The referral clause (Verweisung) is a term that often appears in occupational disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung, BU) and is rarely explained. It describes whether the insurer may refer you to a different activity if you can no longer practise your previous occupation. If you change your course of study, you change one of the foundations of that check.
Short answer: The referral clause decides whether you can be referred to a different activity if you can no longer practise your current one. This is only possible if the contract provides for it (Section 172 para. 3 VVG). A change of study changes the training on which the check is based. Whether that affects your benefit depends on the contract. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Referral means the insurer checks whether you could work in another activity. The check is based on your training, your skills and your established position in life.
- A change of study changes your training, and it can therefore affect the referral.
- Terms often distinguish between abstract and concrete referral. Read both terms in your policy.
- Some policies waive the abstract referral or limit it. This is a point of the contract, not an automatic rule.
- Record a change of study in writing and have its effects confirmed by the insurer in text form.
What does referral mean in occupational disability insurance?
Occupational disability insurance does not pay out simply because you can no longer work in your previous occupation. The insurer can check whether you could do another activity. This check is called referral. It is set out in the policy terms, and the details differ from tariff to tariff.
The law makes referral a contract option, not a requirement. Under Section 172 para. 3 VVG, the insurer may additionally require in the contract that the insured person also does not carry out, and cannot carry out, any other activity that corresponds to their training, abilities and established position in life. Whether this rule is in your contract, and how far it reaches, is therefore a question for the tariff.
Abstract and concrete referral: what is the difference?
In practice you will come across two terms. With abstract referral (abstrakte Verweisung), the insurer checks whether you could carry out an activity that matches your training, without a particular job being identified. With concrete referral (konkrete Verweisung), the insurer names a specific activity that would be reasonable for you. Which form applies is set by the contract.
| Form | What is checked | What to look out for |
|---|---|---|
| Abstract referral | Whether an activity fits your training and skills | How the contract describes training and established position in life |
| Concrete referral | Whether a specific activity is reasonable for you | Which standards for reasonableness and comparison apply |
| Waiver of abstract referral | No check of generally available other activities | Whether this waiver is part of the tariff and which conditions apply |
Why a change of study can affect the referral
Referral is based on training, skills and established position in life. If you change your field of study, part of this basis changes. A change within a related subject often hardly changes the check. A change that leads to a different degree can, however, bring other activities into view that the insurer may consider.
The reference date is decisive. The contract can specify whether training is assessed when the policy is taken out or at the time of the claim. Such wording may seem minor, but it decides which stage of your studies counts. Read it with the same care as the list of benefits. An overview of what dropping out means for the occupation definition is in the guide on disability insurance and dropping out.
Here is an example for orientation. Suppose you studied law for two semesters and then switched to an economics degree without finishing a qualification. The question is then whether the training counts as the basis on which referral rests. What the contract means by training is decisive. Internships, work experience and further training can also play a role if the terms name them. A degree is therefore only part of the picture.
Step by step: how to check the referral clause
- Find the referral rule in the terms and note whether it is abstract or concrete.
- Check at which point in time the training is assessed, either at the start of the policy or at the claim.
- Ask the insurer in text form whether a waiver of abstract referral is offered and under which conditions.
- Document your change of study with the date and the qualification achieved, so you can prove the details later.
When does referral matter in practice?
Referral only matters after occupational disability has occurred, so it is not relevant in your everyday life. It becomes important when your health prevents you from practising your occupation and the insurer checks whether another activity is reasonable for you. Then your training and your established position in life count. Complete documents help make the course of events traceable.
A waiver of abstract referral can improve your protection in certain situations. It may, however, come with special conditions or a higher premium. Whether it is worthwhile depends on your career path and your budget. You can ask Academycon for a personal assessment, for example through how Academycon works (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to report a change of study to the insurer?
Whether a change of study must be reported depends on the contract and on whether the insurer has asked about it. Under Section 19 para. 1 VVG, you must disclose the material circumstances the insurer has asked about in text form up to the point at which you make your contract declaration. If it asks further questions in text form after that but before accepting, the duty applies to those as well. If in doubt, ask in text form. Then you have an answer you can keep.
Can the insurer refer me to any occupation?
No. If the contract provides for referral, the activity must match your training, your abilities and your established position in life. A job that is clearly far below that level usually does not fit. The exact limit is set by the contract. In a dispute, the wording of the specific clause decides.
Does a waiver of referral always help?
Not automatically. A waiver improves your protection in certain situations, but it does not replace a check of the other terms. The definition of occupation, the exclusions and the rules on benefits remain important.
What if I have dropped out of several subjects?
The insurer can then ask about all stages of your training and studies. Answer such questions completely, because the duty to disclose refers to the questions asked (Section 19 VVG). Incomplete information can cause problems later, even if the dropout itself was unproblematic.
How long does my referral rule apply?
The rule applies within the framework of the contract. How long it applies and whether terms can change during the policy period is stated in your documents. Ask before you sign and get the answer in writing.
What changes if I add a master’s degree?
A further qualification can broaden the training basis that the insurer assesses. Whether this extends the referral depends again on the reference date and the wording. Compare the terms before you change course and document the change in text form, so you can later prove which status applied.
So what should you do now?
- Read the referral rule in your tariff and note which form applies.
- Check how your contract defines training and established position in life.
- If you plan a change of study, have its effects on the policy confirmed in text form.
Related reading
- Changing your course and disability insurance: do you have to report it?
- Disability insurance and dropping out: what counts as an occupation
- Student clause in disability insurance: what the upper limit means
- Disability insurance while studying: when to take out a policy
- Disability insurance after your degree: classification as an academic
Sources: Section 172 VVG (occupational disability) and Section 19 VVG (duty to disclose), each from Gesetze im Internet (the official German law database), accessed October 2026.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
