Pet insurance
Calculate the premium of your pet insurance directly!
Just like people, animals also need to see a doctor from time to time. A veterinarian that is. For example, for a routine check-up or for the annual vaccination, but also if they fall ill or are injured. Of course, you have to pay for this. People are obliged to take out health insurance, but pet insurance is not compulsory. It is up to you whether you want to insure your pet or not. Pet insurance ensures that you are insured against common, unexpected medical expenses for your pet.
What does pet insurance cost?
The cost of pet insurance depends on a number of factors. These factors determine the amount of the premium.
- Your pet's weight
- The age of your pet
- The breed or cross of your pet
- Possible additional coverages
Age is an important factor in determining premium. Insurers also apply a maximum age up to which you can insure your pet. Most insurers do this up to the age of 7, some up to the age of 5. Always check this in the policy conditions. In addition, most insurers increase the premium slightly each year. This is due to the aging surcharge. The older an animal gets, the higher the risk of disorders. That is why insurers recalculate the premium every year.
In addition, the premium depends mainly on the additional coverage you take out. In addition to the basic coverage, you can also insure physiotherapy, behavioural therapy, radiotherapy and dental costs. With some insurers you can also insure the sterilisation or castration of your animal and sometimes even the necessary vaccinations. Travel cover or cremation cover is also an option. In this way, you can compile the insurance policy exactly as you wish.
What is the best pet insurance?
Are you looking for the best pet insurance for your companion? You choose which insurance policy best suits your needs. What is the best pet insurance for your neighbor's dog does not have to be the same for you and your cat. The best pet insurance fits your pet as well as your financial situation. Look through the policy terms and conditions for this. What about an increase in premium as your pet gets older? What is included in the basic coverage and what do you need to insure additionally? This can differ from one insurer to another. If you compare Alpina.nl compare pet insurance, we list all the premiums and associated policy conditions for you.
Frequently asked questions about pet insurance
Which pets can I insure?
You can insure dogs, cats, rabbits and parrots. The animal you are insuring must be at least 8 weeks old.
The maximum age for taking out insurance is for dogs up to 7 years, for cats up to 11 years, for rabbits up to 5 years, and for parrots unlimited.
What are the differences between the different packages?
Basic package
- Reimbursement up to €3000 per year.
- For an accessible premium, the certainty of good coverage in case of unexpectedly high costs
- Including: consultation, diagnostics, special treatments (physiotherapy, behavioural therapy, hips & elbows), operations (including anaesthesia), placing identification chip, medicines (including chronic/long-term treatments) and euthanasia
- Your personal contribution is always 20%. For consultations, diagnostics and special treatments you pay 50% co-payment.
Plus package
- Reimbursement up to € 4,000 per year.
- Comprehensive package with a good price-quality ratio. For those who want to be insured for specialist care such as an MRI scan or dental treatment.
- Contains all reimbursements from the Basic Package.
- Also includes: dental care (such as tartar removal, tooth extraction), intensive care (such as MRI, CT scan and aids), and extra care (such as Animal ambulance, European medical expenses, care of pet when owner stays in hospital, admission and nursing for more than 7 days).
- Your personal contribution is always 20%. For consultation, diagnostics and special treatments, you pay a 25% personal contribution. For medication of alternative care, dental care, intensive care and extra care, you pay 50% personal contribution.
Total package
- Reimbursement up to €5,000 per year.
- Enjoyment without worries. The most complete package with the highest compensation.
- Contains all reimbursements from the Basic and Plus Packages.
- Your own contribution is always 20%.
Accident package
- Compensation up to €2,000 per year
- The entry-level package with reimbursement for care required after an accident.
- This package only provides cover for a verifiable accident, i.e. road traffic accident, bone fracture, ingestion of a foreign object, toxic gases, poisoned food, bite wounds, fire or flood.
- The insurer will reimburse 80% of the above costs. In addition, you will receive an advertising budget of EUR 250. The waiting period is 48 hours for accidents.
How is the pet insurance structured?
You can choose from 4 packages:
- Basic package
- Plus package
- Total package
- Accident package
The Accident package has a more limited cover than the other three packages. In this package, health costs are only covered in case of a demonstrable accident: a traffic accident, bone fracture, ingestion of a foreign object, toxic gases, poisoned food, bite wounds, fire or flood.
