All about this insurance: Accident insurance
Do I need private accident insurance if I already have health insurance in Germany?
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Is private accident insurance worth it in Germany?
In short
It makes most sense for children, the self-employed, homemakers, retirees and anyone who cannot get income protection. Statutory accident insurance only pays at work and on the way there. A good policy with a base sum of EUR 100,000 often costs EUR 60 to 180 a year for office jobs.
What it costs
Guide figures from published tariff examples, base sum EUR 100,000.
| Example | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Office job, progression 350 percent | about EUR 60 to 180 a year |
| Manual trade, progression 350 percent | about EUR 120 to 260 a year |
| Basic tariff, progression 225 percent, no accident pension | about EUR 44 to 215 a year |
Guide values as of September 2026 from publicly quoted tariff examples. Your premium depends on age, job and health; we obtain the exact quote for you.
Worked example
Employee, 35, office job
Roughly what would be paid after a leisure accident with lasting damage to a leg.
| Base sum | EUR 100,000 |
| Degree of impairment under the limb table | 40 percent |
| Payout with progression | about EUR 40,000 to 55,000, depending on the progression table |
| Premium | about EUR 5 to 15 a month |
After a leisure accident, statutory accident insurance would pay nothing.
What private accident insurance pays
Private accident insurance (private Unfallversicherung) pays a lump sum if an accident leaves you with a permanent impairment (Invalidität). How much is set by the limb table (Gliedertaxe), a table that assigns a percentage to each part of the body.
With progression the payout rises disproportionately for severe impairments. That makes sense, because that is exactly when adapting your home and car costs a lot.
How it fits with German social insurance
If you come from the US, note that your German health insurance already pays for treatment and rehabilitation after an accident, wherever it happens. What it does not pay is a lump sum for lasting damage or for rebuilding your life around it.
Statutory accident insurance (gesetzliche Unfallversicherung) is paid by your employer and covers accidents at work and on the direct way there and back. Enrolled students are covered for university activities. A fall while skiing, cycling at the weekend or on holiday is not covered.
Who it suits
Children, because there is no occupational disability insurance for them. The self-employed and homemakers without statutory accident cover. People who cannot get occupational disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung, BU) because of pre-existing conditions.
| Situation | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Child, pupil | very useful |
| Working, without BU | useful as a substitute, but weaker |
| Working, with BU | a supplement, not a must |
| Retiree | useful with help in daily life |
| Self-employed | useful, statutory cover is usually missing |
The honest limits
Most cases of occupational disability are caused by illness, such as back problems, mental health or cancer. Accident insurance does not help with those.
If you can afford only one policy, cover occupational disability first. If you plan to leave Germany, check whether the policy continues when you live abroad, as some tariffs are limited to residents.
Step by step
- Check whether you already have occupational disability insurance.
- Choose a base sum of at least EUR 100,000.
- Include progression of 225 to 350 percent.
- Compare limb tables, they decide the amount.
- Check useful extras: rescue costs, help in daily life.
Checklist
- Base sum at least EUR 100,000
- Progression included
- Improved limb table
- Contribution of illness counted only from a high share
- Generous deadline for establishing the impairment
- Cover continues if you move abroad
Common mistakes
- Taking accident insurance instead of occupational disability insurance
- Choosing too low a base sum
- Buying a high death benefit instead of term life insurance
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Do I need accident insurance if I have BU cover?
Not necessarily. But after an accident it can provide a one-off sum for adaptations that BU does not pay.
Does accident insurance pay for illness?
No. A heart attack or stroke is usually not an accident.
Is accident insurance useful for children?
Yes, because children are not covered by the statutory scheme in their free time and there is no BU for them.
Is statutory accident insurance enough?
Only for accidents at work, school or nursery and on the way there.
Is sport covered?
Normal leisure sport yes. Dangerous sports such as motor racing are often excluded, as stated in the terms.
Does it cover me on trips back home?
Private accident insurance usually applies worldwide, including visits to your home country. Longer stays abroad may be limited, so check the terms.
Sources
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Related questions
How much does private accident insurance cost in Germany?
For an adult with an office job, good private accident insurance (Unfallversicherung) with a basic sum of EUR 100,000 …
Is occupational disability insurance worth it in Germany?
Yes, for almost everyone who lives on their earnings. The state reduced earning capacity pension (Erwerbsminderungsren …
NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker. Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated