Does accident insurance pay for skydiving and extreme sports in Germany?
In short
It depends on the exclusions in your contract. In principle, German accident insurance (Unfallversicherung) does pay for skydiving and extreme sports. But the model conditions exclude accidents as pilot of an aircraft or air sports device where German law requires a licence, and taking part in motor races. Cover costs about EUR 60 to 180 a year with an office job.
Basic cover about EUR 70 to 200 a year plus the air sports surcharge. Without it, his most frequent risk would not be insured.
What the German model conditions exclude for extreme sports
Under the model conditions of the German insurance association (AUB 2020), accident insurance protects you worldwide and around the clock. Extreme sports are not excluded as such. Specific accidents are, and two of them hit athletes directly.
First, accidents as pilot of an aircraft or air sports device where German law requires a licence; the conditions name pilots, paragliders and hang gliders as examples. Second, accidents in motor vehicle races where top speed matters, including practice runs. Purely recreational driving on a public go-kart track in Germany is an exception.
Sport
Under the model conditions
What to watch
Solo skydiving with your own canopy
excluded, solo jumpers need a German licence
have air sports included
Tandem jump as passenger
no exclusion named for passengers
check your own wording
Paragliding and hang gliding as pilot
excluded
separate air sports cover
Bungee, climbing, freeriding, canyoning
not excluded
look for deviations in your tariff
Motorbike races, timed track days
excluded
special motor sport policy
Skydiving: tandem passenger or your own canopy
With skydiving, it matters who controls the parachute. The exclusion in item 5.1.4 applies to the pilot of the air sports device and other crew. As a tandem passenger you do not steer, so under the model wording you are not caught by the exclusion.
If you jump solo, confirm in writing before your first jump whether your policy includes air sports. Insurers may deviate from the model conditions in either direction.
Why statutory accident insurance will not help on a weekend jump
Statutory accident insurance (gesetzliche Unfallversicherung) only pays for accidents resulting from an insured activity: work, school or nursery, and the journeys there. A skydive at the weekend is not included.
Your health fund still pays for treatment after a sports accident. Section 52 SGB V only allows cost sharing for intent, crimes, cosmetic surgery, tattoos and piercings, not for extreme sports. What is missing is money for permanent harm, and that is what private accident insurance pays.
What extreme athletes should check in their contract
Read the exclusions in section 5 of your conditions, not just the benefits overview. If air sports or motor sport appear there, you know where the gap is.
Also check the basic sum, the progression and rescue costs. After a fall in the mountains or a landing off the drop zone, the rescue can cost more than the treatment. For jumps abroad you also need travel health insurance.
When you do not need extra cover
If you do one tandem jump on holiday and your contract does not exclude passengers, you do not need an extra policy. A quick look at the exclusions is enough.
Bungee, climbing and freeriding are not excluded under the model conditions either. Special cover is mainly worth it for licensed skydivers, paraglider pilots and anyone who races.
Step by step
Read section 5 of your accident conditions, especially aviation and races.
Clarify whether you jump or fly as pilot or only as a passenger.
If there is a gap, ask for air sports to be included or for a special policy.
Match basic sum, progression and rescue costs to your risk.
Take out travel health insurance for jumps and trips abroad.
Checklist
Aircraft and air sports exclusion checked
Motor race exclusion checked
Rescue costs at a sufficient level
Progression of at least 350 percent
Travel health cover with repatriation
Written confirmation where in doubt
Common mistakes
Relying on statutory accident insurance for leisure
Reading only the benefits overview and missing the exclusions
Assuming air sports are covered automatically as a licensed skydiver
Doing timed track days without motor sport cover
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does accident insurance pay for a tandem skydive?
Under the model wording, item 5.1.4 only excludes pilot and crew, not the passenger.
Still check the wording of your own policy.
Am I covered for bungee jumping?
Bungee is not among the exclusions in the model conditions.
It is covered unless your contract says otherwise.
Is paragliding covered by accident insurance?
Not as pilot under the model conditions, which name paragliders explicitly.
Pilots need a separate inclusion or their own policy.
Does accident insurance pay after a motorbike race?
No, races with motor vehicles and practice runs are excluded.
The exception is purely recreational driving on a public go-kart track in Germany.
Will my health fund charge me after an extreme sports accident?
No.
Section 52 SGB V only provides for cost sharing in cases of intent, crimes, cosmetic surgery,
