What insurance do employed physiotherapists in Germany need?
In short
What insurance employed physiotherapists in Germany need: first disability insurance, at 25 about 103 euros a month for a 1,500 euro pension with one insurer. Your hands and back are your tools. You only need your own professional liability if you work on your own account, otherwise the practice is liable. Add personal liability and legal cover.
Disability insurance, employed physiotherapist, 25, 1,500 euros, one insurer
103.14 euros a month
For comparison: office clerk, same terms
91.07 euros a month
Own professional liability, basic tariff for physiotherapists
under 100 euros a year
Personal liability, single
about 40 to 120 euros a year
Private accident insurance, 100,000 euros, by risk group
about 60 to 260 euros a year
Figures from the sources listed.
The example is a guide value from our quoting practice.
Your premium depends on age, health and duties.
Worked example
Physiotherapist, 33, 3,400 euros gross, thumb base arthritis
Manual therapy and massage are no longer possible. Office work would be.
Accident insurance fund
nothing, as there was no accident or occupational disease
Sickness benefit after six weeks
up to 78 weeks
Reduced earning capacity pension
none, as he can work six hours a day elsewhere
Private disability cover, 1,800 euros, no hand exclusion
pays at 50 percent disability or more
With a hand exclusion the policy would have paid nothing here. That is why early cover without exclusions is worth more than saving a few euros.
Hands and back as your tools
Employed physiotherapists work with their hands, lift patients, stand bent over and demonstrate exercises. Thumb arthritis, tendon inflammation or disc problems can end the career even if you could still work full time in another job.
The state reduced earning capacity pension usually does not apply then, because it only pays if you cannot work six hours a day in any job. And when it is paid it is small: new awards averaged 1,041 euros a month in 2024.
Disability cover: what physiotherapists should watch
In a published example a 25 year old employed physiotherapist pays 103.14 euros a month for a 1,500 euro pension, and an office clerk with the same insurer 91.07 euros. The difference is smaller than many expect.
The bigger issue is exclusions: about one in ten applications is only accepted with an exclusion, for physiotherapists usually for spine or hand. That is exactly where your risk lies. Apply early while your medical history is short, and with previous conditions make anonymous enquiries with several insurers.
Liability towards patients
If employed physiotherapists injure a patient, the practice or clinic is liable towards the patient and answers for its staff. Its professional liability usually covers employed therapists. You only need your own policy if you offer home visits or classes on your own account or take locum work as a freelancer.
The details are on our page about professional liability for employed physiotherapists. Towards your employer, employee liability rules apply: none for slight negligence, usually full for gross negligence.
Priorities for employed physiotherapists
For employed physiotherapists in Germany the order looks like this. The top secures your income.
Priority
Insurance
Typical premium
1
Disability insurance
about 103 euros a month at 25 for 1,500 euros
2
Personal liability
about 40 to 120 euros a year
3
Legal cover with employment law
about 250 euros a year
4
Private accident insurance
about 60 to 260 euros a year
side work only
own professional liability
under 100 euros a year
Part time, side work and your own practice
Many employed physiotherapists work part time. Insurers cap the disability pension at a share of income, so apply in a full time phase if you can, or look for a guarantee to increase cover later.
If you open your own practice, you lose compulsory pension insurance with your first employee and often the right to a reduced earning capacity pension; see our pages on business types. Norman Nammert acts as an insurance broker; the commission is paid by the insurer.
Step by step
Request disability cover early, with previous conditions anonymously from several insurers.
Check offers with exclusions for hand or spine carefully.
Get written confirmation of cover under your employer policy.
Take out your own professional liability for home visits or classes on your own account.
Add personal liability and legal cover.
Checklist
Ability to work insured without hand exclusion
Option to increase cover for full time later
Proof of cover from your employer
Side work insured separately
Personal liability in place
Common mistakes
Accepting a spine or hand exclusion without comparing
Paying for your own professional liability on top of the practice policy
Offering classes or home visits on your own account without cover
Taking too little disability cover during part time work
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Do employed physiotherapists need their own professional liability?
Only if you also work on your own account.
Otherwise the practice or clinic is liable and covers you.
What does disability cover cost for physiotherapists?
In a published example 103.14 euros a month at 25 for a 1,500 euro pension.
Why do physiotherapists often get exclusions?
Because spine or hand complaints are common.
Applying early with a short medical history lowers the risk.
Does the accident insurance fund pay for arthritis?
No, as long as there is no accident and no recognised occupational disease.
Is accident insurance worth it for physiotherapists?
