Best Dog Liability & Health Insurance in Germany [2023 Guide] (2023)

FAQs

Is there pet insurance in Germany? ›

Here are the best pet insurances in Germany: Getsafe – dog liability (50 million cover) and pet health insurance, with no deductible possible, and everything is available in English. Luko – dog liability (30 million cover) and pet health insurance with or without a deductible. All in English and all digital.

The winner is Techniker Krankenkasse

Techniker Krankenkasse offers the best mix of price and service and is leading the score in many tests ^source. Techniker Krankenkasse is the largest German public health insurer and covers one-eight of the German population with over 10.5 million members ^source.

Germany has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, and health insurance is mandatory for everyone living here. The majority of the population is covered by statutory health insurance, but private health insurance provides an important supplement to this system.

Dog tax in Hamburg: €90 – €600 / year. Dog tax in Wuppertal: €160 – €1,000 / year. Dog tax in Berlin: €120 – €160 / year. Dog tax in Munich: €100 - €800 / year.

Dog registry and dog tax

You must register for the dog tax (Hundesteuer). It costs 120€/year for one dog. It costs 180€/year for each extra dog.

The average premium is around 400 - 700 euros per month (significantly less for students). If you are employed, approximately 50% of your contributions will be covered by your employer - up to a maximum of approximately 403,99 euros per month in 2023.

Three of the largest providers of health insurance in Germany are AOK, Barmer GEK and TK. While there are over 100 (a complete list – in German – is available here), these companies offer good English language websites.

Private health insurance does not adjust to your income; you pay the same even if you lose your job. If you are a student, you pay around 120€ per month until you are 31 years old. Public health insurance is usually the best option for students. Public health insurance covers your children and your unemployed spouse.

Disadvantages of private health insurance

Coverage comes at a cost, and premiums increase yearly. Depending on your policy, you may not be covered for the treatment you require. It's important to take your time in choosing the right level of cover.

What does private insurance cover in Germany? ›

German health insurance generally covers visits to doctors as well as basic dental care, surgery, outpatient appointments, and essential or non-cosmetic in-hospital treatments.

It usually costs less than 5€ per month, or around 60€ per year. You can pay less if you get multiple insurances from the same company. Use Tarifcheck to compare liability insurance prices.

Most German liability insurance contracts cover only the person signing the contract (Versicherungsnehmer) as standard. Other packages exist to take family and household members into account. This means that if your spouse accidentally damages something while visiting friends, the costs are covered.

According to The Commonwealth Fund, Germany has universal health coverage provided by two systems, which are known as the Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) and the private health insurance (PHI).

The price for a complete EU Pet Passport in 2022 can cost anywhere between €20 and €448+. The price is broken down into the following compulsory and potential costs: Pet microchipping.

Dog keeping regulations in Germany

It is not allowed to permanently keep a dog in a box; only two hours per day at the most. *Half of that mandatory floor space has to be added for each additional dog kept in the same kennel. c. attached so that the dog may go to its dog house, lie down and turn around.

Your pet needs a health certificate (Form 988 in German and English) filled out by a vet and dated within 10 days of departure. Most vets will have this “pet passport” form, but if not, it is available online (see links below).

Expats who qualify as tax residents of Germany will be taxed on their worldwide income, while non-residents are only taxed on German-source income. In either case, if your only income is a salary or wages from a German employer, you may not have to file a tax return.

A primary vaccination must be administered at least 21 days prior to crossing the border. The pet has to be microchipped before the rabies vaccination. Entry is conditional on the animal being accompanied by a person.

Your veterinarian must obtain and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. Your pet's veterinarian must issue an Intratrade health certificate completed within 48 hours of entry. Your pet's transport must be entered into the TRACES system.

What is the World No 1 insurance company? ›

Progressive is the No. 1 auto insurance company in the country in terms of market share, followed by State Farm, Geico and Allstate.

How much does a $100,000 term life insurance policy cost? The average monthly cost for $100,000 in life insurance for a 30-year-old is $11.02 for a 10-year policy and $12.59 for a 20-year policy.

Although most foreigners living in Germany are eligible for state healthcare, some must sign up manually and all residents must have some form of health insurance.

German residents who have paid into the social security system have their healthcare costs covered in old age, but new residents must seek alternative cover. EU and EEA nationals with an S1 health form from their home country can access medical treatment free or at reduced rates.

Applying for public healthcare insurance is relatively stress-free, as you simply need to register with the German authorities at your local town hall. Once you are registered, have a social security number, and are making your contributions, you will have access to the state-run healthcare.

The benefits of the German healthcare system are decreased number of prescription dependencies, does not have a 100% socialized single-payer system that most Americans fear, reasonable cost for hospitals and prescription drug co-pays, ability to purchase private insurance, no penalty for switching from public to ...

Like most countries, health insurance coverage in Germany is based upon residency. The system does not cover you when you move abroad. There is one exception, however. German citizens who sign up for the free European Health Insurance Card or EHIC can enjoy medical services in other participating European countries.

