'Pet Health Insurance in Germany: How to Choose Health Insurance for Your

Tierkrankenversicherung is voluntary health insurance for a pet in Germany. It can cushion the cost of veterinary care, surgery, diagnostics and medication, but it does not replace careful reading of the terms: policies may have waiting periods, deductibles, payout limits, exclusions for chronic illnesses and different rules for GOT.

For a dog or cat owner, the main question is not whether insurance exists, but which risk needs to be covered: only an expensive operation, routine treatment as well, or preventive care such as vaccinations and parasite treatment.

Why pet insurance has become more relevant

Pets in Germany are often considered family members, and veterinary bills can be unexpectedly high. According to IVH and ZZF data for 2024, pets were present in 44% of German households; among families with children, the share was higher, at 68%. For owners of dogs in Germany, the costs of keeping a pet, walking rules and liability for damage are also particularly relevant.

Health insurance for dogs and cats is not mandatory. This distinguishes it, for example, from Haftpflicht insurance for dogs in some federal states. But if a pet falls ill, has an accident or needs surgery, the owner pays the bill themselves without suitable insurance cover.

It is important not to confuse two different products:

• Tierkrankenversicherung covers the animal’s treatment if this is provided for in the contract.
• Tierhalterhaftpflicht covers damage the animal causes to other people or their property.

How veterinary bills are calculated in Germany: GOT

Veterinary services in Germany are billed according to the Gebührenordnung für Tierärztinnen und Tierärzte, or GOT. This is a federal fee schedule, not a clinic’s freely set price list.

Under the usual rules, a vet applies a rate between one and three times the base fee. The specific multiplier depends on the complexity of the case, timing, the animal’s condition, local circumstances and other factors. In the Notdienst—emergency care at night, on weekends or public holidays—different rules apply: basic fees are increased to at least twice the rate and can reach four times the rate; in addition, there is a €50 Notdienst fee excluding VAT.

As a result, the same symptom can cost different amounts: a regular appointment during working hours, a visit to a specialist clinic and an emergency visit at night produce different bills.

What Tierkrankenversicherung usually covers

Insurance products vary, but the market is most often divided into three levels of cover.

Type of cover	What it usually includes	What to check
OP-Versicherung	Surgery, anaesthesia, some diagnostic procedures before and after surgery, and inpatient care after surgery	What counts as an operation, how many days of post-operative treatment are covered, and whether there is an annual limit
Comprehensive health insurance	Outpatient and inpatient treatment, diagnostics, medication and surgery	GOT multiplier, deductible, limits, and exclusions for breeds and pre-existing conditions
Preventive-care budget	Vaccinations, deworming, flea and tick treatment, and sometimes a check-up	This is often a fixed amount per year rather than unlimited cover

Some plans add physiotherapy, dental care, alternative treatments, telemedicine, help finding a missing pet or a small payment if the pet dies. These items should not be assumed to be standard: they depend on the insurer and the tariff.

What is almost always checked before taking out a policy

The insurer assesses the risk before the contract begins. The earlier and healthier the animal is when insured, the easier it is to obtain reasonable cover.

The following factors usually matter:

• Age. Puppies and kittens often have a minimum age, while older animals may face restrictions or noticeably more expensive tariffs.
• Health. Known illnesses, chronic diagnoses and planned treatment are usually not covered.
• Breed and size. Premiums may be higher for large dogs and breeds with typical hereditary problems.
• Microchip or other identification. The chip number helps link a veterinary bill to the insured animal.
• Treatment history. The application may ask about previous diagnoses, operations and current complaints.

Do not hide an illness or an old diagnosis. If the insurer requests records from vets after a claim and finds that the problem existed before the contract, it may reject payment and terminate the policy.

Waiting period: when the policy actually starts working

Many contracts include a Wartezeit, or waiting period, after the policy starts. For illnesses, it is often several weeks or around three months; for certain orthopaedic, breed-related or chronic risks, it can be longer. For accidents, a waiting period often does not apply, but this must be checked in the terms of the specific tariff.

