Useful pet insurance? Costs and services in comparison - financial expert gives an assessment

Useful pet insurance? Costs and services in comparison - financial expert gives an assessment

According to a report in the Solinger Tageblatt dated October 26, 2023, pet insurance is becoming increasingly popular in Germany. The question arises as to whether health insurance for pets makes sense, as keeping animals can incur high costs. The average monthly expenses are 59 euros per cat and 75 euros per dog. If you become ill, the costs can quickly rise into the four-digit range. Full insurance for pets costs between 10 and 100 euros per month, depending on the animal's age, breed, place of residence and identification. In the life of an animal, the cost of insurance can add up to 1,000 to 12,000 euros. Stiftung Warentest has found that when it comes to dog health insurance, the price-performance ratio between health insurance and surgery insurance should be weighed up. Comprehensive animal health insurance is significantly more expensive, but cheaper surgical insurance also offers some protection. According to Claes Christiansen from Check24, not only have treatment costs increased since the new fee schedule for veterinarians in November 2022, but also insurance premiums. Nevertheless, he recommends comparing the tariffs and conditions carefully. Pet health insurance typically covers medically necessary treatments, but there are exceptions such as spaying or neutering. The costs are often only partially reimbursed and a deductible of around 20 percent is common. There is also usually an annual maximum limit for veterinary costs and a waiting period of three months for illnesses. Another aspect to consider is the international regulations when traveling with pets. There is no guarantee that insurance companies will not be able to cancel the contract if treatment becomes too expensive. So, it is important to consider various factors when choosing pet insurance.

Source: According to a report by www.solinger-tageblatt.de