May 2, 2023, 4:14 am | Read time: 10 minutes
Dogs can not only fall ill or get injured in an accident, but they can also injure other people and dogs or damage property. With the right insurance coverage, there is financial protection against potentially very high costs that can arise, often reaching into the thousands of dollars.
Most dog owners naturally want to ensure their best friend is adequately protected. Sooner or later, when costs arise that create a significant financial burden, even skeptical dog owners consider adequate insurance coverage. PETBOOK reveals which insurance options are available for your dog and what to consider when choosing a plan.
Insurance Options Available for Dogs
Dog owners can insure their pets in case of necessary surgery or general illness. Damages caused by their dog are covered by liability insurance for dogs. We explain the different types of insurance.
Surgery Insurance
Surgery insurance for dogs covers costs when a surgical procedure is necessary due to illness or an accident. However, there are differences among insurance providers regarding the scope of coverage. These questions can help find a good plan:
- Are only the surgery costs covered, or also the costs for necessary examinations and preparations the day before the operation?
- Are the costs for post-treatment covered? If so, to what extent and for what period? Costs may include medications, physiotherapy, bandages, follow-up examinations, and accommodation in an animal clinic.
- Are certain illnesses excluded from the insurance plan? This is especially relevant for breed-specific diseases.
- How long is the waiting period before the insurance benefits can be claimed?
Also of interest: The Best Surgery Insurance for Pets: Important Coverage
Health Insurance
Surgery insurance for dogs only applies when a surgical procedure is performed. All other treatments that may occur at the vet are not covered and must be paid for by the owner. This includes vaccinations, deworming, and illnesses that can be treated with medication. This gap is filled by health insurance for dogs.
Whether this is sensible and whether dog owners should spend the money depends on the individual risk. Generally, the larger the animal, the higher the costs at the vet often are, and the more sensible health insurance is compared to surgery insurance.
However, dog owners should read the insurance conditions carefully. Especially purebred dogs often have an increased risk for certain diseases because they have been overbred. A prominent example is the pug, which can have such breathing problems due to its shortened snout that there is a risk of suffocation. These breed-specific diseases are often excluded from coverage.
Also of interest: 5 Common Diseases in Dogs
Liability Insurance
Whether in the heat of the moment, during play, or in a confrontation with other dogs, something can happen faster than you think, and dog owners are responsible for covering the costs. The options for coverage vary, but even affordable insurance can offer high protection. Since dog owners can be held financially responsible for damages caused by their pet with their entire personal assets, insurance is worthwhile in any case.
Items that can and should be covered include:
- Property and personal damages with high coverage amounts (at least 10 million euros are recommended) even for individual injured persons
- Insurance coverage even in case of violation of leash or muzzle requirements
- International coverage
- Damages while walking with third parties
- Damages in apartments (coverage amounts of at least 500,000 euros are recommended)
Optional coverage can also be useful:
- Puppy protection for a female dog’s offspring in the first six months of life
- Coverage for breeding damages if your male dog sires offspring unintentionally
Good to know: Separate policies must be taken out for “list dogs” (breeds considered dangerous in Germany). Due to the special risk potential of these breeds, special rates are offered that are not covered by normal liability insurance.
Also of interest: These Breeds Are Considered “List Dogs” in Germany
These Benefits Offer Insurance for Dogs
When comparing dog insurance, the advantages of taking out a good insurance plan quickly become apparent. We list the most important benefits, even if not every point applies to every type of insurance:
- Dog owners do not have to expect unforeseen costs but pay calculable amounts.
- The scope of insurance can be adjusted according to personal preferences through the selection of the insurance plan.
- In the event of a claim, policyholders can focus on the essentials and not worry about costs
- Veterinary treatments no longer pose a financial risk.
- Necessary surgeries do not have to depend on the question of financing.
What to Consider When Choosing Dog Liability Insurance
New Fee Schedule for Veterinarians: Is Insurance Now Worth It?
The Best Dog Insurance in Review: What Matters
The needs of dog owners when taking out insurance for their pet are clear. An ideal plan offers optimal coverage at the most affordable premium possible. Reputable tests or comparisons of dog insurance take some of the work off dog owners.
However, since the results are not always fully transferable to your own dog and insurance needs, a personal comparison of dog insurance is ultimately unavoidable. Essentially, it comes down to the points of coverage amount and insurance conditions. We reveal what dog owners should pay attention to in each case.
Coverage Amount
Whether surgery insurance, health insurance, or liability insurance: The coverage amount of the insurance determines how much money policyholders can expect from their insurance in the event of a claim or damage. Especially with veterinary costs, plans with low benefit amounts can quickly reach their limits and be exhausted.
Insurance Conditions
Insurance conditions are often hardly understandable for laypeople and are usually only roughly skimmed. Even though it may be tempting given the many complicated clauses, dog owners should take the time to thoroughly review the plans. Often, breed-specific diseases are excluded in health and surgery insurance, or dental treatments are only included in premium plans.
