Self-employed people and freelancers often need occupational disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung, BU) more urgently than employees, because their income depends directly on their own capacity to work. At the same time, the assessment in a claim differs in several respects. This guide shows how to recognise those differences, which health questions and contract rules matter most, and what to clarify before you sign.
Short answer: Self-employed people can take out occupational disability insurance, but the disability is measured against their own activity. The decisive points are how the occupation is classified in the policy, the health questions in the application and the rules on referral to other work. The statutory basis for a claim is § 172 VVG. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- Occupational disability is measured against the occupation you last practised. For self-employed people, that is the activity as you actually carried it out.
- Under § 172 subsection 3 VVG, a referral to other activities is only possible where the contract expressly provides for it.
- Answer health questions completely, because incorrect or incomplete answers can lead to withdrawal or termination under § 19 VVG.
- The occupational classification in the policy can affect premium and benefit. A comparison based only on price easily overlooks this.
- Daily sickness allowance cover (Krankentagegeld) does not replace occupational disability insurance, because it covers different risks.
Why self-employed people are assessed differently
In a claim, the insurer asks which occupation you last practised, how it was shaped without the health impairment and whether you are expected to be unable to practise it permanently. Employers supply that description for employees. Self-employed people have to show which tasks belong to the occupation, such as client acquisition, project management, administration or the core professional work. That weighting decides whether a limitation counts as occupational disability.
| Feature | Employees | Self-employed and freelancers |
|---|---|---|
| Description of the occupation | Job description from the employer | Own description with shares of each task |
| Evidence | Employer confirmation, pay slips | Trade registration, order records, tax assessments |
| Classification in the policy | Usually by the position | By the actual activity, depending on the policy |
| Mixed activities | Rarely an issue | Common, so document them precisely |
Which activities should you describe before signing?
Many self-employed people work in several roles at once. A specialist may also handle projects, acquisition and bookkeeping. If the policy only considers the technical work, the classification can turn out less favourable than daily reality. An honest breakdown before the application is therefore worthwhile.
- List all activities and estimate the share of time each one takes, in percent.
- Mark which tasks require physical or mental performance and which can be delegated.
- Check how the policy classifies mixed activities before you commit.
- Record the description in writing and keep it together with the application.
What role does referral play for freelancers?
Under § 172 subsection 3 VVG, the insurer may require by contract that the insured person does not carry out, and cannot carry out, any other activity that corresponds to their training, abilities and previous standard of living. For self-employed people this is a central point, because a business can lead after an illness into a different professional direction. Whether such a clause exists and how far it reaches can only be determined from the policy.
Those who want to exclude or limit referral will find different models on the market. The decision weighs premium against scope of protection and should not rest on the cheapest offer alone.
Which health questions are especially sensitive for self-employed people?
The insurer may ask, in text form, about risk circumstances that are material to its decision. Under § 19 VVG you must answer these questions truthfully. If you breach the duty to disclose, the insurer may withdraw or terminate depending on your degree of fault. What matters is whether the breach was intentional, grossly negligent or without fault. The insurer must also have informed you separately in text form about the consequences, otherwise those rights do not apply.
A change of activity can matter too. If the type of work changes during the term, a material increase of risk within the meaning of § 23 VVG may arise. You must then notify it without culpable delay, and without the insurer’s consent you may not carry them out under § 23 subsection 1 VVG. Document changes promptly for that reason.
What changes during the policy term?
Self-employed people often change their activity faster than employees do. A new client, a specialisation or a move into management can shift the focus of the work. Not every change is relevant to the insurer, but every change that increases the risk should be checked. This includes whether the work becomes more physically demanding or more dangerous, for example through assembly work or travel to crisis regions.
A simple overview helps with documentation: date of the change, new activity, affected shares in percent and whether the insurer needs to know. Keep order confirmations and task descriptions, because in a claim they serve a similar function to the employer confirmation for employees.
If you are unsure whether a change must be reported, ask in writing. The answer then becomes part of your records. A verbal answer over the phone rarely helps in a dispute, because nobody can later be sure of the wording.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take out disability insurance as a freelancer with few orders so far?
The evidence an insurer requires from new businesses is set out in its application documents and varies between providers. Ask in writing which proof is accepted before you submit an application. A limited order book alone is not a reason to forgo protection.
Must I report my self-employment to the insurer?
If your activity changes significantly, you should disclose it. Under § 23 VVG you may not carry out or permit an increase of risk without the insurer’s consent, and you must report any increase you become aware of without delay. Informing the insurer afterwards does not replace prior coordination.
Does an economic crisis count as occupational disability?
No. Under § 172 subsection 2 VVG, the limitation must result from illness, bodily injury or age-atypical loss of physical strength. A decline in orders or payment defaults are not enough on their own. What matters is whether the health cause permanently prevents you from practising the occupation.
Do I also need daily sickness allowance cover?
That depends on your reserves and existing cover. Daily sickness allowance replaces short-term absences, while occupational disability insurance secures the long-term loss of working capacity. The waiting period of sickness allowance cover is explained in Krankentagegeld Wartezeit: Was Freelancer wissen müssen (in German).
How to proceed now
- Describe your occupation and the shares of each task in writing before you compare offers.
- Check how the policy regulates the occupational classification and referral.
- Answer the health questions using findings and documents, not from memory.
- Record changes to your activity in writing straight away and inform the insurer before you implement them.
Related guides
- How do I protect my working capacity? The overview for career starters (in German)
- Daily sickness allowance waiting period: what freelancers need to know (in German)
- Disability insurance or care top-up: which cover comes first (in German)
- Sickness benefit after 78 weeks: when the income gap arises (in German)
- Disability insurance for students: costs and start (in German)
Sources: § 172 VVG, Benefits of the insurer (occupational disability), last updated November 2026; § 19 VVG, Duty to disclose, last updated November 2026; § 23 VVG, Increase of risk, last updated November 2026.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
