Is it REALLY Worth Getting Pet Health Insurance in Germany?

Are you’re living in Germany with a dog or cat? Well, then you’ve definitely already been asked by a friend whether or not you’ve purchased some sort of pet health insurance yet. 

Where I come from (Canada) a lot of us simply just take the risk and if we need to end up taking our pets to the vet, then we deal with the hefty vet bills when they come. However, in Germany… whether or not you can afford to “deal with the bills” is an entirely different question.

Simply put… veterinary bills in Germany are expensive. Extremely expensive.

Why? Well, that’s quite a long discussion to get into, but needless to say, that’s exactly why many providers offer pet health insurance at an affordable price.

 

What is Pet Health Insurance? 

The obvious – your pet should always be fit and healthy – regardless of your financial situation. That’s why it is important to have health insurance for your fluffy companion, similar to your own.

Imagine your pet has an accident from playing a little bit too wild… well, this doesn’t only hurt them, but you as their owner! Emotionally… and financially, let’s be real.

To minimize the pain, health pet insurance would cover the costs for urgent medical treatment at your local vet office (and more). This way you’ll save a lot of money that you can re-invest in treats and toys! 

Still don’t have a vet in Düsseldorf? Here’s a list of the best English-speaking vets in the city!

NOTE: Pet health insurance in Germany is very different than dog liability insurance (but yes, both do exist)! While I highly recommend getting health insurance for your pets, if you have a dog that likes to get rowdy, you should also be considering dog liability insurance for your pup too (many Germans are quick to sue… believe me).

What does pet health insurance in Germany actually cover? 

Pet Health Insurance usually covers a significant portion of your pet’s necessary surgical interventions – worldwide! 

For example, pet health insurance often covers:

• Necessary operations under general anesthetic
• Hospital stays up to 20 days after surgery
• Necessary medication after the operation or the implantation of a microchip (you can find more about this in our post about bringing your pets to Germany for the first time)
• Etc.

 

Make sure a health bonus is included in your pet health insurance plan

No pet likes the vet – but yearly check-ups are important! That’s why some pet health insurance providers offer a so-called “Health Bonus”.

This is often a one-time bonus that will help you pay for regular medical treatments. These treatments may include vaccinations, worming, and dental prophylaxis. You will often receive the bonus via a refund.   

 

Pet health insurance can cut the waiting times it takes to get your pet seen by a vet 

The rumors are true, just like the doctor’s office or any specialist’s office here in Germany, the lines and long waiting times to actually get an appointment are excruciatingly LONG.

Sometimes, depending on who you are insured with, they can actually help cut those times down. 

 

Check to see whether your insurance provider allows you to pick your own vet

Ideally, it would be nice to pick your own vet, only you know who treats your four-legged friend the best. Some insurance providers leave that choice to you, some have a list that you can choose from. If they do allow you to choose your own vet, you’ll just need to make sure that they are enrolled as a veterinarian at the German chamber of veterinary surgeons, like Tierärztekammer (TÄK) or Landestierärztekammer (LTK). 

 

What about add-ons to pet health insurance plans? 

Pet Health insurance covers a lot – but like with everything in life, there are a few exceptions that are not covered by insurance, unfortunately.

For example, they might not reimburse the costs for: 

• Laser therapy
• Homeopathy
• Treatments of allergies due to hyposensitization
• And so on