With over 33.9 million pets across German households and ownership surging in Switzerland and Austria, the DACH region’s pet population represents more than affection - it signals a growing, underserved insurance market.
As more households embrace cats and dogs as full-fledged family members, the gap in pet health insurance becomes harder to ignore. Despite growing demand, coverage penetration remains low, with Switzerland under 10%¹ and Germany hovering around 30% for dog owners². Rising veterinary costs and new regulatory pressures, such as Germany’s revised Veterinary Fee Schedule (GOT)³, only intensify the need for better financial protection.
For insurers, especially those in the health and P&C domains, this represents an untapped growth area. Meanwhile, pet retailers and veterinary networks are perfectly positioned to act as insurance distribution allies, thanks to frequent and meaningful customer touchpoints.
NEOINSURANCE® principles at play: ecosystems, data, and innovation
Modern pet insurance solutions ideally leverage three NEOINSURANCE® core beliefs:
- Ecosystem enabled: Integration of insurance at various consumer touchpoints at the point of sale.
- Data as an asset: Using data from IoT pet devices for personalised and preventive care.
- Innovative product design: Structuring coverages similarly to human health insurance, offering customisable add-ons such as dental care, wellness checks, alternative treatments, and outpatient services.
Curious about how NEOINSURANCE® is transforming the industry? Explore our dedicated service page to see how we help insurers and ecosystem players design, build, and scale next-generation insurance models.
What comes next?
In the full article, we go beyond the market potential to uncover practical execution strategies:
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Three ecosystem case studies from Germany and Switzerland showcasing how pet retailers and insurers are forming powerful affinity partnerships.
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How health insurers can organically expand into P&C by offering pet insurance as part of family-centred plans.
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Product design blueprints mapping the structural similarities between pet and human health insurance.
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Data-driven cross-selling strategies using pet behaviour insights to inform targeted offers.
How can Synpulse support shape your pet insurance offering
Synpulse, with deep expertise in health and P&C insurance, supports insurers and ecosystem partners in navigating these complexities. From developing distribution strategies and innovative propositions to realizing ecosystem-based solutions with access to insurtech networks and insurance partners, Synpulse acts as a catalyst for successful market entry and sustainable growth.
Ultimately, expanding into pet health insurance represents a compelling strategic move, aligning insurers, retailers, and consumers in a mutually beneficial ecosystem, closing the protection gap for our beloved pets.
If you are exploring opportunities in the pet insurance space, contact us today to discover how Synpulse can help you build a future-proof, ecosystem-enabled proposition.
References:
1. TierWelt (2015), Schweizer versichern ihre Haustiere nicht
2. RTL (2025), Studie: Mehr Menschen wünschen sich Schutz für ihre Haustiere
3. Gebührenordnung für Tierärzte (GOT), revised 22 November 2022
