June 20, 2024, 9:09 am | Read time: 2 minutes
A lot has changed for pet owners in Germany since the revised scale of fees for veterinarians (GOT) came into force. Owners complain about the exorbitant increase in costs that a visit to the vet now entails. A survey now shows that more and more owners are waiting longer before taking their dogs to the vet.
Pet owners are currently facing challenging times. Like everyone else, they are grappling with the rising cost of living. In Germany, this is compounded by the revised scale of fees for veterinarians (GOT). Since the end of 2022, GOT has made many veterinary services significantly more expensive. This additional financial burden is something many are unable or unwilling to shoulder. This is shown by a survey on the new GOT conducted by “Dogorama“, a community platform for dog owners.
GOT survey reveals: over 30 percent of owners delay vet visits for their dogs
The results show that, on average, 32.7 percent of dog owners wait longer than they did previously before taking their pet to the vet. Furthermore, 80 percent reported that the new GOT significantly increased their financial burden. In total, more than 10,000 people took part in the survey, according to the “Dogorama” press release.
The situation in veterinary medicine is similar to that in human medicine: the earlier a disease is discovered, the better the chances of being able to treat it successfully. Consequently, veterinarians and animal welfare advocates urge pet owners to seek veterinary care promptly when health issues arise. Since the introduction of the new GOT, animal insurers have therefore registered a significant rush of new insurance policies.
Pet insurers report: “We’re witnessing a substantial inflation rate, in the double digits”
In an interview with PETBOOK, Fabian Stürmer-Heiber and Philip Timpe from Allianz Versicherungs-AG explain: “The new fee schedule represents a fundamental reform in veterinary billing logic, adapted to medical progress and inflation. This has resulted in a significant increase in veterinary treatment costs. Specifically, we are seeing a double-digit inflation rate, which is high. We now also see this reflected in our service expenses.”
For example, the treatment of a torn cruciate ligament in a dog used to cost around 1000 euros. “Today, we see costs of over 2500 euros plus follow-up treatment and physiotherapy.”
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Rising demand drives up premiums for pet insurance providers
However, the adjusted GOT has also meant that many providers have had to increase their premiums, explains Petolo CEO Daniel Gadea in an interview with PETBOOK. “Regrettably, the GOT adjustment has necessitated premium increases by insurance companies due to the significant rise in service costs and veterinary bill reimbursements.”