Pet Insurance Australia vs Petplan Australia — 2026 cat insurance comparison
By Catstuff Editorial · Updated 2026-05-13
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Pet Insurance Australia and Petplan Australia both insure cats in Australia. Pet Insurance Australia is underwritten by Hollard; Petplan Australia by Hollard. Same underwriter, similar product DNA — the differentiators are price, member discounts, and the claims app.
Owners who want to avoid out-of-pocket vet bills via direct-pay.
Cats with a likely chronic-disease trajectory — Burmese (diabetes), seniors, breeds prone to CKD.
The verdict in one line
- Cheaper monthly: Pet Insurance Australia starts $10 less per month.
- Stronger hereditary cover: Petplan Australia (Strong) — matters if your cat is a pedigree with known genetic risk.
- Vet direct-pay: only Pet Insurance Australia offers vet-direct-pay. Saves $1,000+ upfront on a major bill.
Side-by-side
| Feature | Pet Insurance Australia | Petplan Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Underwriter | Hollard | Hollard |
| From / month (1yo DSH) | $34 | $44 |
| To / month (1yo DSH) | $62 | $88 |
| Annual limit | Up to $20,000 | Up to $20,000 per condition annually |
| Reimbursement | 70% / 80% | 80% |
| Excess options | $100 / $200 | $100 / $200 / $300 |
| Illness waiting period | 30 days (illness), 0 days (accident) | 21 days (illness), 5 days (accident) |
| Hereditary cover | Standard | Strong |
| Routine care | Optional add-on | Optional add-on |
| Vet direct-pay | Yes | No |
| Accepts kittens from | From 8 weeks | From 6 weeks |
| Senior new enrolments | Up to age 9 for new policies | Up to 9 years for new policies |
Pet Insurance Australia — what it does well
Pet Insurance Australia is the AU-owned Hollard policy. The standout feature is GapOnly vet direct-pay — your vet claims and you only pay the gap on the spot. Cuts out the wait between paying $2,000 upfront and receiving the reimbursement.
- GapOnly direct-to-vet payment (avoid upfront vet bills)
- AU-owned and AU-staffed claims team
- No age cap on continuing existing cover
- Up to 80% reimbursement on top tier
Petplan Australia — what it does well
Petplan's Covered for Life plans renew chronic-condition cover every year — most other AU policies stop reimbursing for the same condition after 12 months. For cats developing diabetes, IBD, hyperthyroidism or CKD, this is the difference between cover that compounds and cover that drops away.
- True lifetime cover for chronic conditions (most AU policies cap at 12 months)
- No age cap on continuing existing policies
- Generous dental cover on top tiers
Which one wins for your cat?
- Young domestic shorthair, healthy, indoor-only: Pet Insurance Australia — the small premium gap matters more than hereditary cover for a low-risk cat.
- Pedigree with hereditary risk (Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Persian, Sphynx, Burmese, British Shorthair): Petplan Australia — the stronger hereditary cover usually pays for itself by year 5.
- Older cat (8+) being newly enrolled: Whichever still accepts new enrolments at this age. Check current rules — the answer drifts year-to-year.
- Big upfront vet bill is your worry, not the monthly premium: Pet Insurance Australia.
More cat insurance comparisons
Updated 2026-05-13 · Not financial advice — read each insurer's PDS before buying. Premium snapshots are mid-2026 indicative quotes for a 1-year-old domestic shorthair, metro postcode.