Does pet health insurance pay for vaccinations in Germany?
In short
German pet health insurance only pays for vaccinations if the tariff has a prevention allowance (Vorsorgepauschale) or a prevention add-on. That is usually EUR 75 to 250 a year, which also covers worming and tick protection. Surgery cover does not pay for vaccinations. A dog's vaccination at the vet costs about EUR 77 to 85 including examination and vaccine.
Vaccination costs under the German vet fee scale and from published practice prices, plus the usual prevention allowances.
Example
Typical range
Injection dog or cat, GOT no. 221, single to triple rate
EUR 11.50 to 34.50 net, without vaccine
General examination dog or cat, single to triple rate
EUR 23.62 to 70.86 net
Combined dog vaccination with examination, vaccine and passport
about EUR 77 to 85
Prevention allowance in full cover
about EUR 75 to 250 a year
Full cover, young small dog
about EUR 11 to 18 a month
October 2026.
GOT amounts are official; practice prices come from published offers of individual practices.
The extra premium for prevention and the worming costs in the example are guide values from our
quoting practice.
Norman Nammert, as an insurance broker, obtains a quote with prevention allowance for you.
Worked example
Young dog, one year of prevention
How a EUR 75 prevention allowance compares with actual costs.
Annual vaccination with examination
about EUR 80
Two worming treatments
about EUR 30
Reimbursed from the allowance
EUR 75
Your share
about EUR 35
Extra premium for prevention, if not included
about EUR 72 a year
With the extra premium you pay roughly the same as without insurance. If the allowance is already part of your full cover, you save the EUR 75.
Why vaccinations are not automatically covered
Pet health insurance pays for illness and accidents. Vaccinations are prevention: predictable, due every year and the same for every pet. If every tariff paid them in full, the premium would rise by exactly that amount plus admin costs. That is why many tariffs do not cover vaccinations, as the Verbraucherzentrale also points out.
If you want vaccinations paid through pet health insurance, you need a tariff with a prevention allowance: a fixed amount per insurance year from which the insurer reimburses prevention up to that limit.
Type of tariff
Pays vaccinations?
Typical limit
Surgery cover
no
no allowance
Full cover without prevention
no
no allowance
Full cover with prevention allowance
yes, up to the limit
about EUR 75 to 250 a year
Prevention as an add-on
yes, for an extra premium
allowance shown in the policy
What a vaccination costs at a German vet
The German vet fee scale (Gebührenordnung für Tierärzte, GOT) sets EUR 11.50 net at the single rate for the injection for a dog or cat, up to EUR 34.50 at triple rate. Examination, vaccine and VAT come on top. In published practice prices, a combined dog vaccination with examination and passport entry costs about EUR 77 to 85.
For a puppy or kitten, the primary course takes several appointments, so the first year costs clearly more than a single annual booster.
Is a tariff with vaccinations worth it?
Compare the extra premium with the allowance. If prevention costs EUR 6 more a month, you pay EUR 72 a year for an allowance you might just use up with a vaccination and worming. That is not a gain, more a convenient instalment plan.
The allowance becomes interesting if it covers more than vaccinations, such as dental cleaning or neutering, or if it is already included in a full cover tariff you choose for its illness benefits. Choosing a pricier tariff only for vaccinations rarely pays.
Vaccinations and your cover
Even if your pet health insurance does not pay for vaccinations, do not skip them. Some conditions require you to have recommended prevention done, and an illness your pet could have been vaccinated against costs many times the jab. Check the duties (Obliegenheiten) in your conditions.
Step by step
Check whether your conditions exclude vaccinations or list them under prevention.
Note the allowance and what it can be used for.
Compare the extra premium with your yearly vaccination and worming costs.
Submit the invoice together with the vaccination passport entry.
Check your duties regarding prevention and keep vaccinations up to date.
Checklist
Type of tariff known: surgery or full cover
Prevention allowance per year known in euros
Waiting period for the allowance checked
Invoice with treatment description kept
Vaccination passport up to date
Common mistakes
Taking out surgery cover and expecting the vaccination to be refunded
Choosing an expensive tariff just for vaccinations
Letting the allowance lapse by not submitting the invoice
Skipping vaccinations because insurance does not pay
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does surgery cover pay for vaccinations?
No.
Surgery cover only pays for operations with related tests and aftercare.
How large is a typical prevention allowance?
About EUR 75 to 250 a year.
It often also covers worming, tick protection or neutering.
Is there a waiting period for vaccinations?
With some tariffs the prevention allowance can be used from the first day.
Check your conditions.
Does insurance pay for a puppy's primary vaccinations?
Only from a prevention allowance and only up to its limit.
The several appointments in the first year soon exceed a small allowance.
Is a rabies jab for travel covered?
It counts as prevention like other vaccinations and is only reimbursed from a prevention allowance.
What does a cat vaccination cost?
The injection alone costs EUR 11.50 to 34.50 net under the GOT.
