01
A fixed excess, not a percentage
With Petplan you pay €45 per illness or accident, even if you go back to the vet several times. With Barkibu you pay 20% of every bill: on a €2,000 operation, that's €400 you can't plan for.
Pet insurance comparison 2026 · Spain
Petplan or Barkibu: which pet insurance pays you back more when your pet is ill?
We compare cover, waiting periods, limits 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.
Barkibu
You pay
€476
They pay you back €1,904
80% reimbursement: you pay 20% of the bill.
How much would you pay on a vet bill?
Choose the amount of the bill. Calculated with each policy's reimbursement and annual limit.
Real case: broken leg with surgery, plate and hospital stay.
With Petplan you pay
€45
We pay you back €2,335
With Barkibu you pay
€476
They pay you back €1,904
With Petplan you save €431 on this bill.
One illness or accident, within the first year and outside the waiting period. Petplan: 100% minus a €45 excess, up to €3,100 a year. Barkibu: 80%, up to €3,000 a year.
The 3 differences you will notice in your pocket
02
Claiming doesn't push up your price
Petplan does not raise your renewal price because you have used the policy. Barkibu's conditions allow the premium to be reviewed every year based on the cost and frequency of claims.
03
More time and more protection
12 months to report a claim (Barkibu: 3), boarding for your pet if you are taken into hospital, and cover for death, loss or theft. Barkibu covers none of these three.
Petplan vs Barkibu: full comparison table
| Cover | Petplan | Barkibu |
|---|---|---|
| Price per yearJack Russell Terrier under 1 year old, July 2026 | €279€132 less per year | €411 |
| Reimbursement | 100% | 80% |
| What you pay | A fixed €45 per illness or accident | 20% of every bill |
| Annual limit | €3,100 | €3,000 |
| Renewal after claiming | No increase for claims | Premium can be reviewed every year based on the cost and frequency of claims |
| Time limit to report a claim | 12 months | 3 months |
| Waiting periods | 15 days for accidents · 30 days for illness | 5 days for accidents · 28 days for illness. 6 months for hip and elbow dysplasia, cruciate ligament, luxating patella, epilepsy, behavioural disorders, slipped disc, leishmaniasis, cataracts and atopic dermatitis if your pet is over 6 months old when you take out the policy |
| Physiotherapy and behavioural therapy | No limit on sessions | Up to 8 sessions a year, in Spain only |
| Out-of-hours emergencies | Covered | Only if the vet confirms it was needed to save your pet's life |
| Boarding if you are taken into hospital | Covered | Not covered |
| Death, loss or theft | Covered, up to €600 | Not covered (euthanasia on medical grounds is covered, at 80%; no cremation or burial costs) |
| Notable exclusions | Not excluded in the IPID | Brachycephalic syndrome, congenital heart malformations and shunts, and dental treatment not caused by an accident |
| Prevention | Vaccine reimbursement up to €90 a year (optional) | Compulsorily included in the price: 80% up to €100 a year |
| Third-party liability | Optional: +€25 a year, up to €300,000 | Not included in the policy |
| Vet care abroad | Up to 90 days a year in the EU and other European countries | Up to 6 months a year in the EU, the UK and Andorra |
| Age to take out a policy | From 2 months to 7 years | From 8 weeks to under 11 years |
| Species | Dogs, cats and rabbits | Dogs and cats |
| Who provides it | Petplan, a pet specialist with more than 50 years' experience and 1.5 million pets insured; risk underwritten by Telefónica Seguros (Spain) | Sold by Barkibu Germany GmbH; risk underwritten by Nordic Guarantee Försäkringsaktiebolag (Sweden), an insurance company without offices in Spain |
What happens in the most common situations
A broken leg
Real case, €2,380 bill: with Petplan you pay €45; with Barkibu, €476.
Leishmaniasis
Very common in Spain. If your dog was over 6 months old when you took out the policy, Barkibu won't cover it for 6 months. Petplan applies its standard 30-day waiting period for illness.
Torn cruciate ligament
Same rule: 6 months' wait with Barkibu if your dog was over 6 months old at the start. With Petplan, you're covered after 30 days.
You are taken into hospital
Petplan covers boarding for your pet while you are in hospital. Barkibu doesn't.
When might Barkibu suit you?
So you can decide with all the facts:
- If you want shorter waiting periods for accidents: 5 days instead of 15.
- If your pet is between 7 and 10 years old: Petplan does not accept new pets aged 7 or over.
- If you spend long periods abroad with your pet: up to 6 months a year in the EU, the UK and Andorra.
- If you'd like vaccine cover as an option, choose Petplan. If you don't mind the price compulsorily including prevention cover, even if your vet's own plan already covers it, choose Barkibu.
If what worries you is big bills, long illnesses, waiting 6 months for the most common conditions or your price going up after a claim, Petplan protects you better.
Frequently asked questions
Which insurer pays back more, Petplan or Barkibu?
Petplan reimburses 100% with a €45 excess per illness or accident; Barkibu, 80%. On any bill over €225, Petplan pays you back more.
Does Barkibu cover leishmaniasis?
Yes, as an illness, but if your pet is over 6 months old when you take out the policy, there is a 6-month waiting period. Petplan applies its standard 30-day waiting period for illness.
Does Barkibu cover a torn cruciate ligament?
Yes, but with a 6-month waiting period if your pet is over 6 months old when you take out the policy. Petplan covers it after 30 days.
Will my price go up if I claim?
Not with Petplan: your renewal price does not go up because of claims. Barkibu's conditions allow the premium to be reviewed every year based on the cost and frequency of claims.
How long do I have to claim for a vet bill?
12 months with Petplan and 3 months with Barkibu.
Can I insure my rabbit?
With Petplan, yes. Barkibu only insures dogs and cats.
Can I keep my own vet?
Yes, with both. Petplan lets you use any vet you like, with no closed lists.
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)
- Barkibu General Conditions and IPID, version 07/2026 (Spanish)
Barkibu 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.
Protect your pet with 100% reimbursement
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