There are also differences in the conditions for dog liability insurance. Some plans, for example, tie the insurance to the owner, so there is no coverage if the dog is walked by a third party and causes damage.
Also of interest: These 10 Dog Breeds Have the Strongest Bite Force
Our Recommendations for the 5 Best Dog Insurance Plans
The search for a suitable insurance plan is tedious but necessary. PETBOOK presents five plans from the three types of insurance that we consider recommendable.
Flexible Coverage for Surgeries: Uelzener Dog Surgery Insurance
The Uelzener dog surgery insurance is available in the basic, premium, and premium plus plans. The main differences are in the reimbursement limit. This is 1,500 euros annually for the basic plan, 3,000 euros for the premium plan, and unlimited for the premium plus plan (as of April 28, 2023).
In the premium plus plan, dog owners can further enhance their pet’s coverage with additional modules for rehab and dental care.
Advantages:
- Reimbursements are not dependent on the dog’s age or breed and are made regardless of the veterinary fee schedule
- Insurance coverage applies to all surgeries, including special operations
- Free choice of veterinarians and clinics with the option of tele-diagnosis
- Worldwide coverage for 12 months
- Coverage of minimally invasive surgical methods already in the basic plan
- Coverage of non-invasive surgical methods starting from the premium plan
- Coverage of endoscopies and foreign body removal in the premium plus plan
- Coverage of alternative veterinary treatments
- Coverage of emergency service fees
- Surgeries under local anesthesia from the premium plan
- Insurance coverage from the first day of life
- Basic and premium plans with a 150-euro deductible can also be taken out after the 6th birthday
- Direct billing possible
Disadvantages:
- Reimbursement limit: Even in the premium plus plan, special surgeries are limited to 3,000 euros per year.
- Age limit for enrollment in the premium plus plan is up to the 6th birthday
Comprehensive Coverage in Case of Illness: HanseMerkur Dog Health Insurance
The dog health insurance from HanseMerkur impresses with an optimal price-performance ratio. With a flexible plan model, dog owners can determine the level of coverage they want for their pet. In the premium plus plan, even surgeries with unlimited annual maximum benefits are covered.
The amount of the insurance premium depends on how old the dog is at the start of the insurance and what breed it belongs to. Additionally, the plans vary in terms of the level of benefits, whether a deductible is agreed upon, and the payment method. If a vacation is canceled because the dog needs surgery due to an accident, HanseMerkur covers cancellation costs up to 500 euros (as of April 28, 2023).
Advantages:
- Direct billing possible
- Coverage of diagnostics and alternative treatments without limit
- Coverage of breed-specific diseases
- Coverage up to four times the veterinary fee schedule
- Optional dental plan
- Free choice of veterinarians and clinics
- Twelve months of worldwide coverage
- No exclusion of certain dog breeds
- No cancellation by HanseMerkur in the event of a claim
- No ordinary cancellation by HanseMerkur after the third year of insurance
- Coverage of tele-diagnosis and therapy costs
- Coverage of homeopathy, acupuncture, and laser therapy
- No time limit on follow-up treatments
- Unlimited stay in an animal clinic
- Capped coverage of physiotherapy, osteopathy, prosthetics, implants, orthotics, aids, and developmental disorders
Disadvantages:
- Age limit for new policy enrollment is up to the 8th birthday
- 250-euro deductible for policies taken out after the 5th birthday in the premium plan and after the 3rd birthday in the premium plus plan
Comprehensive Coverage in Case of Illness: HanseMerkur Dog Health Insurance
The dog health insurance from HanseMerkur stands out for its excellent value for money. With a flexible plan model, dog owners can choose the level of coverage they want for their pet. In the Premium Plus plan, even surgeries with unlimited annual maximum benefits are covered.
The insurance premium amount depends on the dog’s age at the start of the policy and its breed. Additionally, the plans vary in terms of the level of benefits, whether a deductible is agreed upon, and the payment method. If a vacation is canceled because the dog needs surgery due to an accident, HanseMerkur covers cancellation costs up to 500 euros (as of April 28, 2023).
Advantages:
- Direct billing possible
- Coverage of diagnostics and alternative treatments without limit
- Coverage of breed-specific diseases
- Coverage up to four times the veterinary fee schedule
- Optional dental plan
- Free choice of veterinarians and clinics
- Twelve months of worldwide coverage
- No exclusion of certain dog breeds
- No cancellation by HanseMerkur after the third policy year
- Coverage of tele-diagnosis and therapy
- Coverage of homeopathy, acupuncture, and laser therapy
- No time limit on follow-up treatments
- Unlimited stay in an animal clinic
- Capped coverage for physiotherapy, osteopathy, prosthetics, implants, orthotics, aids, and developmental disorders
Disadvantages:
- Age limit for new policy enrollment is up to the 8th birthday
- 250-euro deductible for policies taken out after the 5th birthday in the premium plan and after the 3rd birthday in the premium plus plan