Cat Health Insurance Comparison

A full-cover comparison for cats comes down to two numbers: the reimbursed fee-schedule rate and the annual maximum limit. Here is how to check both figures and factor in the deductible cleanly.

What really distinguishes two full-cover tariffs

Yes, the comparison can be reduced to two numbers: when you put two full-cover tariffs for cats side by side, what you are really deciding is the reimbursed fee-schedule rate, i.e. up to which rate of the fee schedule the insurer pays, and the annual maximum limit, i.e. the cap on all reimbursements within the policy year. Everything else, from dental treatment to aftercare, shifts the result only at the margin. These two key figures determine how much of a large vet bill is ultimately covered.

The framework for both numbers is the GOT, the fee schedule for veterinarians (Gebührenordnung für Tierärztinnen und Tierärzte). It is a nationwide legal ordinance and generally sets the fee at one to three times the base rate, with no fixed prices.^[1][2] The current version entered into force on 22 November 2022. In emergency service, i.e.^[2] at night, at weekends or on a public holiday, the base rates double and, according to the ordinance, rise to up to four times, plus an emergency service fee of 50 euros.^[3] That is exactly where the largest bills arise, and exactly where the reimbursed rate decides.

Typical cost scenarios show how quickly it gets expensive: a swallowed foreign object, a fall from a window or a fracture regularly lead to bills in the high three-digit to four-digit range, because examination, imaging, anaesthesia, surgery and inpatient aftercare are each billed separately under the fee schedule. A single bill like that can already use up half or all of a basic tariff's annual limit.

• Reimbursement rate: Up to which fee-schedule rate does the tariff reimburse, 3x or 4x?
• Annual maximum limit: How much does the tariff reimburse per policy year at most, a fixed yearly amount or unlimited?
• Only then do the deductible, i.e. your share per case, the preventive care budget and the premium come into play.

Does this apply to your two offers?

The general rule applies to every full-cover comparison: the reimbursement rate and annual maximum determine how much of a large bill is actually paid. What decides your case, however, is a distinction that no article can make for you: whether your cat is young and healthy and you are mainly insuring against the rare major emergency, or whether ongoing treatments and a preventive care budget shape the year's bill. In the first case, 4x rate and a high or unlimited annual limit matter most; in the second case, the deductible, i.e. your share per case, and the optional modules shift the result more. Which levels and modules are in your two offers is stated only in those offers. Enter your cat's details and have the matching full-cover tariffs displayed.

What could still change in the comparison

Both comparison figures depend on framework conditions that can change. According to the federal government, the GOT (schedule of veterinary fees) is to be evaluated in 2026, four years after its revision; a study has been commissioned, with results expected by the end of 2026.^[4] Whether fee scales or emergency service rules will shift as a result remains open. Annual maximums, deductible levels and preventive care budgets are also tariff features that insurers can adjust. For this reason, check both key figures against the current terms and conditions, not against an older overview.

The next step is therefore clear: note down from both offers the reimbursed GOT rate, the annual maximum and the form of the deductible, and then start your tariff comparison with your cat's details — with two cats, once per animal.