What Is a Prevention Budget for Pet Insurance?
The prevention budget in pet insurance — what counts and what doesn't
Prevention as Part of Insurance: An Idea That Makes Sense
Many pet insurance policies focus exclusively on the worst case — the expensive surgery, the serious illness. The prevention budget flips that idea around: it sets money aside before anything happens at all.
The idea behind it is simple: prevention is cheaper than treatment. A dog that's regularly vaccinated, gets parasite protection, and goes for preventive check-ups is less likely to become seriously ill. The prevention budget rewards exactly that behavior.
What the Prevention Budget Covers
Lassie's prevention budget can be used for preventive veterinary services. This typically includes: vaccinations (e.g. rabies, distemper, parvovirus), parasite treatments (deworming, flea and tick protection), preventive exams, and health check-ups.
How much budget you get depends on your chosen tariff: Mini offers €35 per year, Midi €100, and Maxi €140. The higher tariffs let you claim several preventive measures per year. Important: the surgery-only insurance (OP-Versicherung) doesn't include a prevention budget at all — that's only available with the Mini, Midi, and Maxi health insurance tariffs.
How to Use the Budget in Practice
Here's a worked example: the Maxi tariff gives you €140 per year. An annual vaccination at the vet costs €40 to €80 in Germany. A year's worth of deworming treatment runs €30 to €60. A health check-up costs €30 to €50. Add it up and that's easily €100 to €180 — the prevention budget offsets a substantial part of that.
Claims against the prevention budget are submitted through the Lassie app, just like any other claim. You upload the invoice, specify the service — done. It doesn't need to be more complicated than that.
What Can't Be Claimed Through the Prevention Budget
The prevention budget is meant for preventive services, not for treating existing illnesses. Anyone who tries to claim treatment for an illness as prevention won't get anywhere with it — and that's the way it should be.
Cosmetic services and breeding costs aren't covered either. If you're ever unsure, a quick look at the policy conditions or a telemedicine chat through the Lassie app can help.
The prevention budget is one of the things that sets Lassie apart from many other providers. It turns the insurance into more than just a safety net for emergencies — it becomes an active partner in your pet's health.
