with their usual vet, and the insurance helps the clinic keep them.
Petplan classification based on how each insurer reimburses vet bills for illness outside its own clinic network.
Frequently asked questions
How much does each insurer pay back?
Petplan pays back 100% of the bill with a fixed €45 excess per illness or accident, up to €3,100 a year. AXA Mascota Premium pays back 90%, minus a €70 annual excess, up to €5,000 a year: you always pay 10% of every bill.
How much does each policy cost?
For a Yorkshire Terrier under 1 year old, AXA Mascota Premium costs €505 a year (July 2026). Petplan costs €279 a year (15 October 2026): almost half, with 100% reimbursement.
How much would I pay for a broken leg with each insurer?
On a real €2,380 bill, you pay a €45 excess with Petplan. With AXA Premium you pay €308: the 10% it does not pay back plus the €70 annual excess.
Does AXA cover hip dysplasia or luxating patella?
No. AXA excludes every constitutional anomaly and congenital or hereditary condition, and expressly treats hip or elbow dysplasia and congenital luxating patella, among others, as congenital. Petplan covers breed-related conditions.
Does AXA cover behavioural problems?
No. Its conditions say behavioural changes are not considered illnesses under the policy. Petplan covers behavioural problems.
What waiting periods does each insurer have?
AXA: 7 days for accidents, 45 days for illness, and 6 months for surgery after an illness and for cruciate ligament rupture. Petplan: 15 days for accidents and 30 days for illness.
What happens if my dog dies or is stolen?
AXA Mascota does not pay anything for death or theft, and excludes post-mortem and cremation costs. Petplan pays up to €600 for death, up to €600 for theft and up to €200 for euthanasia and cremation.
What if I have to go into hospital?
Petplan pays up to €600 for your dog's boarding if you are admitted to hospital. AXA Mascota does not include this cover.
How long do I have to report a claim?
12 months with Petplan. With AXA you must report your pet's health problems within 7 working days of the vet visit.
Can I insure my rabbit?
With Petplan, yes: we insure dogs, cats and rabbits. AXA Mascota only insures dogs and cats.
Can I deal with Petplan in English?
Yes. You can get your quote online in English in under a minute, and our team is happy to help you in English by WhatsApp, email or phone.
What our customers say
Trustpilot
4.5 out of 5
"Excellent" · more than 1,300 reviews
4.5 out of 5
413 reviews
Figures as of October 2026.
Sources and methodology
We have compared the official documents currently in force for each insurer. We review this page every quarter or whenever the conditions change. The official documents are in Spanish.
- Petplan IPID (PDF, Spanish)
- AXA Mascota IPID, General Conditions (AXRMAS8839) and Premium quote of July 2026 (Spanish)
AXA is a trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is made by Petplan using public information; always read the full conditions before taking out a policy.
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