If your disability insurance application (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung, BU) has been rejected, the news is hard to take. Disability insurance is meant to protect your income if you can no longer work in your last occupation because of illness or injury. A rejection can make that protection feel out of reach. Yet a rejection is not necessarily the final word. This guide explains how to read the reason for the decision, check your answers and see which options remain.
Kurz beantwortet: After a rejected disability insurance application, the first step is a close look at the stated reason and at your answers on the form. Several paths can follow: a conversation about the reasons, an application with different conditions, a new application with another provider, or the ombudsman process. Whether cover becomes possible depends on the individual case. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- A rejection usually has a specific background, which should be named in the letter or in a follow-up answer.
- Check first whether your answers on the application were complete and match your medical records.
- Health questions are often easier to assess with doctors’ reports, test results and a clear account of treatment.
- An offer with a premium surcharge or an exclusion can be an option if it fits your situation.
- If you disagree with the decision, the out-of-court ombudsman process can help.
Why does an insurer reject a disability insurance application?
Insurers assess a disability application as part of a risk review. The question is whether a contract can be accepted, and on which terms. A rejection is therefore one of several possible outcomes. The most common causes fall into three groups.
| Reason for rejection | Typical background | Question to ask yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Health history | Diagnoses, treatments or medication that are assessed as a significant risk | Which diagnoses and treatment periods did I state, and are they complete? |
| Incomplete or inconsistent answers | Questions on the form were not answered, were incomplete or were answered incorrectly | Do my answers match my doctors’ reports? |
| Occupation or activity | The stated activity is classified differently depending on its risk profile | Does the application describe my work accurately, with all its tasks? |
How do you read the rejection letter properly?
The rejection letter usually contains the decision and, depending on the case, a reason. Read it twice and mark every passage you do not immediately understand. Also note the date, the reference number and the name of the person responsible. You will need these details if you ask follow-up questions or take further steps later.
- Identify the reason: does the letter name a specific ground, or does it stay general?
- Secure the application documents: ask for a copy of your application, the health questions and the answers you gave where necessary.
- Compare: check every answer against your medical reports, test results and records of illness.
- Ask in writing: request a reason in text form if it is missing or too brief.
What role do your answers on the application play?
German insurance law contains a duty to disclose. Under section 19 (1) of the German Insurance Contract Act (VVG), you must disclose the risk circumstances known to you before you make your contract declaration, where those circumstances are material to the insurer’s decision and the insurer has asked about them in text form. The same duty covers questions the insurer asks after your declaration but before it accepts the contract. If you breach this duty, the insurer may withdraw from the contract under section 19 (2) VVG.
Not every inaccuracy has the same consequence, however. Under section 19 (3) VVG, withdrawal is excluded if the duty was breached neither intentionally nor through gross negligence. In that case the insurer may terminate the contract with one month’s notice. Whether a particular answer was material, and how it is assessed, depends on the individual case. A general overview cannot replace that assessment.
Which options remain after a rejection?
A rejection from one provider does not automatically mean that disability cover is impossible. The starting position, however, differs considerably depending on the illness, the occupation and the tariff. The following routes are commonly examined in practice.
- A conversation about the reason: ask specifically which answer led to the decision, and request an answer in text form.
- An application with a surcharge or an exclusion: some providers accept applications with a premium surcharge or with an exclusion for a particular health area. Whether that makes sense for you depends on how far the exclusion reaches.
- A new application with another provider: this can lead to a different decision, but it is not guaranteed. It again requires complete and truthful answers.
- Ombudsman process: if you disagree with the decision, the out-of-court ombudsman process can help. More on this is explained in the article on the insurance ombudsman in disability disputes.
- Alternatives to disability insurance: depending on your situation, other protection may be relevant, which BU or Pflegezusatz compares.
When can offers without health questions help?
Offers without extensive health questions can look like a simple solution at first sight. They often work with other conditions, such as limited benefits or a waiting period. Before you choose such an offer, read its conditions carefully. The article BU ohne Gesundheitsfragen explains the typical differences.
If you deliberately left something out
If you deliberately omitted information, do not rely on new arguments alone to reverse the decision. In that case, the central question becomes how the application was completed and what consequences the duty to disclose has. Speak to a qualified adviser before you submit further applications, because every new answer has to fit the earlier facts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply elsewhere straight after a rejection?
In principle, you can submit further applications. What matters is that you answer every question again, completely and truthfully. Whether and how an earlier rejection is asked about is shown on the application form, which you should read carefully.
Must the insurer give me the reason?
A reason is an important starting point for your next steps. How detailed it has to be depends on the contract and the information duties that apply in your case. If in doubt, ask in writing and keep the answer.
Can a doctor’s report help with the decision?
A medical report with a clear diagnosis, course of illness and duration of treatment can help clarify misunderstandings. It does not replace the insurer’s review, and the assessment depends on the conditions of the particular offer.
Is a rejection permanent?
Not necessarily. Health situations change, and offers and tariffs are revised over time. A new assessment at a later point is not guaranteed, however, and depends on the individual case.
When is an ombudsman process worthwhile?
An ombudsman process is worth considering if you believe the decision is wrong and talks with the provider do not resolve the matter. The rules and requirements are set out by the relevant ombudsman body on its website.
What to do now
- Keep the rejection letter and all application documents.
- Compare your answers with doctors’ reports and test results.
- Ask for the reason in writing and keep the reply.
- Decide between a new application, an application with conditions and the ombudsman process.
- If you are unsure, have your case discussed personally, for example in a consultation with Academycon.
Related articles
- How do I protect my ability to work? The overview for career starters
- Disability insurance with an anxiety disorder: is a policy still possible?
- Insurance ombudsman in disability disputes: when the ombudsman process helps
- Disability insurance without health questions: what lies behind the offer
- Making a disability claim: documents, deadlines and medical reports
Sources: Section 19 VVG, Duty to disclose, gesetze-im-internet.de (accessed November 2026), Section 172 VVG, Benefits from the insurer, gesetze-im-internet.de (accessed November 2026)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
