01
100% back, not 80% with caps
Petplan pays back 100% of every bill minus €45, up to €3,100 a year. Sanitas pays 80%, up to €2,500, with caps such as €200 a year for implants. And it costs €548.12 a year against €294.
Pet insurance comparison 2026 · Spain
Petplan or Sanitas Salud Mascotas: which one pays you back more?
We compare Sanitas Salud Mascotas Perros 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.
Sanitas
You pay
€676
They pay you back €1,704
80% reimbursement, and only €200 a year for the plate and other implants.
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 Sanitas you pay
€676
They pay you back €1,704
With Petplan you pay €631 less on this bill.
One illness or accident, outside the waiting period. Petplan: 100% minus a €45 excess, up to €3,100 a year. Sanitas: 80%, up to €2,500 a year. For the broken leg we also apply its €200 yearly cap on prostheses and implants; in the other cases we do not apply its other sub-limits (tests, allergies, chronic conditions), which could make you pay more.
The 3 differences you will notice in your pocket
02
Breed-related and behavioural conditions
Sanitas excludes hip and elbow dysplasia, luxating patella, congenital conditions, anything related to brachycephaly and behavioural disorders. Petplan covers breed-related conditions and behavioural problems.
03
Medication and time to claim
Sanitas only covers medication given or bought at the clinic, and you have 90 days to claim. Petplan covers prescribed medication and gives you 12 months to report a claim.
Petplan vs Sanitas Salud Mascotas: full comparison table
| Cover | Petplan | Sanitas Salud Mascotas |
|---|---|---|
| Price per yearChihuahua under 1 year old, 21 October 2026 | €294Pays back 100% | €548.12 |
| Vet bills reimbursed | 100%, minus a €45 excess per illness or accident | 80% |
| Annual limit | €3,100 | €2,500 |
| Sub-limits | None by type of cost | Diagnostic tests €1,000; prostheses and implants €200; chronic conditions €1,000; allergies €100; physiotherapy 5 sessions a year |
| Choice of vet | Any vet | Any vet in Spain; in the rest of the EU and the UK, emergencies only |
| Congenital and breed-related conditions | Breed-related conditions covered | Hip and elbow dysplasia, luxating patella, congenital conditions and brachycephaly excluded |
| Behavioural problems | Covered | Excluded |
| Medication | Prescribed medication covered | Only if given or bought at the clinic |
| Waiting periods | 15 days for accidents, 30 days for illness | 30 days for accidents and illness; 12 months for euthanasia and neutering |
| Death and theft | Up to €600 each | Not covered |
| Time limit to claim | 12 months | 90 days |
| Price changes | Does not go up because you claim | Can change at renewal based on age, cost trends and how often you use the cover |
| 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) | Sanitas, a health insurer in the Bupa group |
What happens in the most common situations
A broken leg
Real case, €2,380 bill: with Petplan you pay €45; with Sanitas you pay €676, because it only covers €200 of the plate.
Hip dysplasia
Petplan covers breed-related conditions. Sanitas expressly excludes hip dysplasia.
A bulldog with breathing problems
Petplan covers breed-related conditions. Sanitas excludes any cost related to brachycephaly.
Medication from the pharmacy
Petplan covers prescribed medication. Sanitas only covers medication given or bought at the clinic.
When might Sanitas suit you?
So you can decide with all the facts:
- If your dog is between 7 and 9 years old: Sanitas accepts new dogs up to 9.
- If you want higher help with boarding if you are hospitalised (up to €1,000 a year) or with euthanasia (up to €500).
If you want 100% of every bill back, a higher annual limit, 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 Sanitas?
There are more than 7,000 vet clinics in Spain. Some insurers only work with a few hundred of them. Sanitas reimburses at any vet clinic, although only 80% and with sub-limits for each type of cost.
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 Sanitas 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. Sanitas Salud Mascotas pays back 80%, up to €2,500 a year, with sub-limits for diagnostic tests, prostheses and implants, allergies and chronic conditions.
How much does each policy cost?
For a Chihuahua under 1 year old, Sanitas Salud Mascotas Perros costs €548.12 a year paid annually (quote of 21 October 2026). Petplan costs €294 a year (21 October 2026): almost half, with 100% reimbursement and a higher annual limit.
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 Sanitas you pay €676: it pays back 80% and, of the €500 plate, only covers €200 a year for prostheses and implants.
Does Sanitas cover hip dysplasia or luxating patella?
No. It excludes hip or elbow dysplasia, congenital luxating patella, hemivertebrae and congenital conditions, and any cost related to brachycephaly (breeds such as bulldogs or pugs). Petplan covers breed-related conditions.
Does Sanitas cover behavioural problems?
No. It excludes the treatment of behavioural disorders. Petplan covers behavioural problems.
What waiting periods does each insurer have?
Sanitas: 30 days for illness and also for accidents, and 12 months for euthanasia and neutering. Petplan: 15 days for accidents and 30 days for illness.
Is medication covered?
Sanitas only covers medication given during the consultation or surgery and medication bought at the vet clinic itself. Petplan covers medication prescribed by your vet.
Can the price go up?
Sanitas can change the premium at each renewal using calculations that take into account, among other things, age, cost trends and how often you use the cover. Petplan does not raise your price because you claim.
How long do I have to claim?
With Sanitas, 90 days from the vet visit. With Petplan, 12 months to report a claim.
What happens if my dog dies or is stolen?
Sanitas does not pay anything for death or theft; it covers euthanasia, removal and shared cremation up to €500, after a 12-month waiting period. Petplan pays up to €600 for death, up to €600 for theft and up to €200 for euthanasia and cremation.
Can I insure my rabbit?
With Petplan, yes: we insure dogs, cats and rabbits. Sanitas Salud Mascotas 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)
- Sanitas Salud Mascotas Perros IPID, General Conditions and quote of 21 October 2026 (Spanish)
Sanitas 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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