Up to what age can I get health insurance for my dog or cat in Germany?
In short
Each German tariff sets its own maximum entry age. For a dog it is usually 5 to 8 years, for a cat 8 to 10 years, and some insurers name no upper limit at all. Cover can usually start from 8 weeks. The limit applies to taking out a new policy: a dog or cat insured young stays in the contract as it gets older.
Age limits and premiums from published German tariff comparisons for dogs and cats.
Example
Typical range
Maximum age dog, by tariff
5 or 8 years, some with no limit
Maximum age cat, by tariff
8 or 10 years, some with no limit
Full cover, young small dog
about EUR 11 to 18 a month
Full cover, dog aged eight and over
about EUR 50 to 80 a month
Surgery cover, young house cat
from about EUR 7 to 10 a month
October 2026.
Age limits from published tariff overviews; they change with the tariffs.
Premiums for dogs aged eight and over and the savings view are guide values from our quoting
practice.
Norman Nammert, as an insurance broker, checks which tariff still accepts your pet.
Worked example
Two dogs, two starting points
Two dogs of the same age, one insured at two, the other only at eight after a joint finding.
Dog A, insured at 2
full cover without exclusions, stays in the contract
Dog A at 8
higher age bracket, joints covered
Dog B, applies at 8
only tariffs with limit 8 or no limit
Dog B, result
about EUR 50 to 80 a month, joints excluded
Both pay similar amounts in old age. Only dog A is covered for the problem most likely to cost money.
Why there is a maximum age for new policies
Older pets see the vet more often and usually already have findings in their records. That is why many German tariffs limit the age up to which they take on a new dog or cat. The consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale) describes the choice for dogs over seven as limited.
The limit only applies when you take out a policy. A dog insured at three is not removed at nine for being over the entry age. It does move into higher age brackets, and the insurer can end the contract at the end of an insurance year unless its conditions rule that out (section 11 of the Insurance Contract Act, VVG).
What the tariff sets
Dog
Cat
Earliest entry age
usually 8 weeks
usually 8 weeks, some from day one
Maximum age with excess, example
8 years
8 years
Maximum age without excess, example
5 years
depends on the tariff
Another insurer, example
8 years
10 years
A few insurers
no upper limit
no upper limit
I have an older pet: what can I still do?
If you want health insurance for a seven year old dog or a nine year old cat, a policy is often still possible, but not with every insurer. Expect much higher premiums: for dogs aged eight and over, full cover is quoted at about EUR 50 to 80 a month.
The exclusions matter more than the price. Anything in the vet records usually stays out. An older dog with arthritis will often only get a new policy without the joints. Surgery cover for new illnesses can then be the more honest choice than expensive full cover.
The best time to get health insurance for a pet
The best time is shortly after the pet moves in, from eight weeks. There are no findings to exclude yet, and the waiting period (Wartezeit) is over before typical joint or dental problems start. For an indoor cat you can start later, but aim to sign before age five or six, when the choice shrinks.
When a policy for an old pet no longer pays
For a ten year old dog with several findings, a new contract often only pays for accidents and illnesses that have not yet appeared. If that costs EUR 700 a year or more, a fixed savings pot for the dog is often the calmer solution.
Step by step
Note your pet's age and any findings in its records.
Filter tariffs by maximum entry age, with and without excess.
Ask which findings would be excluded before you apply.
For older pets, compare surgery cover plus savings with full cover plus exclusions.
Do not wait with young pets: signing before age five keeps the choice wide.
Checklist
Your pet is below the tariff's maximum age
Limit with and without excess known
Exclusions for known findings in writing
Premiums of the later age brackets known
Insurer's right to cancel checked in the conditions
Common mistakes
Waiting until the pet is ill for the first time
Assuming the maximum age also ends a running contract
Cancelling a good contract in old age when no other tariff accepts the pet
Leaving findings out of the application to get an older pet accepted
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
From what age can I insure my dog?
Usually from eight weeks.
The Verbraucherzentrale names two months as the usual minimum age.
Can I still insure a ten year old cat?
With tariffs that have a 10 year limit, just about,
otherwise only with insurers without an upper limit.
Known findings are usually excluded.
Does the policy end when my dog reaches the maximum age?
No, the maximum age applies to new policies.
The contract continues and the premium follows the age brackets.
Why is the limit lower without an excess?
Because the insurer then pays every bill in full.
In one published example the limit is 5 years without and 8 years with an excess.
Are there tariffs with no age limit?
Yes, a few insurers name no upper limit for dogs and cats.
Premiums for older pets are high there.
Is a policy for an old dog worth it?
If the dog is still healthy, surgery cover can make sense.
With many findings, a new contract often pays too little, and savings are better.
