Veterinary cost pressure and high-cost treatment drivers persist
Key Questions
What are the current minimum costs for basic and specialized veterinary exams under the new GOT?
The new GOT sets a minimum basic exam fee at €23.62, while a heart exam for a cat in Schleswig-Holstein costs €230. These baseline rates contribute to broader cost pressures on pet owners.
How much have veterinary costs risen recently and what impact does this have?
Reports confirm a 25% average hike since November 2022, with Tierarztkosten exploding over the past 3.5 years. This has created affordability challenges especially for low-income owners and retirees.
Why is pet insurance becoming more essential amid high treatment costs?
Four-figure costs for brachycephalic or dental procedures can reach lifetime totals of around €80k or €943-1k annually. A recent €19,000 cat case illustrates the crisis, making insurance critical for GOT-Satz based reimbursements.
New GOT: basic exam €23.62 min, heart exam €230 (cat, SH). Four-figure brachy/dental; lifetime ~€80k; annual €943-1k. Recent reports confirm 25% average hike since Nov 2022, exploding Tierarztkosten over 3.5 years, affordability issues for low-income owners/retirees, and GOT-Satz mechanics for reimbursement in policies. Insurance increasingly essential. Latest article (ex-4d8bb60a) reinforces crisis with 19,000€ cat case.