Animal health insurance
The animal health insurance (TKV), like the animal owner's liability insurance and the animal owner's legal protection insurance, is one of the animal insurances . A TKV reimburses the necessary costs of the necessary veterinary diagnostics and medical treatment including operations and medication as a result of illness or accident for insured pets such as dogs, cats or horses. The type and scope of the reimbursement as well as any deductibles depend, as in private health insurance, on the insurance policy taken out.
When taking out animal health insurance, the owner provides information on the animal's age, breed and health status, among other things. This information is usually verified by the insurance company.
Insurers generally offer two insurance models for animals with different tariff options:
- a comprehensive animal health insurance with or without a deductible with operation cost protection, which covers all outpatient and inpatient costs, aftercare and medication, or
- an operation cost insurance that covers interventions as a result of accidents or illnesses
The amount of the monthly contributions depends on the type of animal to be insured, the breed and the age of the animal when the contract was concluded. In some cases there are age limits for the admission of older animals. Certain diseases, for example hereditary diseases in pedigree animals such as pedigree cats or pedigree dogs, are often excluded from insurance benefits. Animals with previous illnesses are sometimes not insured at all or only with restrictions or with a surcharge.
Animal health insurance benefits and policyholder obligations
Animal health insurance covers the outpatient and inpatient veterinary costs in the event of accidents and traffic accidents, illnesses and operations, depending on the tariff selected. Routine examinations, castration and preventive measures such as vaccination against rabies or tick prophylaxis are partly covered.
Veterinarians bill their services according to the basic veterinary regulation (GOT). The single, double or triple rate may apply to one treatment. The amount invoiced by the veterinarian depends on the time and complexity of the treatment.
Some insurers only pay the treatment costs at the simple rate. If the attending veterinarian bills higher, the animal owner must pay the difference.
Animal health insurances with higher tariffs sometimes include two or three times the rate. In return, the monthly financial burden increases.
Policyholder Obligations
The policyholder has the following obligations, among others, in order not to endanger the insurance cover:
- The questions asked in the application must be answered truthfully and completely.
- The insurance premium invoiced must be paid in full and on time.
- As soon as the insured risk changes significantly, these changes must be displayed so that the contract can be adjusted if necessary.
- Immediate reporting of any insured event.
- In the event of an insured event, the policyholder is obliged to avert or reduce the damage as much as possible and to support the insurer in determining and settling the damage with truthful damage reports.
Animal health insurance for dogs
Comprehensive health insurance is available for dogs that are kept as pets, for breeding animals and professional dogs such as guide dogs, hunting dogs, rescue dogs and therapy dogs. The WDR assumes five operations for a medium-sized dog and an average life expectancy of 12 years. Overall, veterinary costs are estimated at an average of 6,600 euros.
Pet owners have the choice of paying the full amount themselves or (partially) using the services of an animal insurance company.
A comprehensive dog insurance usually includes the following benefits:
- castration
- Vaccinations
- Sickness and accident operations
- Outpatient and inpatient veterinary treatments
Simple dog health insurance is cheaper, but covers e.g. B. Operations not with ab. Dog owners have the option of taking out pure operation cost insurance (OP cost insurance) instead of full health insurance, which is relatively cheaper.
Animal health insurance for cats
Around 8.4 million domestic cats live in German households. There are castration, labeling and registration obligations in over 700 cities and municipalities. The German Animal Welfare Association is striving for the most comprehensive castration, identification and registration requirements for cats.
Some comprehensive cat insurance policies cover the costs of neutering, identification (chipping and / or tattoos) and registrations. Routine examinations and treatments in the event of illness are also partially covered. Some tariffs also include obstetrics for breeding animals.
Pet owners for whom full insurance for their cats is not an option due to the monthly insurance premiums can protect themselves from high costs with cheaper surgery insurance. This ensures that cats receive veterinary treatment in the event of illness or accidents.
Animal health insurance for horses
Horse owners have the option of taking out horse health insurance as full insurance or surgery costs insurance. However, certain tariffs exclude some operations and diseases, such as B. hoof abscesses, or limit the cost coverage to a fixed amount.
Full horse insurance usually includes the following benefits:
- Veterinary treatments
- Surgical protection in the event of an accident or illness
- Diagnosis
- Dental treatments
- Inpatient admission to the veterinary clinic
Animal health insurance in Germany and Europe
Of the around 20 million dogs and cats living in Germany, around 5% have animal health insurance.
In other European countries, animal health insurance is more widespread: in Sweden , around 50% of the 800,000 dogs and 16% of the 1.3 million cats have health insurance. In the UK , one in four dog owners opts for dog health insurance. In the Netherlands , the health care of 10% of all dogs and cats is covered by animal insurance.
Criticism of animal health insurance
Stiftung Warentest compared 18 tariffs from five German insurance companies. The consumer advocates criticize the high premiums on the one hand and the limited benefits with cheaper options on the other. In addition, the contracts are complicated and difficult to understand. The consumer organization advises that when you take out animal health insurance, you should ensure sufficient coverage and read the small print very carefully. At the same time it is being discussed that it may make more sense for pet owners to save money every month for any veterinary costs and to forego expensive insurance policies.
The consumer advice center doubts that animal insurance is worthwhile for pet owners. She advises paying the vet costs out of pocket and investing the money in pet owner liability insurance.
Further points of criticism are that especially older dogs and cats, in which serious illnesses are to be expected, are often excluded from insurance cover or could only be insured at very high premiums. Instead, payment in installments can be agreed with the vet or an agreement can be asked for the billing according to GOT .
Individual evidence
- ↑ cf. For example, General Insurance Conditions for PetCare Animal Health Insurance for Dogs and Cats (AVB TKHK 2013) as of October 1, 2013
- ↑ GOT / Bundestierärztekammer e. V. Accessed February 14, 2019 .
- ↑ Dog, of all things: What does a dog cost? May 18, 2018, accessed February 14, 2019 .
- ↑ Municipalities with mandatory cat castration. Retrieved February 14, 2019 .
- ↑ Billion dollar business with pets - small livestock also make you rich. Retrieved on February 14, 2019 (German).
- ↑ TIER TV All articles from TIER.TV: Animal insurance: This country is still a niche market. June 13, 2014, accessed on February 14, 2019 (German).
- ^ Stiftung Warentest: Animal health insurance - tariffs for dogs and cats in the test - Stiftung Warentest. Retrieved February 14, 2019 .
- ^ No animal need: Health insurance for pets. Retrieved February 14, 2019 .
- ↑ Growing market: This is what health insurance for pets offers. Retrieved February 14, 2019 .
- ↑ Augsburger Allgemeine: Hunger cloth instead of dog blanket: No money for the vet. Retrieved February 14, 2019 .