The practical conclusion is simple: a policy is not suitable for an illness that has already begun or an operation a vet has already recommended. Insurance protects against future risks; it is not a way to pay a known bill.

How much insurance can cost

There is no single price. The premium depends on the type of animal, age, breed, size, place of residence, level of cover, deductible and payout limits. An OP policy is usually noticeably cheaper than comprehensive health insurance, but covers fewer situations.

When comparing tariffs, it is more important to look beyond the monthly premium and review the terms:

• up to which GOT multiplier bills are paid;
• whether Notdienst up to four times the GOT rate is covered;
• whether there is a Selbstbeteiligung, meaning a percentage or fixed deductible;
• whether payouts are limited in the first year and in subsequent years;
• whether there is an annual limit for treatment, operations, dental care and preventive care;
• whether hereditary and breed-related illnesses are covered;
• what happens after a premium increase or an insurance claim;
• whether cover applies during temporary trips abroad.

A cheap tariff can be a sensible choice if only the basic risk of surgery needs to be covered. But a low premium often means narrower cover, a deductible, limits or exclusions.

How reimbursement works

The process usually works like this:

1. The owner visits a vet or clinic.
2. The vet issues a bill showing the services, diagnosis, treatment date, animal and applicable GOT items.
3. The owner pays the bill themselves.
4. The bill is sent to the insurer through its portal, app or email.
5. The insurer checks the contract terms and transfers reimbursement to the owner’s account.

For an expensive operation, it is useful to request a Kostenplan or Behandlungsplan from the vet in advance and send it to the insurer for a preliminary check. In some cases, the clinic and insurer can settle directly, but this is not automatic and usually requires agreement.

What is often not covered

Exclusions depend on the contract, but problems most often arise with:

• illnesses and symptoms that existed before the policy began;
• treatment during the waiting period;
• preventive care above the annual budget;
• castration or sterilisation without medical necessity;
• cosmetic procedures;
• certain dental services;
• hereditary or breed-related illnesses if excluded by the terms;
• bills without the necessary information, for example without the animal’s identification.

If the animal is already ill or an operation is planned, the case will usually not become an insured event.

How to choose a policy: a short checklist

Before buying a policy, compare several offers and check the contract terms, not just the marketing table.

• Decide whether you need only OP-Schutz or comprehensive health insurance.
• Compare GOT coverage: 1x, 2x, 3x and emergency service up to 4x.
• Check the Wartezeit for illnesses, operations and breed-related illnesses.
• Review annual limits and restrictions in the first years of the contract.
• Clarify the Selbstbeteiligung: percentage, fixed amount or a combination.
• Check how pre-existing diagnoses are treated.
• Assess the preventive-care budget separately: it rarely addresses the main financial risk.
• Keep a copy of the pet health questionnaire and the contract terms.

FAQ

How does OP-Versicherung differ from comprehensive health insurance?

OP-Versicherung usually covers only surgical procedures and related costs. Comprehensive health insurance is broader: it may include outpatient treatment, diagnostics, medication, inpatient care, surgery and some preventive care. The exact scope always depends on the contract.

Can an older dog or cat be insured?

Sometimes, yes, but there are fewer tariff options, premiums are higher, and the insurer may request health information. Some companies set an upper age limit for new policies.

Are vaccinations and parasite treatments covered?

Only if the tariff includes a preventive-care budget. It is often a fixed annual amount rather than full payment for any preventive procedure.

What does deductible mean?

A deductible is the part of the bill the owner pays themselves. It can be a percentage, for example 20% of every bill, or a fixed amount, such as a specified sum per year. A deductible lowers the premium but increases out-of-pocket costs when treatment is needed.

What is GOT on a veterinary bill?

GOT is the Gebührenordnung für Tierärztinnen und Tierärzte. A bill may list items from this fee schedule and the multiplier applied. This matters to owners because insurance tariffs often limit reimbursement to a particular GOT multiplier.

Can you change tariffs later?

It is often possible to switch to another tariff, but expanding cover may require a new health assessment. Illnesses that arose before the expansion may remain excluded.