Мы очень любим домашних кошек и хотим для них долгой и счастливой кошачьей жизни. Во многом это зависит от качества ветеринарных услуг. Но, как известно, ветеринария в Германии может больно ударить по карману — сколько стоит приём, анализы и операция мы посчитали в обзоре страхования животных. Поэтому многие владельцы пушистых питомцев оформляют медицинскую страховку для кошек. Она может включать в себя или лечение, или операции. Для полной защиты мы рекомендовали бы оформить полис, включающий обе опции.
And here we will look at the key concepts that insurance companies use when you want to insure a cat in Germany.
Important German terms in the field of cat insurance in Germany
Cat insurance
Insurance cover may include treatment and/or surgery. In the event of illness, injury or surgery, the insurance will reimburse medical expenses. Depending on the tariff, the insurance may also include routine health checks and vaccination.
Cat surgery insurance
It only covers surgical costs. Treatment is not included in this type of insurance. It is cheaper than medical insurance.
Operations unlimited
The insurance company covers the costs of surgery every year up to a certain amount. The higher the premium for operations, the better you are protected. Because it is difficult to determine how much a particular operation will cost in your specific case, we recommend choosing the tariff with unlimited cover.
Unlimited treatments
The insurance company covers treatment costs each year up to a certain amount. We recommend treatment cover from €10,000 per year.
Scale of Fees for Veterinarians GOT | Veterinary fee coefficient
This coefficient affects the cost of the veterinary services provided. The higher the GOT, the higher the fee. This depends on the complexity, time spent, urgency, the need for appointments at weekends, and so on. A tooth extraction, for example, is considered a complex procedure. And you will have to pay a higher fee for it (x2, x3). A routine check-up usually goes at the lower price rate. The best choice would be insurance that has GOT 3 or GOT 4.
Excess | Deductible
The amount you pay yourself when visiting a veterinary clinic, which is not covered by the insurance company. In other words, this is your share of the bill. This amount can be either a fixed sum or a percentage. For example: a bill for 1,000 euros. The excess is 250 euros. The insurer will pay 1,000 – 250 = 750 euros. Or: a bill for 1,000 euros. The excess is 20%. The insurer will pay 80% of the €1,000 = €800.
If you choose insurance with a zero excess, the cost of your monthly payments will increase. Conversely, if you choose an excess, you will have to pay less each month. But there are times when it is impossible to waive the excess, for example if your pet is older than a certain age. In that case, the insurance company sets the minimum amount of your own contribution itself.
Neutering/sterilisation (non-medically necessary)
This clause in the insurance policy shows whether your chosen plan covers the cost of castration or sterilisation regardless of medical necessity.
The cost of this procedure may be limited, for example, to a fee of 100 euros or to the amount payable under a lump-sum medical benefit.
Health checks | Preventive examinations
Routine health checks for cats, just like for humans, are very important. They make it possible to detect problems at an early stage and protect your pet’s health in the long term. During the annual check-up, the vet assesses the pet’s state of health and discusses any necessary treatment with you, if required. As they age, the number of routine checks may increase and they may require additional services, such as blood tests.
Medicines
This clause in the insurance policy shows whether the cat’s prescribed medications will be paid for.
Diagnosis before treatment
If diagnostics are included in the insurance, X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, CT scans, etc., will be paid for.
Stay in veterinary hospital
This item shows for how many days your cat’s stay at the clinic will be paid.
Stable contribution in older cats
As you age, the risk of illness increases, and insurance premiums rise. This clause will protect you from a sharp price jump, and the cost will increase gradually, depending on the age of your cat.
Emergency care during out-of-hours service | Payment for emergency care outside regular veterinary practice hours
If you were admitted outside of working hours, during holidays or at the weekend, the cost of services automatically increases. This clause specifies up to what level the GOT insurance covers the payment in such cases.
Refund of the emergency service fee
An urgent appointment outside working hours is also charged at a fixed fee of 50 euros. If this item is included in your insurance, these expenses will also be reimbursed to you.
General qualifying period | Waiting time
Once you have taken out insurance, you will have to wait for a while, as the insurer will only cover costs after the waiting period has ended. This is usually 30 days.
Special qualifying period
Time limits for medical treatment and surgery for certain illnesses or congenital defects. For example, the insurer takes into account health risks specific to a certain breed and will only cover costs in this case after a special waiting period has elapsed (which may be 12 months).
Taking out pet health insurance for cats in Germany is a sensible step for owners looking to ensure their pets receive quality treatment without unexpected financial costs. Insurance options include both full coverage for treatment and operations, and more budget-friendly policies covering surgical interventions only. When choosing insurance, it is important to consider the coverage conditions, potential restrictions, excess amounts and additional services such as routine check-ups and emergency care. A well-chosen insurance policy will help your pet receive timely medical care while allowing you to avoid unnecessary expenses.
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