Is Pet Insurance Worth It in Germany?

Vet bills can catch you off guard.

A routine visit turns into an emergency. A minor symptom reveals a serious condition. Suddenly, you’re facing costs you didn’t budget for.

If you had pet insurance, it might not be an issue. Without it, you could be set back hundreds or even thousands of euros.

If you have a cat, a dog, or a beloved pet, unexpected health issues can be stressful and expensive.

So, the question is: Is pet insurance worth it?

Here’s what you need to know.

How popular is pet health insurance in Germany?

Pet health insurance isn’t required in Germany. Still, it’s becoming increasingly popular, especially as veterinary costs continue to rise under the updated veterinary fee schedule, which outlines what vets can charge and can’t.

As of 2022, German households owned 15.2 million cats and 10.6 million dogs. Yet only 30% of dog owners and 23% of cat owners have comprehensive pet insurance.

Coverage for surgeries is even less common, with only 27% of dogs and 18% of cats insured for such procedures. 

But if more pet owners realized how much they could save with insurance, those numbers might look different. On average, households spend €323.73 per year on veterinary costs for dogs, and €223.15 for cats. That’s often enough to offset the cost of a basic insurance plan.

In other words, a single claim in a typical year could cover your premiums, and one or two major procedures in your pet’s lifetime could more than pay for the policy, even if your pet is generally healthy.

What does pet health insurance cost?

Premiums vary depending on your pet’s species, breed, age, and location. 

For that reason, if you’re interested in finding out how much your pet would cost to insure, check out our pet insurance calculator.

With that said, on average, you can expect to pay between €15 and €80 per month. 

These are the main factors impacting the cost of policies:

1. Type of pet: Cats usually cost less to insure than dogs. That’s because they visit the vet less often and are less likely to get injured. On average, cat insurance costs 23.6% less than dog insurance.
2. Age of your pet: Older pets typically cost more to insure because they need more care, and premiums usually increase as they age. Getting insurance while your pet is young is best; only the great pet insurance companies will offer cat and dog insurance for pets over 8 years old.
3. Breed: Some breeds are more prone to specific health issues, making them more expensive to insure. For example, Rottweilers are at higher risk for conditions like hip dysplasia and aggressive bone cancers. Surgery is often needed and costly, making them one of the most expensive breeds to insure. In contrast, mixed-breed dogs are less likely to have inherited conditions. On average, they’re 33% cheaper to insure than Rottweilers.
4. Coverage: More coverage means higher monthly costs, bringing more peace of mind. For a one-year-old cat, you would pay approximately €14.60/month to cover surgeries, but for complete cat insurance, covering routine and non-surgical care, the bill would be closer to €39.86/month.
5. Deductibles: Plans with deductibles typically come at a lower cost. This is because deductibles allow for a shared responsibility between you and your insurer, helping reduce premiums by having you contribute a portion of the costs when care is needed.

For instance, at Feather, our plan with a 20% deductible is, on average, 15% more affordable than plans with no deductible.

What does pet insurance cover?

The main benefit? Protection from unexpected vet bills, especially for surgeries, accidents, and chronic conditions. 

Let’s take a closer look at each of those.

Surgery and emergency treatments

Surgical procedures can cost hundreds, or even thousands, of euros. Pet insurance covers 70% to 100% of those expenses, depending on your selected plan and deductible.

At Feather, we reimburse an average of €400 per surgery, equivalent to nearly two years’ premiums. 

In some cases, we’ve covered procedures costing several thousand euros, equivalent to a decade or more of premiums! 

This makes pet insurance a valuable investment when unexpected medical needs arise.

Routine and preventive care

Some plans, such as Feather’s Standard Plan, also cover up to €800 per year for medications and treatments, including physiotherapy. 

This is especially helpful if your pet develops a chronic condition like hip dysplasia. 

So, is pet insurance worth it?

It can be, especially if you want the peace of mind of knowing your pet will get the care they need, no matter the cost.

Let’s take a look at concrete numbers:

The average claim for pet insurance is €239.

Let’s say you pay €221 per year for a basic plan. If you file even one claim, the policy has already paid for itself. 

For more serious treatments, such as surgery for hip dysplasia, costs can exceed €2,000, equivalent to over nine years of premiums.

So, to sum up, pet insurance is a wise investment if:

• You’d struggle to cover unexpected vet bills
• Your pet’s breed is prone to health issues.
• You want help covering regular, preventive care.