Comparison at a glance: Dalma vs. Helvetia
What makes Dalma special?
Dalma is a pet specialist insurer with its own animal-health expertise and more than 60,000 insured animals in Europe:
- Flexible tariff design: You choose the reimbursement rate (80% or 100%) and the annual benefit limit (1,500 euros up to unlimited) yourself and adapt the cover to your budget and your animal's profile.
- Full annual benefit limit from day 1: The chosen annual volume is available from the start of the policy (after the respective waiting periods). No tiering by policy year.
- GOT 4x including emergency service as standard: In both tariffs, with no surcharge, including outside emergency service with no separate veterinary justification.
- Waiver of termination after a claim: From the 13th policy month, Dalma contractually waives its right to terminate after a claim.
- 15% multi-pet discount: In both tariffs from the 2nd animal.
- Integrated dental cover: FORL, gingivitis and periodontitis after a 12-month waiting period in the health cover, with no paid add-on module.
- Alternative healing methods unlimited: Acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, osteopathy, laser and magnetic field therapy and others in the health cover, with no paid add-on module.
- Preventive care budget up to 100 euros per year from day 1: In the health cover from an annual benefit limit of 1,500 euros, with no waiting period.
- Telemedicine unlimited: Free access to FirstVet around the clock.
- Behavioural therapy up to 5 hours per year in the health cover, vet prescribed.
- Emergency boarding up to 250 euros per year if the owner is hospitalised for more than 3 nights.
- Prosthetics contribution one-off up to 500 euros in both tariffs.
- Reimbursement usually within 48 hours after invoice approval (operational service target; contractually 5 working days).
- 100% digital: Fully digital submission via the Dalma app.
- Worldwide international cover for the entire policy term, in both tariffs.
- Around 4.5 stars on Trustpilot with more than 4,000 reviews.
- Focus Money 2026: Award for high customer satisfaction.
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
What to pay particular attention to with the Helvetia tariff
The Helvetia tariff landscape has strengths (direct billing with the vet, Pfotendoctor telemedicine, a long market tradition). Before you decide, however, a few points are important:
1. 6 months waiting period for a long list of conditions
While the general waiting period with Helvetia is 3 months, an extended waiting period of 6 months applies to an extensive list of conditions. Specifically affected are: HD, ED, OCD/FPC, heart conditions, allergies, thyroid, gold acupuncture, cryptorchidism, entropion, ectropion, umbilical hernia, osteoarthritis, brachycephalic syndrome and epilepsy.
What this means for you: If your dog belongs to a breed prone to one of these conditions (e.g. a French Bulldog with brachycephalic syndrome, a German Shepherd with HD or a Labrador with allergies), with Helvetia you are only protected after 6 months. With Dalma, these breed-typical conditions are eligible for reimbursement after 12 months, but then within the full chosen annual benefit limit per policy year, with no per-diagnosis limit.
2. Immediate cover only for a police-documented road accident
Helvetia grants "immediate cover", but this only applies in the case of a police-documented road accident. Other accidents (e.g. a fall, a cut, a bite injury in the park) fall under the normal 3-month waiting period.
What this means for you: A classic everyday accident (e.g. the dog steps on a shard, falls down the stairs, breaks its teeth on a bone) is not covered in the first 3 months with Helvetia, unless it is a police-documented road accident. With Dalma, you are insured for any accident (including everyday accidents) after just 2 days.
3. GOT 4x only in emergency service, otherwise a maximum of 2x
Helvetia reimburses the 4x GOT rate only in emergency service. With a written justification from the vet, reimbursement up to 3x the rate is possible; in all other cases, reimbursement is limited to a maximum of 2x the rate.
What this means for you: At normal vet appointments (examinations, treatments without an emergency), the 3x GOT rate is often billed, above all in specialist clinics. With Helvetia, you then have to submit a written justification from the vet to receive full reimbursement. With Dalma, we reimburse up to 4x the GOT rate including emergency service in both tariffs, including outside emergencies, with no separate justification.
4. Dental cover and alternative healing methods only as paid add-on modules
Dental cover (500 euros per year) and alternative healing methods (500 euros per year) are paid add-on modules with Helvetia that can only be booked in the Kompakt and Komfort tariffs. Both have their own 3-month waiting period and a flat 20% deductible.
What this means for you: Anyone insured in the Helvetia Basis tariff has no access to dental cover or alternative healing methods. In Kompakt and Komfort, you pay extra for modules that are integrated in the health cover with Dalma. Effective cap: 500 euros per year less the 20% deductible = max. 400 euros reimbursement per module.
5. Multi-pet discount only from 5 animals
The Helvetia multi-pet discount of 15% only applies from five insured animals. For households with 2 to 4 animals there is no classic multi-pet discount (only the 3% discount for a voluntary health check on entry under the age of 4).
