I have insurance that covers 80% of any costs after a 500 CHF franchise. I figured I could probably manage a 1k savings fund for emergencies, but I would not want to make a choice over life or death simply because I cannot afford the higher costs of more complicated treatments. Yes, 20% of, say, 10k is still a lot of money but in my family, pets are family members, my sister spent well into five figures for her dog when she tore her cruciate ligaments - twice.