International workers will (in most cases) have to subscribe to a public health insurance company in Germany once they settle and started working. However, before you travel to Germany, you will have to purchase a travel health insurance plan which will cover you for the initial period of your stay.

Unlike health insurance and car insurance, private liability insurance is not mandatory in Germany, but it may as well be, considering how many people choose to take out a policy.

Do I need liability insurance Germany? ›

Apart from health insurance, the must-haves for everyone living in Germany are liability and household insurances. Both are useful for unforeseen events. Liability insurance covers you in cases of unintentional harm to a person, their belongings, or an object.

Contributions to health insurance are completely tax deductible as far as these contributions are paid for primary basic healthcare. Contributions to long-term care insurance are also tax deductible under these circumstances.

You will be responsible for the full bill and will need to work out a payment arrangement with the hospital. Consider asking for charity care options or discounts that might be available to help offset some of the costs.

In Germany, you must take out health insurance as an employee. A distinction is made between statutory and private health insurance. These are two different systems and you cannot switch between them freely.

Applicable for AOK-insured employees also in 2021, is an unchanged general contribution rate of 14.6 percent, plus a small, health insurance company individually based additional contribution. In the case of the employees, the gross pay is used to calculate the contribution.

Earn less than the private health insurance threshold.

If you're thinking of switching to a private plan, you probably know that there are some income requirements you need to fulfill. In 2023, this means that if you're employed full-time, you must earn more than €66,600 a year to enter the private system.

Insurances for occupational risks, such as professional liability insurance, accident insurance, and labor law policies must be deducted as income-related expenses (Werbungskosten), while insurances that cover private risks must be deducted as special expenses (Sonderausgaben).

Liability coverage pays for both property damage you caused to another's property, as well as any bodily injury caused to others as a result of the accident. The following expenses are among the types of damages that may be considered: Hospital and medical bills. Lost wages.

What is deductible in insurance Germany? ›

In principle, health insurance in Germany covers the costs if you have to see a doctor or go to the hospital. This applies to statutory and private health insurance. With a deductible, you bear part of these costs yourself. The deductible is the amount that you have to pay yourself if you need treatment or medication.

How much does public health insurance cost in Germany? In Germany, all employed workers pay a statutory healthcare insurance contribution as part of their social security contribution. This is normally 7.3% of their gross paycheck, and this is typically matched by the employer who pays a further 7.3%.

You can expect to pay between €7–21 for a simple consultation and €13–40 for an exam. Microchipping costs €40–60. An x-ray will cost €25–77. Blood tests usually set you back €16–48.

Germany is not merely pet-friendly, but practically treats pets as kings. In Germany, you will find that a vast majority of families have one or more dearly loved non-human member. However, the country is also very stringent about its pet laws.

The animal must be at least 15 weeks old. The animal must have a microchip, a vaccination certificate and an animal health certificate. The animal must have been vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before entry. The animal must enter the EU directly.

With an EU Pet Passport, your dog, cat or ferret can travel through the EU and other non-EU countries with ease. So, if you're planning on going traveling, you don't have to leave your furry friend at home! The price for a complete EU Pet Passport in 2022 can cost anywhere between €20 and €448+.

Larger dogs have to travel as “live cargo.” You will need an airline-approved pet kennel for this. Airlines charge a fee for a Europe-bound in-cabin or baggage-checked pet (usually about $200) or a pet being shipped as international cargo ($400-600). Check with your airline for the exact rates.

According to German veterinary fee regulations (GOT), the cost for vaccination of a dog (without including the cost of the vaccine) varies from 23.73 to 94.92 Euro, which is relatively inexpensive compared with treatment costs [68].

Can you bring pets to Germany from USA? ›

A primary vaccination must be administered at least 21 days prior to crossing the border. The pet has to be microchipped before the rabies vaccination. Entry is conditional on the animal being accompanied by a person.

Most common pets in Germany? According to Statisca, there are about 34.3 Million pets in Germany. Cats are the majority with about 14.7 living in households in Germany. Dogs come second place at around 10.1 Million followed by small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs at 5.2 Million.

Germany's favourite pet is the cat

The cat continues to be Germany's most popular pet. There are a total of 13.7 million feline friends in 22 percent of households.

Outside developed areas, dogs must be automatically put on a leash in case of other persons approaching. Violations against these rules may be punished by fines up to €5,000.

Germany is a very dog-friendly country. They are allowed almost everywhere (besides grocery stores) with only the rare Kein Hund erlaubt ("No dogs allowed"). This is made possible because most German dogs are very well-behaved. They heel perfectly, listen to every command and even stop before crossing the street.

What is an EU Pet Passport? An EU Pet Passport is a document issued by an official veterinarian in a European Union (EU) Member State (country within the EU) or other designated country that contains official health information related to a specific pet. An EU Pet Passport cannot be obtained in the U.S.