What this means for you: If you have a dog and a cat, you do not benefit from the multi-pet discount with Helvetia. With Dalma, you get 15% from the 2nd animal in both tariffs.
6. Pre-existing conditions lead to a permanent exclusion of benefits
With Helvetia, pre-existing conditions are permanently excluded from cover. In certain cases the animal can be insured with a health check, but the respective pre-existing condition remains permanently excluded.
What this means for you: With Dalma, conditions existing or known at the time of application are likewise excluded. The difference: with Helvetia, you can insure your animal even with a pre-existing condition (with a permanent exclusion of this diagnosis); with Dalma, the exclusion applies generally based on the information in the application.
Claims in direct comparison
Scenario 1: Dog with allergies (common in Labradors, French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs)
Allergy diagnostics and desensitisation treatment over 1 year: 1,800 euros.
- With Helvetia (in the first 6 months): No reimbursement (6 months waiting period for allergies).
- With Helvetia after 6 months in Kompakt with a 20% deductible: 1,800 euros x 80% = 1,440 euros reimbursement.
- With Dalma in the health cover at the 100% tariff (after the 30-day waiting period for medical treatments): 1,800 euros full reimbursement.
Scenario 2: Dog steps on a shard in the park, the wound needs treatment
Vet invoice 230 euros. The policy has been in place for 2 months.
- With Helvetia (immediate cover only for a police-documented road accident): No reimbursement (the 3-month waiting period applies; an everyday accident is not a road accident).
- With Dalma (after the 2-day waiting period for accidents): 230 euros full reimbursement at the 100% tariff.
Scenario 3: Neutering of a 2-year-old female dog for medical reasons
Vet invoice 280 euros.
- With Helvetia: A flat 200 euros for the medical neutering of a female dog. Own share: 80 euros.
- With Dalma in the health cover at the 100% tariff: Reimbursement within the chosen annual benefit limit. Own share: 0 euros.
Scenario 4: Multi-pet household with a dog and a cat
- With Helvetia: No multi-pet discount (only applies from 5 animals).
- With Dalma: 15% multi-pet discount from the 2nd animal on both policies.
Scenario 5: Vet invoice at the 3x GOT rate in everyday life (no emergency)
Specialist clinics and specialist vets often bill at the 3x rate. Vet invoice 420 euros in everyday life, with no emergency.
- With Helvetia (standard case, with no veterinary justification): Reimbursement only up to the 2x GOT rate. The share above the 2x rate remains open, less the 20% deductible.
- With Dalma (4x incl. emergency service as standard): Full reimbursement at the 100% tariff, no percentage deductible.
Direct comparison in 5 categories
1. Tariff configuration
Dalma: 2 tariffs with a free choice of reimbursement rate and annual benefit limit. Helvetia: 3 tariff tiers (Basis, Kompakt, Komfort) with fixed maximum sums and a flat 20% deductible; only in Komfort does the deductible not apply in the animal's first 4 years of life.
What this means for you: Anyone who wants a lean, individually configurable solution is better served by Dalma. Anyone who wants to use the Helvetia Komfort variant with an unlimited annual benefit limit in the first 4 years of life with no deductible should take it out early, at puppy age.
2. GOT reimbursement
Dalma: 4x including emergency service in both tariffs, including outside emergencies, with no veterinary justification. Helvetia: 4x only in emergency service; 3x with a written justification from the vet; otherwise a maximum of 2x.
What this means for you: If your vet or animal clinic bills at the 3x or 4x GOT rate as standard (e.g. in university clinics, specialist practices, emergency services), you are fully covered with Dalma. With Helvetia, you have to obtain a justification to go above the 2x rate.
3. Waiting periods and immediate cover
Dalma: short waiting periods for standard cases (2 days accident, 14 to 30 days illness/surgery) and 12 months for breed-typical conditions, then full reimbursement. Helvetia: 3 months generally, 6 months for an extensive list of conditions, immediate cover only for a police-documented road accident.
What this means for you: For everyday accidents and general illnesses, Dalma provides cover considerably faster. For breed-typical conditions, the waiting periods are similar (Dalma 12 months vs. Helvetia 6 months), but with Dalma the full annual benefit limit then applies, with no lifelong per-diagnosis limit.
4. Dental and alternative healing methods
With Dalma, integrated in the health cover (FORL, gingivitis, periodontitis after a 12-month waiting period; alternative healing methods unlimited). With Helvetia, paid add-on modules, only bookable in Kompakt and Komfort, each with a 500-euro per year limit with a 20% deductible and a 3-month waiting period.
5. International cover
With Dalma, worldwide for the entire policy term, in both tariffs. With Helvetia, worldwide with a time limit (details according to the terms).
What this means for you: Anyone planning longer stays abroad should check the exact terms with Helvetia. With Dalma, the worldwide cover with no time limit is included in the standard scope.
