Is Pet Insurance Worth It for Your German Shepherd Dog ?

No one wants to think about their German Shepherd getting hurt or sick. But considering a pet owner is faced with a vet bill of more than $1,000 every 6 seconds, having pet insurance for your German Shepherd can be a lifesaver. With many choices in the market, it could be intimidating to understand whether pet insurance is worth it for your German Shepherd. And in this article, our goal is to give you the only information you’ll need to make an educated decision.

German Shepherds are a full-on, high-activity breed, which means they’ll need significant vet care at some point in their lifetime. If your GSD is young (under 5-year-old) and healthy, pet insurance is worth it. Having pet insurance means you never have to face the dilemma of choosing between your GSD’s health and your family’s financial future.

Read on to see breed-specific information on getting pet insurance for German Shepherd dogs.

Pet insurance terminology: What you need to know

When it comes to buying pet insurance for your furry friend, here is the list of the most important terminology you must know:

Deductible -The amount you must pay before the pet insurance company begins to reimburse you. If you have a $250 deductible on your pet insurance policy and a vet bill of $1,000 for covered services, you will have to pay the $250, and the insurance company will pay $750.

Reimbursement percentage – The percentage of the amount you will be reimbursed after the deductible is met. In the example above if your reimbursement percentage is 100%, you will get $750 from your insurance company. If it was 80%, the amount you’ll get is $600 ($750 x80%).

Co-pay – The short for co-payment, is the residue amount (you pay) after the reimbursement percentage. If the reimbursement percentage of your policy is 80%, your co-pay is 20%.

Out-of-pocket: This is the amount you are expected to pay and including your deductible and co-pay. Again with the same example, your out-of-pocket is $400 (deductible:$250 + co-pay: $750 x20%) if your reimbursement percentage is 80%.

Annual limit – The maximum amount the insurance company will reimburse you in a policy year. The annual maximum does not include the deductible and co-pay amounts you pay.

Waiting Period – The initial period (usually 2 weeks) in which your pet won’t get covered after the policy become effective.

What does pet insurance cover?

There are two main types of insurance coverage for dogs: (Source: Pawlicy Advisor)

1. Accident-Only Coverage: Protect against treatment costs from accidental injuries such as swallowing foreign objects, bite wounds, and broken bones. This type of policy is available at a cheaper rate, but with substantially less coverage.

2. Accident & Illness Coverage: Protects against treatment costs for accidental injuries and unexpected illnesses like disease, infection, poisoning, and even cancer. Most people enroll in this option.

In essence, this type of policy covers everything from accidents to:

• Hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia, Pyoderma (German Shepherd Dog pyoderma), idiopathic epilepsy, cataracts, and cancer
• Chronic illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes, or a heart condition
• Most surgeries
• Prescription medications
• Dental bills
• Any sort of diagnostic testing or x-rays
• Emergency care fees

What does pet insurance NOT cover?

If your German Shepherd Dog already has a pre-existing condition that is not curable, the chances are high that it is not covered. That doesn’t mean you are unable to get pet insurance. In this instance, they offer the policy with an exclusion for that particular pre-existing condition.

In addition, most pet insurance policies do not cover:

• Elective surgeries (spaying/neutering)
• Routine care (vaccinations, dental, grooming)
• Pet supplies and food (toys, training equipment, food)
• Boarding or daycare (stays at pet resorts, kennels
• Property damage caused by your GSD (broken fence, damage to lawn and garden)

Average Annual Premium for GSD

We took the number for all 50 states and come up with the average premium for a 6-month, 18-month and 5.5-year-old German Shepherds are $472.66, $472.09, and $586.64.

Average Annual Premium for GSD in 50 States

The average annual vet bill is $458

Consider that the average dog owner spends approximately $458 for surgical visits and $242 annually on routine vet visits, such as vaccinations and checkups. (Source: nerdwallet.com )

Let’s put it into perspective:

Most people choose $250 as their deductible with 80% reimburstment.

With an avearge vet bill of $458, your out-of-pocket is $291.60 ($250 + $208×0.2). Hence, your pet insurane will you save you $166.40 ($458-291.60) for an average visit.

From the data above, the avearge premium for a 18-month GSD is $473. That said, you will have to visit the vet 2.8 times to break even on your investment on an insurance plan.

But this is only an estimation with an average vet bill. That’s why you also need to weigh on the odds of your furry friend needing treatment with amount beyond the average level.

Let’s look at the costs of the most common treatment for German Shepherds.

10 Most common health issues for German Shepherds and their treatment costs

Below are the treatment costs of the most common health issues that German Shepherds may come accross in their lives. Keep in mind that these are average costs, and the cost of treatment could be higher depending on where you live in the U.S. 

Let’s look at Hemophilia. As you can see, every one in two GSD will develop this complication. And the treatment cost is up to $500 per month, which is a little higher than an averge vet bill costs. With a pet insurance plan in place, you will be sure that your GSD can get the requirment treatment with an affordable cost.

Suppose your German Shepherd is diagnosed with hip dysplasia. The cost could be as much as $6,000 out of pocket without insurance. That charge is per hip, so if the diagnosis indicates both hips need surgery, the cost is doubled.

With pet insurance, you will be saving over $4000 dollars and have a peace of mind that your pooch will get the treatment he needs without comprim

Since German Shepherds are so predisposed to a range of health issues, often more than one, it makes sense to get coverage as soon as you can, preferably while your dog is young and healthy.

Conclusion

It may seem prudent to wait on pet insurance since your German Shepherd is young and in good health.

However, considering that most insurance plans for pets do not cover pre-existing problems, obtaining insurance when your dog is young and healthy makes more sense.

More on German Shepherd Allergies

• Most Common German Shepherd Allergies: What You Need to Know
• How to Help Your German Shepherd With Allergies?
• Ear Allergy in German Shepherds: Everything You Need to Know
• Chicken Allergy in German Shepherds: Everything You Need to Know
• German Shepherd Skin Allergies: Best Tips for Relief
• How to Stop Itching in German Shepherds? Effective Remedies Owners Use

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Spoil your dog with these treats…

Sarah Miller

Sarah is a lifelong dog enthusiast from New York who found her true calling when she adopted a spirited German Shepherd puppy named Max. Alongside her husband David, a canine health specialist, Sarah turned her home into a sanctuary for rescued German Shepherds, offering them love, training, and rehabilitation.

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