In addition to the four main packages, you can choose from 4 optional additional insurances:
- Sterilisation/Castration
- Chemo- and radiotherapy (cancer treatment)
- Cremation of a deceased pet
- Continuous Travel Insurance World Coverage
The supplementary insurances can be taken out in combination with one of the 3 main packages (Basic, Plus or Total Package). The Sterilisation/Castration insurance can only be taken out in combination with a Plus or Total package.
Is an identification chip necessary?
Yes, identification and registration of insured pets is mandatory. Most insurers only accept claims that include a chip number. The costs of placing the chip are reimbursed by the insurer.
Will the costs be reimbursed if my pet does not have an identification chip?
No, the insurer will not reimburse the costs if your pet has not been microchipped. Only declarations that are provided with a chip number are accepted. Please ensure that your pet has been microchipped before you submit your first claim and that the insurer knows the chip number.
Can I insure my pet if he does not have a chip yet?
Yes, you can insure your pet even if it does not have a chip. You must, however, ensure that the animal is microchipped before submitting a claim.
What happens to my insurance if my pet dies?
We can imagine that in the emotional time around the death of your pet you do not immediately think about the insurance. Fortunately, it is possible to stop the insurance with retroactive effect. What is the procedure for this?
- Not later than 30 days after the death of your animal, notify the insurer of the request for termination.
- Include a death certificate from the veterinarian.
- After this notification and receipt of the death certificate, the insurer shall terminate the insurance one day after the death of the pet.
- Any premium paid in excess will of course be refunded.
How can I cancel my insurance?
You can terminate your insurance with a notice period of one month. This is possible on a monthly basis once your policy has run for one year or in special cases, for example if your pet has died.
Frequently asked questions about pet insurance
Up to what age can I insure my pet?
You can take out insurance for dogs up to 7 years old, cats up to 11 years old and rabbits up to 5 years old. There is no maximum age for parrots.
When taking out or renewing insurance, the age of the animal is taken into account. The older the animal, the higher the insurance premium because the risk of diseases and accidents increases.
What is the duration of pet insurance?
You take out insurance for a year. Thereafter, it can be cancelled monthly.
Does the premium change when my pet gets older?
Just as with people, the health costs of pets are lower when they are young than when they get older. That is why the premium of a puppy is lower than the premium of a dog of, for example, 7 years old. The exact annual increase depends on (the breed) and the actual age of the animal.
Are there any (breed) specific exclusions?
All animal breeds are welcome. However, there are restrictions for some dog breeds. For these breeds, the breed standard includes (hereditary) breed characteristics that give rise to (many) additional sickness costs. Disease costs related to these abnormalities are excluded through a breed clause and can therefore not be reimbursed.
- (Old) English Bulldog: Standard exclusion of all respiratory diseases (including throat and nose).
- French Bulldog: Standard exclusion of all respiratory diseases (including throat and nose).
- Cavalier King Charles: Standard exclusion of all neurological disorders including brain and spinal cord.
Can I extend the cover in the meantime?
Yes, you can change to a more comprehensive package. You can do this on the annual premium due date (the policy anniversary).
Why is there a 30-day waiting period?
A waiting period applies to pet insurance. Complaints that arise before or during this waiting period will not be reimbursed. Any follow-up costs of an illness, disorder or accident occurring before or during the waiting period will also not be eligible for reimbursement.
How long is the waiting period?
- For care required after an accident, a waiting period of 48 hours applies.
- A waiting period of 30 days applies to diseases and disorders.
In all packages, the insertion of the chip is reimbursed in the waiting period.
When does my insurance start?
After acceptance, the pet insurance takes effect on the day the application is received by the insurer.
After the effective date there is a 14-day trial period. Within these 14 days, the pet insurance may be cancelled in writing without stating any reasons. This does not apply if a claim has already been submitted.
From the starting date onwards, a waiting period of 30 days applies for illness.
Why take out pet insurance?
Pet insurance is of course not compulsory, but it can save you a lot of worry and financial stress when your pet falls ill. With animal insurance, you can be sure that you will be able to pay the medical costs.
Frequently asked questions about reimbursements and claims
From what moment can I claim care?
The moment from which you can claim depends on the waiting period. From the commencement date of the insurance, a waiting period of 30 days applies for illness.
How can I claim?
