When we humans get sick and have to go to the doctor, we usually give little thought to how much the treatment will actually cost. After all, most of it is paid for by the health insurance company, so we usually don’t see a bill anyway.
However, it is different with our pets. Because if a cat, dog or rabbit has to see a doctor, this quickly results in high veterinary costs. To get your beloved pet the treatment it needs, you as the pet owner have no choice but to foot the bill and pay the vet bill.
But how high are the veterinary costs exactly and why is it possible that you are billed very different sums for the same treatment by different veterinarians? You can find out more about this in the following article.
Key facts at a glance
- Veterinary costs are set by the GOT.
- Despite GOT, prices can vary, which is why a price comparison makes sense.
- With pet health insurance, you don’t have to worry about the costs.
Veterinary costs are set by the fee schedule
Of course, veterinarians are not allowed to just set their prices arbitrarily, but have to stick to rules. How these look exactly and what costs a treatment may cause is set out in the scale of fees for veterinarians. The GOT (Fee Schedule for Veterinarians) first came into force on December 1st, 1940 and was last adjusted in February 2020.
Why the vet costs can differ despite GOT
Despite the scale of fees, it can happen that the prices for the same treatment at two different veterinarians are very different. This is due to the fact that the scale of fees only provides a framework within which the veterinary costs for the various examinations and treatments may vary.
A veterinarian must charge at least the simple rate and at most four times the fee rate. For example, the vet costs for a caesarean section in dogs can be EUR 160.34 (single rate) or EUR 481.02 (triple rate).
Of course, the difference is not that big for smaller examinations or treatments. Nevertheless, differences in veterinary costs are also possible here due to the specifications in the fee schedule.
How Vets Set Their Fees
In principle, veterinarians are largely free within the set framework and can set their fees more or less at their own discretion.
The following factors play a role in the actual amount of veterinary costs:
- The location of the veterinary practice (In the city, a veterinarian usually has higher expenses than in the country. In order to cover these, he has to charge a higher rate.)
- The equipment of the practice rooms (modern examination devices cost a lot of money. The better equipped a practice is, the higher the veterinary costs.)
- The necessary effort for the respective animal (if several people are required to treat a stubborn animal, this causes additional costs that are passed on to the customer.)
- The amount of time required (For example, if there are complications during an operation, it will take longer. The vet will take the additional time into account when setting their fees.)
- The time at which the service is provided (if an animal has to be cared for at the weekend or at night due to an emergency, the veterinary costs are higher than if treatment is given during normal office hours.)
Irrespective of the factors mentioned, no veterinarian may charge less than the simple rate. This is to ensure that all practices maintain high quality standards and are not forced to save at the wrong end due to cost pressures.
Veterinary costs cannot be accurately predicted in advance
As the owner, you naturally have a legitimate interest in knowing in advance what veterinary costs you can expect. In practice, however, it is hardly possible for a veterinarian to give you an accurate assessment in advance.
Of course, he knows how his practice is set up and what his monthly expenses are for rent and staff. However, complications can always arise. For example, what appears to be a routine procedure can quickly turn into a major issue. This increases the effort and, of course, the veterinary costs.
Nevertheless, you should speak to your veterinarian before an upcoming examination, treatment or operation and at least have them tell you the expected costs. At least that way you know what to expect in a normal course and will not experience any nasty surprises afterwards.
Get awards from different veterinarians
It can be worthwhile to ask different veterinarians for a quote. Of course, the well-being of your four-legged friend should always come first. In some cases, a specialist may be required, leaving you with no choice.
But not every treatment requires special knowledge or expensive equipment. Therefore, for normal check-ups or routine surgeries, comparing multiple practices can help you reduce veterinary costs without sacrificing the quality of care.
Pet health insurance protects you from high vet bills
As the owner of a dog or a cat, you should remember that buying food and a few accessories is not enough. At the latest when your four-legged friend becomes seriously ill, you will realize how expensive pets can be.
The veterinary costs can certainly move in an area that causes problems for you. Treating dogs is very expensive. It’s only slightly cheaper for cats, and even taking your kids’ rabbits to the vet can quickly become a costly treat.
With animal health insurance, you ensure that you no longer have to worry about this in the future. Because this takes over the largest part of the veterinary bill within the framework of the selected tariff.
covers your veterinary costs
At you have two tariffs to choose from for this purpose. With our OP cost protection, you protect yourself against veterinary costs that arise during operations. Our comprehensive health insurance also covers numerous other costs that the vet bills you for.
It is best to send us your insurance application today and let us pay for your veterinary costs in the future.