Is pet health insurance worth it?

Pet health insurance isn't compulsory in Germany, but many people take it out because vet fees are high. There are two main types:

• Surgery insurance (OP-Versicherung): Covers only operations, usually including the pre-op examination and short-term aftercare. Cheaper; depending on the plan, it starts from a few euros a month.
• Full health insurance (Tierkrankenversicherung): Also covers non-surgical treatment, medication and often preventive care such as vaccinations. For dogs it usually costs €30–70 a month; for cats it's cheaper.

Which one? Consumer organisations say that since the highest costs come from surgery, surgery insurance is often enough if you have some savings. Full insurance costs several times as much as surgery insurance.

When comparing, check:

• Up to what multiple of the vet fee scale (GOT) does it pay? Ideally up to 4 times, to cover out-of-hours care.
• How high are the excess (Selbstbeteiligung) and the annual limit?
• Is there a waiting period? Usually a few weeks; it may not apply to accidents.
• Are existing conditions and breed-specific problems excluded? Is there an age limit?
• Does it also cover you abroad, for example on holiday in Turkey?

When: It's cheaper to insure your pet while it's young and healthy. Once an illness has started, it's usually not covered. Stiftung Warentest regularly compares plans.

Don't confuse them: These policies don't replace the liability insurance (Hundehaftpflicht) that's compulsory for dogs in Berlin.