Daily allowance for sickness (Krankentagegeld) is a term from private health insurance. It describes a daily benefit paid when illness stops your earnings. In the statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) the comparable benefit is called sickness benefit (Krankengeld). Working students and self-employed people often ask whether they are covered, and how.
Short answer: In the GKV, sickness benefit is available only under specific conditions. Enrolled students are generally excluded under § 44 para. 2 no. 1 SGB V. Self-employed people in full-time work receive it only with an election declaration (Wahlerklärung). A private daily allowance policy is a separate decision, based on a health check and a contract. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Krankentagegeld is the term for private daily allowance insurance. In the GKV the benefit is called Krankengeld.
- Enrolled students generally have no entitlement to Krankengeld under § 44 para. 2 no. 1 SGB V.
- Self-employed people working full time are entitled only if they submit a Wahlerklärung (§ 44 para. 2 no. 2 SGB V).
- Working students with an employment contract first receive continued pay from the employer when they are ill.
- A private daily allowance policy is a separate contract with a health check, a waiting period and an individual premium.
What is the difference between Krankentagegeld and Krankengeld?
Private daily allowance pays a fixed daily amount under a private contract. You set the amount and the waiting period in the tariff. Krankengeld from the GKV is a statutory benefit, and its amount depends on your contribution-liable income (§ 47 SGB V). It is paid only when the legal conditions are met.
People often mix up the two because both are meant to replace income during illness. The difference lies in the basis of the entitlement: for Krankengeld it is the law and your insurance status, for private daily allowance it is your contract.
When is there Krankengeld for students and working students?
Enrolled students who are compulsorily insured have no entitlement to Krankengeld under § 44 para. 2 no. 1 SGB V. The exclusion also applies to family-insured persons. For working students this means that the job does not automatically change the position while student status applies.
The situation is different if you are insured as an employee. In case of incapacity to work you first receive continued pay from your employer for up to six weeks (§ 3 EFZG). The entitlement arises after four weeks of uninterrupted employment (§ 3 para. 3 EFZG). Krankengeld can only come into consideration after that, if the other conditions are met.
| Status | Entitlement to Krankengeld | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolled student (compulsory insurance) | Generally no (§ 44 para. 2 no. 1 SGB V) | No Krankengeld as a student, including through a side job |
| Working student with contract (insured as employee) | First continued pay for up to six weeks, then possibly Krankengeld | Confirm your exact insurance status with the fund |
| Self-employed full time | Only with a Wahlerklärung (§ 44 para. 2 no. 2 SGB V) | The declaration takes effect only after an ongoing incapacity ends |
| Family-insured persons | Generally no (§ 44 para. 2 no. 1 SGB V) | Family insurance excludes Krankengeld |
Last updated: October 2026. The table follows the wording of § 44 SGB V. The fund decides individual cases.
What does the election declaration mean for self-employed people?
Full-time self-employed people are excluded from Krankengeld unless they submit a Wahlerklärung. By doing so they choose the entitlement to sickness benefit and pay a higher contribution for it. If the declaration is submitted during an ongoing incapacity to work, it takes effect only from the day after that incapacity ends (§ 44 SGB V).
The minimum binding period for optional tariffs under § 53 paras. 1 and 6 SGB V is three years (§ 53 para. 8 SGB V). Some funds offer Krankengeld through such optional tariffs. Check the conditions carefully before you commit.
When does a private daily allowance policy make sense?
A private daily allowance policy is its own contract. It can fit if you are self-employed and have no statutory entitlement to Krankengeld, or cannot secure enough of it. It fits less well if your budget is tight or you already have sufficient reserves.
Before you sign, check: the health check and pre-existing conditions, the waiting period before the first payment, the daily amount, exclusions and the duration of benefits. Anyone who has reviewed these points in writing can make a well-founded decision.
A worked example
Assumption: you are full-time self-employed and have monthly income of 1,500 euros. You want to secure a daily amount of 30 euros. Over 30 days that means 900 euros a month, or 60 percent of your income. The rest has to come from reserves or be covered in another way. Whether the tariff pays off depends on the waiting period, the premium and your reserves.
This is an illustrative calculation. It does not replace a check of the specific offers by your fund or an adviser who knows the actual tariffs.
Frequently asked questions
Do working students get Krankengeld?
As an enrolled student you are generally excluded from Krankengeld (§ 44 para. 2 no. 1 SGB V). Working students with an employment contract first receive continued pay from the employer. Whether Krankengeld can be paid afterwards is checked by the fund based on your status.
Can I secure Krankengeld after I become ill?
For self-employed people that is possible only through the Wahlerklärung, and it does not take effect retroactively for an ongoing incapacity. Protect yourself in good time, before an illness occurs. For Krankengeld as a student (in German), see Krankengeld für Studierende: Gibt es das?.
Is a private daily allowance policy always necessary?
No. Whether it is needed depends on your income, your reserves and your insurance status. An honest review before you sign shows whether there is a real gap.
Checklist for talking to your fund
A short conversation with your fund clears up many points before you spend money. Prepare these questions in advance.
- Am I compulsorily insured as a student, employee or self-employed person, and since when?
- Do I have an entitlement to Krankengeld in case of incapacity to work, and from which day?
- Is there a Wahlerklärung or an optional tariff with Krankengeld for me, and what binding period applies?
- Which documents do I need when I submit a sick note?
Note the date, the contact person and the answers. Written confirmation is worth much more in a dispute than an oral statement.
What happens after six weeks of illness?
The entitlement to continued pay is limited to six weeks (§ 3 para. 1 EFZG). After that, Krankengeld can come into consideration if you are insured as an employee. As an enrolled student you do not receive it (§ 44 para. 2 no. 1 SGB V).
Is a private daily allowance worth it for enrolled students?
Because the GKV generally does not provide Krankengeld for enrolled students, the question is a serious one. Whether a private tariff makes sense depends on your budget, your reserves and your plans after graduation.
What to do now
- Ask your fund whether you are insured as a student, employee or self-employed person.
- Check whether your employer pays continued pay and for how long.
- If you are self-employed, review the Wahlerklärung and optional tariffs with their binding periods.
- Compare a private daily allowance policy with its health check, waiting period and daily amount in writing.
Related guides
- Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z
- Self-Employed Student: Health Insurance Rules
- Private Health Insurance for Working Students in Germany
- Working Student Health Insurance: Costs by Age
Sources (in German): § 44 SGB V, sickness benefit (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved October 2026) | § 53 SGB V, optional tariffs (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved October 2026) | § 3 EFZG, continued pay in case of illness (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved October 2026)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
