Understanding human vs pet healthcare costs

There’s a common misconception that veterinary costs exceed that of human medical expenses. The examples provided below show that the cost of the procedure for humans and pets is similar, however there is no government subsidy for pet healthcare.

Pets also age much faster than humans, meaning that they experience a lifetime of health concerns from pediatric to geriatric in a condensed timeframe.

Lastly, pets also can’t tell us what is wrong which means that veterinarians may have to do significant investigative tests to diagnose the problem.

Human costs in these examples have not included hospital fees.

The costs provided in these case studies are examples only and may be higher or lower depending on individual circumstances.

The above human health cost examples are based on Medical Costs Finder | Australian Government Deparment of Health as at April 2023. The pet health costs are based on PetSure claims data January – December 2022. Note that the human health costs have accounted for Medicare rebates.

Hip replacement

In the hip replacement scenario, it is for unilateral hip replacement not bilateral. Hip replacement surgery involves replacing a diseased or damaged hip joint with an artificial joint implant. Dogs under two year of age are more likely to require hip replacements.

Cruciate ligament repair

Cruciate ligament disease is common in dogs, and is most likely to occur in pets under 7 years old. This
surgery helps to stabilise the knee joint after a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture or tear. It is known as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans. When the CCL is torn or damaged it can cause instability and pain, leading to limping, lameness and arthritis over time.

Entropion (eyelid surgery)

Entropion is a condition where the eyelid rolls in and causes subsequent irritation to the eyeball.
This condition can affect any breed of dog but breeds with lots of facial rolls can be particularly at
risk. Entropion surgery is more common on pets less than one year old.

Managing cataract condition

Managing a cataract condition can range from basic medical treatment to surgery. According to PetSure Claims data 2022, the average claimed cost of cataract management was $1,805 while the average claimed amount for cases that required surgery was $7,079.

Cataract surgery in pets needs to be performed under a general aesthetic, whereas in humans the procedure is typically performed under sedation with local anaesthetic. Pets that require cataract surgery are more likely to be over the age of 8 years old.