A mental illness in your medical history is one of the points that insurers examine most closely in occupational disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung, BU). That does not mean that a policy is ruled out. What matters is the type of illness, the period, the course and, above all, how completely you answer the questions in the application.
Short answer: Under the German Insurance Contract Act (Versicherungsvertragsgesetz, VVG), you must disclose a mental illness on your BU application if the application asks about it (Section 19 VVG). The insurer can accept the application as it is, accept it with a surcharge, exclude the illness or reject it. Whether a policy is possible depends on the period, the severity and the course. An anonymous risk pre-assessment (anonyme Risikovoranfrage) helps you find out in advance. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Mental illness is usually asked about on the application through treatment, diagnoses, medication and periods of incapacity to work. What counts are the questions asked.
- Answers must be complete and truthful wherever the insurer has asked in text form.
- The possible decisions are acceptance as applied, acceptance with a surcharge, exclusion of the illness or rejection.
- An anonymous risk pre-assessment shows you the likely direction without requiring your name.
- Medical records with dates help make the course and the completion of your treatment traceable.
Which questions does the insurer ask?
The health questions in the application are the starting point. Depending on the insurer, they ask about treatment, diagnoses, medication, hospital stays and periods of incapacity to work over certain time spans. The time spans and the level of detail vary. Answer each question completely, but not beyond what is asked.
| Question | Why it is asked | What to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment or counseling for mental health problems | To assess the type and length of treatment | Date, type, treating practitioner and duration |
| Diagnoses | To record severity and course | The diagnosis as stated in the medical report, with its date |
| Medication | To assess the intensity of treatment | Active ingredient, dose and start date of your current medication |
| Incapacity to work | To assess the effect on your ability to work | Periods, supported by medical certificates |
Which decisions are possible?
The insurer can accept the application unchanged, accept it with a premium surcharge, exclude the illness from cover or reject the application. An exclusion means that benefits for exactly this illness are not paid. Other risks usually remain insured. Read the wording of the exclusion carefully, because it defines how much protection you keep.
If an application is rejected, ask for the reasons in text form. You can then decide whether to apply to another insurer or to wait and see how things develop. A rejection is not a final judgment on whether you can be insured, but it shows which information the insurer considers relevant.
When a BU may still be possible despite your history, and when it is harder
The following overview describes tendencies, not promises. Whether an assessment turns out favorably always depends on the individual case and on the specific insurer.
| Tends to be more favorable | Tends to be harder |
|---|---|
| The illness is further in the past and resolved | Treatment is still ongoing or was stopped recently |
| The course is documented and stable | The course is unclear or changes often |
| Few treatments, short duration | Several hospital stays or periods of incapacity to work |
| Medical reports are available | Information is incomplete or based only on memory |
Timing also matters. Applying early can put you in a better starting position than waiting longer. At the same time, premiums usually rise with age. How entry age changes the calculation is explained in the guide on when to take out disability insurance.
How does an anonymous risk pre-assessment help?
With an anonymous risk pre-assessment, you describe your medical history without giving your name or address. The insurer then gives an assessment of the decision a full application would likely receive. This answer is usually non-binding, but it shows the direction and the room for maneuver. How the process works is explained in the guide on the anonymous risk pre-assessment for disability insurance.
Which documents help you?
Gather the documents before you apply. If you submit them later, the review is delayed and the insurer often asks follow-up questions. The following documents are particularly helpful:
- Doctor’s letters and reports with dates and the treating institution
- Evidence that treatment has ended or that the course has been stable, where available
- A list of current and past medication with doses and start dates
- Medical certificates for periods of incapacity to work, with the dates
- Your own overview of all periods, doctors and clinics
A word on context: this text does not replace medical or psychotherapeutic advice. If you are going through a difficult time, speak first to your doctor or to a counseling service. In Germany, the Telefonseelsorge (telephone counseling service) is available around the clock at 0800 111 0 111.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to disclose a mental illness at all?
You must disclose what the insurer has asked about in text form. Under Section 19 para. 1 VVG, the duty extends to material circumstances that were asked about. There is no duty to describe everything unprompted. Even so, the rule is: answer fully rather than briefly and incompletely.
What happens if I conceal an illness?
Under Section 19 para. 2 VVG, the insurer can withdraw from the contract. Withdrawal generally requires intentional or grossly negligent conduct. In other cases the insurer may terminate the contract (para. 3). In a claim, an incorrect statement can have serious consequences. Honest answers are therefore the safer route, even if the illness lies far in the past.
Can I apply after therapy?
Yes. The question is usually not whether, but how. The insurer looks at the period, type and course of the treatment. Good documentation helps explain the situation clearly.
Should I wait until the illness is completely over?
That is a personal decision that you should discuss with your doctor. Waiting may improve the assessment, but it can also mean that your entry age and premium rise. Weigh both against each other.
Are there alternatives to a standard BU policy?
Some employers offer cover through occupational pension schemes or group contracts. The terms and health checks differ from an individual policy. Check the occupation definition and the benefit conditions here too, because the basic rules of the German Insurance Contract Act still apply.
Do I have to have my details confirmed by a doctor?
The insurer can ask treating doctors follow-up questions if it considers this necessary. This usually requires your consent to review the records that the application asks for. Find out in advance which bodies might be asked, so the result does not surprise you.
Can I apply again after a rejection?
Yes, but not without preparation. A second application with the same information usually leads to the same assessment. First find out which reasons were given and add missing documents. A risk pre-assessment before the next application shows whether your situation has changed.
So what should you do now?
- Gather your medical reports, medication details and periods before you fill in an application.
- Ask for an anonymous risk pre-assessment to see the likely direction.
- If the insurer accepts with a surcharge or an exclusion, read the exact wording and ask in text form what it means for you.
Related reading
- BU with health questions: what you must disclose as a student
- Anonymous risk pre-assessment for disability insurance: how it works
- Disability insurance for medical students: answering health questions correctly
- Disability insurance and dropping out: what counts as an occupation
Sources: Section 19 VVG (duty to disclose) and Section 172 VVG (occupational disability), 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.
