Get pet insurance quickly and easily

Imagine your dog eats a sock that’s lying around and needs emergency surgery. Or that your cat gets into a fight with another cat and gets bitten hard on the tail. Medical costs can sometimes be very high, especially if surgery is required. In addition to emergency medical costs, there are, of course, other expenses involved in owning a pet. Think, for example, of a vet visit or treatment and medications. With pet insurance, you pay a relatively small amount each month, so you won’t have to foot the entire bill after medical treatment.

Dogs and cats are the most common pets in the Netherlands. That’s why most insurers offer cat insurance and dog insurance. The coverage provided by both types of insurance is otherwise the same. If your dog or cat gets sick, pet insurance covers the associated medical expenses. In addition, there is also rabbit insurance and bird insurance.

The cost of pet insurance depends on your pet. When calculating the premium, an insurer considers the following factors:

• Your pet's breed or crossbreed
• Your pet's weight
• Your pet's age
• Will you opt for basic coverage, or will you also choose supplemental insurance?

If your pet is heavier, there is a higher risk of health problems. Your pet’s age is also important. The older a pet gets, the higher the risk of health issues. Many insurers therefore recalculate the premium every year; this is also known as an age-based surcharge. This means that the premium increases annually.

In addition, you can also expand your basic pet insurance with supplemental coverage. This might include physical therapy, behavioral therapy, radiation therapy, and dental costs. With some insurers, you can also include spaying or neutering in your coverage, and sometimes even the necessary vaccinations. Travel coverage or cremation coverage is also an option. This means you can tailor your pet insurance policy exactly to your needs. Pet insurance typically costs between €15 and €70 per month.

Is only the best good enough for your four-legged friend? Then, of course, you’ll want to find the best pet insurance. What constitutes the best pet insurance depends on your pet and your personal situation. It’s recommended that you take out insurance while your pet is still young, since they’ll have fewer or no pre-existing conditions at that point. This reduces the likelihood of exclusions. It’s also important to consider your financial situation. If you have a financial cushion to cover unexpected costs, you may not need as comprehensive coverage as you would if you’re on a tight budget. This way, you can determine which pet insurance plan is best for you, your pet, and your wallet.

Food, a basket, toys, a leash, or cat litter… Taking care of a pet naturally costs money. So it’s no surprise that you’d like to save a little. Want to save on pet insurance without sacrificing coverage? No problem. At Alpina.nl, you can use our online comparison tool to find the best and most affordable pet insurance. Plus, you can easily add or remove supplemental coverage to get a clear picture of the difference in costs.

Before you decide to purchase pet insurance, it’s important to start by comparing your options. Not all insurers are the same. There are often differences in coverage and premiums. To start comparing, you can enter some personal information and details about your pet into our online comparison tool. You’ll then receive an overview of all the insurers that meet your needs. Don’t just look at the premium amounts—also review the policy terms and conditions. What exactly is covered? What happens to the premium as your pet gets older? By comparing options thoroughly, you can be sure you’ll end up with a good pet insurance policy.

The choice is, of course, yours, but pet insurance offers you financial security in the event of unexpected medical expenses for your pet. Surgery or long-term treatment can easily cost around €1,000. If you don’t have this money set aside, pet insurance can be a lifesaver.

You can purchase insurance for dogs, cats, rabbits, and parrots of any age.

When taking out or renewing an insurance policy, the animal's age is taken into account. The older the animal, the higher the insurance premium, because the risk of illness and accidents increases.

You take out an insurance policy for one year. After that, you can cancel it on a monthly basis.

Just as with people, veterinary costs for pets are lower when they are young than as they get older. That is why the premium for a puppy is lower than the premium for a dog that is, say, 7 years old. The exact annual increase depends on the breed (or crossbreed) and the animal’s current age.

All animal breeds are welcome. However, restrictions apply to certain dog breeds. For these breeds, the breed standard includes (genetically determined) breed characteristics that result in (significant) additional medical expenses. Medical expenses related to these conditions are excluded under a breed clause and therefore cannot be reimbursed.

• (Old) English Bulldog: Standardexclusion of all respiratory disorders (including those affecting the throat and nose).
• French Bulldog:Standard exclusion of all respiratory conditions (including those affecting the throat and nose).
• Cavalier King Charles:Standard exclusion of all neurological disorders, including those affecting the brain and spinal cord.

Yes, you can switch to a more comprehensive plan. You can do this on the annual premium due date (the policy anniversary).

There is a waiting period for pet insurance. Claims arising before or during this waiting period are not covered. Any follow-up costs resulting from an illness, condition, or accident that occurred before or during the waiting period are also not eligible for reimbursement.

How long is the waiting period?

• A 48-hour waiting period applies to care required following an accident.
• A 30-day waiting period applies to illnesses and medical conditions.

In all plans, the cost of implanting the chip is covered during the waiting period.

Pet insurance coverage begins—upon acceptance—on the day the insurer receives the application.

After the effective date, there is a 14-day cooling-off period. Within these 14 days, the pet insurance policy may be canceled in writing without providing a reason. This does not apply if a claim has already been filed.

A 30-day waiting period applies to illness starting on the effective date.

You can cancel your insurance with one month's notice. You can do this at any time once your policy has been in effect for one year, or in special cases, such as if your pet has passed away.