Many dog owners are familiar with the issue that veterinary costs can quickly skyrocket. If you need veterinary services even in the evening or on the weekend or very specific examinations for your dog, the bill can even double or triple. This is another reason why many dog owners ask themselves whether it would be worthwhile for them to take out a pet health insurance policy.
There is now a wide range of providers for dog health insurance. Many large, well-known insurance companies have animal health insurance in their portfolio. In addition, there are also companies that specialize in dog health insurance. Almost all providers offer different tariff options and, of course, different benefits in case of illness. Most providers require a waiting period. This can vary, but is usually three months. In addition, many tariffs are structured according to graduated premiums, which means that the insurance premium increases with the age of the dog. In addition, most policies have annual quotas for surgeries, regular veterinary costs and special treatments.
All in all, it is not that easy to keep track of the multitude of offers and, above all, to find the best solution for yourself and your dog. When considering whether dog health insurance is worthwhile, however, factors such as the age of the dog, the breed of dog and, of course, a look at the individual lifestyle can help.
The age of the dog is an important factor. However, there is unfortunately no guideline from which age a dog health insurance makes sense. In many forums, one encounters the prevailing opinion that puppies or young dogs do not yet need animal health insurance, since serious illnesses are rarely present at a young age. Thus, the cost-benefit ratio would not be in favor of the dog owner. However, we have made the personal experience that especially in the puppy age all kinds of incidents can occur, which require frequent visits to the vet or even in the veterinary hospital. For example, growth-related lameness, unknown allergies or the swallowing of almost anything can make the conclusion of a dog health insurance already in puppy age sensible.
One factor that is very useful in assessing the need for dog health insurance is the breed of dog. Many dog breeds have diseases that are statically more common as they age. Thus, some dog breeds are more predisposed to acquiring certain diseases than others. So if you are aware of your own dog’s risk factors, you can find out in advance about any costs that may be incurred and make a personal cost-benefit assessment.
And of course, the question of individual lifestyle also plays a big role. On the one hand, of course, you should consider your own financial situation and ask yourself whether, in an extreme case, you would be able to afford extremely high veterinary costs in the short, medium and perhaps even long term. On the other hand, you should consider the activities of yourself and your dog. For example, are you often out in the mountains, do you have extreme hobbies or do you do a lot of sports with your dog? Of course, this also increases the risk of injury.
If you want to learn more about dog health insurance, you can get an overview of the providers, rates and benefits at the well-known comparison portals.