You can declare in 2 ways and it is always free of charge: online or by mail. The advantage of online claims is that the insurer receives your claim sooner, so that they can process it faster and you receive your money sooner.
Do I have to provide a regular veterinary clinic?
As of 1 January 2015, it is compulsory to report your regular veterinary clinic or practice to the insurer.
Which vets can I turn to?
You have free choice of veterinarian. So you decide which vet you like. However, before you submit your (first) claim, you are obliged to inform the insurer of your regular vet clinic. Do you subsequently incur costs at another clinic? Then these will in principle also be reimbursed, unless it concerns a second opinion.
What is the voluntary excess?
You can opt for a higher voluntary excess. This means that when you submit a claim to the insurer, the voluntary excess is deducted first. The advantage of this is that you can reduce your monthly premium, and you are covered in case you have to incur high costs for your pet.
You can opt for a voluntary excess of € 100 or € 250 per year. You will then receive a discount of 15% or 25% on your premium.
Please note: if you opt for a voluntary excess, this will apply for one year. Only after one year can you change or terminate it.
How does the personal contribution work?
When you submit a claim, your personal contribution is determined for each treatment. The personal contribution differs per package:
- Basic package:
you pay a co-payment of 20%. For consultation, diagnostics and special treatments (such as hip and elbow treatments and physical therapy), you pay a 50% co-payment. - Plus package:
you pay a 20% co-payment. For consultation, diagnostics and special treatments (such as hip and elbow treatments and physical therapy), you pay a 25% co-payment. For medication of alternative care, for dentures and for intensive and extra care, you pay a 50% co-payment. - Total package:
you pay a 20% co-payment. - Accident package:
you pay a 20% co-payment.
The personal contribution will be deducted from your claim.
Compare pet insurance
Comparing pet insurance is a sensible step before you decide to take it out. Comparing them may reveal things that you would otherwise not have noticed. To start comparing, enter some personal details and information about your pet in our online comparison tool. You will then receive an overview of all insurances that meet your requirements. While comparing you can pay attention to the premiums, but also to the policy conditions. Have you found the right pet insurance? Then you can immediately take out a policy online.
What is the cheapest pet insurance?
Of course, you want the best for your pet, but in the ideal situation, you will take out the cheapest pet insurance without compromising on coverage. No problem! On Alpina.nl we help you find the cheapest pet insurance. Here you can look at your financial situation. Perhaps you have already built up some savings to cover some unexpected expenses. In that case, pet insurance may still be wise, but you probably won't need a lot of additional coverage. In this way, you can determine the best pet insurance for you, your pet and your wallet.
Pet insurance for a dog
A dog is always a cosy part of the family. A dog is enthusiastic, is always happy to see you, likes to run around and eat everything that comes. Of course, this can also cause problems sometimes, for example when he runs into a door in his enthusiasm and hurts himself or eats a sock that has been left lying around. Sometimes this can even lead to an operation. Medical costs of this kind can be high. Pet insurance for your dog covers the most common medical costs. This way, you can be sure that your four-legged friend is properly insured.
Pet insurance for a cat
Cats are the perfect company. They are always there for a petting or a cuddle, but they are also good at being alone. Whether you have a kitten or an older cat, your cat deserves the best care available. For many cat owners, their worst nightmare is having to put their cat to sleep because they cannot afford the necessary treatment or surgery. You can prevent this by getting cat insurance. With a good pet insurance for your cat, you can be sure that you are well insured for unexpected medical costs.
Pet insurance for a rabbit
If your beloved pet is a rabbit, consider getting rabbit insurance for your rabbit. This will insure you if your rabbit becomes unexpectedly ill or needs surgery. Not only is it nice to know that your rabbit will receive proper care, but it also provides financial security because you avoid unexpected high medical costs. A nice feeling!
Pet insurance for a parrot
A parrot is a buddy for life. These beautiful, colorful animals can live for more than 50 years! With a parrot, you will have a lot of companionship in your home. Many people don't know that, in addition to cats, dogs and rabbits, you can also insure parrots. With parrot insurance, you are insured if your winged friend suddenly becomes ill.
Based on 3143 reviews
Calculate the premium of your pet insurance directly!
We can be reached via Chat, Whatsapp, phone or email
Please feel free to contact us if you would like to know more.
We are available from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00.