Conclusion: Dalma as the clear choice if short waiting periods and integrated benefits matter to you
If the following points matter to you, Dalma is the suitable choice:
- You want a lean tariff structure with just 2 tariffs and free configuration of reimbursement rate and annual benefit limit
- You expect GOT 4x including emergency service as standard, including outside emergencies, without having to submit a veterinary justification
- You value short waiting periods (2 days accident, 14 to 30 days illness/surgery) and full reimbursement thereafter
- You insure several animals and want a multi-pet discount of 15% from the 2nd animal
- You need integrated dental cover and alternative healing methods with no paid add-on modules
- You are planning longer stays abroad with your animal (with no 12-month limit)
- You value genuine immediate cover for everyday accidents (not only for police-documented road accidents)
- You prefer fast digital reimbursement to your account (operational target: 48 hours after approval)
- You want an insurance with lifelong cover from enrolment before the 9th birthday
Helvetia can be an alternative if:
- You want direct billing with the vet or animal clinic and do not want to pay up front
- You are deliberately looking for the Komfort tariff with 100% reimbursement in the first 4 years of life with no deductible and insure your puppy/young animal early
- You value the connection to the Baloise Group and prefer an established Swiss insurance company
- You insure five or more animals (the 15% multi-pet discount applies)
- You want to insure a dog or cat with an existing pre-existing condition and are happy with the permanent exclusion of this diagnosis
If you are still unsure, compare the most important packages in detail with the Dalma tariff calculator. You will find more about the competitor on the Helvetia pet health insurance website or in the dog health insurance comparison in the Dalma magazine.
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
Frequently asked questions: Dalma vs. Helvetia
Which provider has the shorter waiting periods?
With Dalma: 2 days accident, 14 days operations, 30 days medical treatments, 12 months breed-typical, 18 months patellar luxation. With Helvetia: 3 months generally for illness, 6 months for an extensive list of conditions (HD, ED, OCD/FPC, heart, allergies, thyroid, osteoarthritis, brachycephalic syndrome, epilepsy and others). Immediate cover with Helvetia only for police-documented road accidents.
What GOT billing applies with Helvetia?
With Helvetia, the 4x GOT rate applies only in emergency service. With a written justification from the vet, reimbursement up to 3x the rate is possible. In all other cases, reimbursement is limited to the 2x rate. With Dalma, we reimburse up to 4x the GOT rate including emergency service as standard in both tariffs, including outside emergencies with no separate justification.
Are dental treatments co-insured with Helvetia?
Dental treatments can be covered with Helvetia via a paid add-on module (500 euros per year, 20% deductible, 3-month waiting period). The dental module can only be booked in the Kompakt and Komfort tariffs, not in the Basis tariff. With Dalma, FORL, gingivitis and periodontitis are automatically integrated into the health cover after a 12-month waiting period.
How high is the multi-pet discount with Helvetia?
Helvetia grants a 15% multi-pet discount only from five insured animals. Additionally there is a 3% discount for a voluntary health check on entry under the age of 4. With Dalma, there is a 15% multi-pet discount from the 2nd animal in both tariffs.
What happens with pre-existing conditions?
With Helvetia, pre-existing conditions are permanently excluded from cover; in certain cases the animal is insurable after a health check with a permanent exclusion of the affected diagnosis. With Dalma, conditions existing or known at the time of application are excluded.
When can I still enrol my older animal with Helvetia?
With Helvetia, enrolment of dogs and cats is possible from the 2nd month of life. Up to 4 years with no health check, from 4 years with a health examination, from 10 years a personal consultation is required. With Dalma, enrolment is possible up to the day before the 9th birthday; animals once insured enjoy lifelong cover.
How does international cover work?
With Dalma, international cover applies worldwide for the entire policy term in both tariffs, with no time limit. With Helvetia, worldwide international cover applies with a time limit according to the tariff terms.
Is telemedicine included with Helvetia?
Helvetia offers Pfotendoctor 24/7 online consultations, included depending on the tariff. With Dalma, unlimited video consultations via FirstVet are included in both tariffs at no extra cost.
What deductible applies?
With Helvetia, a flat 20% deductible applies in the Basis and Kompakt tariffs. In the Komfort tariff: in the animal's first 4 years of life 100% reimbursement with no deductible, a 20% deductible from the 4th year of life. Preventive care and neutering run with no deductible. With Dalma, there is no percentage deductible in the 100% tariff.
Can I bill directly with the vet at Helvetia?
Yes, Helvetia offers direct billing with the vet or animal clinic, so that you do not have to pay up front. With Dalma, reimbursement is made to you in your account; the operational target is 48 hours after invoice approval (contractually 5 working days).
Sources and further information
Dog health insurance comparison in the Dalma magazine
