# Insurance for Heilpraktiker, Germany's state licensed alternative practitioners

> As a Heilpraktiker, a state licensed alternative practitioner, you treat patients on your own responsibility, often with needles, injections, infusions or cupping. If an abscess forms after autologous blood therapy or acupuncture causes a collapsed lung, you are liable like a doctor, but without the backing of a professional chamber. This page shows what to insure and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-alternative-practitioner.php  
Updated: 2026-09-18

## Am I covered for every therapy I offer?

Not automatically. Many tariffs cover the usual naturopathic methods but exclude individual ones or charge extra, for instance injections, infusions, chiropractic, autologous blood therapy or ozone therapy. Give the insurer the list of your methods and get written confirmation that all of them are included. If you offer psychotherapy under the Heilpraktiker Act, you often need a separate tariff.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** No insurance required by law, but the professional codes of the Heilpraktiker associations oblige their members to hold professional liability
- **Biggest risk:** Injury from invasive methods such as injections, infusions and acupuncture
- **Basic cover from:** about €100 a year for the professional liability policy of a single handed practice
- **Statutory accident insurer:** BGW, the Berufsgenossenschaft for health and welfare services, for your employees; as a self employed Heilpraktiker you are covered only voluntarily
- **Often forgotten:** Every method you use must be in the policy, especially injections and infusions
- **WZ 2025 / NACE:** 86.96 Traditionelle, komplementäre und alternative medizinische Tätigkeiten

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Needles and syringes:** Injections, infusions and autologous blood can cause abscesses, nerve damage or circulatory reactions.
- **Acupuncture:** A needle placed too deep in the chest area can cause a pneumothorax, a rare but expensive case.
- **Chiropractic:** Manipulation of the cervical spine is among the riskiest methods and is examined closely by insurers.
- **Delayed diagnosis:** If a serious illness is missed or referred to a doctor too late, high claims can follow.
- **Informed consent:** Without proof that you explained risks and effectiveness, you are liable even for correct treatment.
- **Allergy to remedies:** Herbal remedies, homeopathic injections and oils can trigger allergic reactions.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 4, Fire and water 2, Theft 2, Cyber 2, Downtime 3, Health 3

## The insurance you need

- **Professional indemnity** (Essential): Pays for injuries caused by treatment and missing consent and fends off unjustified claims; required by professional associations. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-professional-indemnity.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): Replaces furnishings, couches, equipment and remedies after fire, burst pipes, storm and burglary. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Occupational disability** (Strongly advised): As a self employed practitioner you usually have no claim to a state reduced earning capacity pension; private cover protects your income. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-occupational-disability.php
- **Business interruption** (Depends on the business): As practice downtime cover it pays rent and fixed costs if you are ill or the practice is idle after damage. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-interruption.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Depends on the business): If patient records and appointment calendars are encrypted or stolen. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Depends on the business): For disputes with patients over fees, with the health authority or over advertising for your methods. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php

## What it costs: example prices

Professional liability for a Heilpraktiker is affordable. What counts is your methods, especially injections, infusions and chiropractic, plus turnover, employees and the chosen sum insured.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional indemnity | Single handed practice without staff, €5 million cover | about €100 to €240 a year |
| Professional indemnity | Practice with two employees, €10 million cover | about €180 to €300 a year |
| Professional indemnity | Including injections, infusions and chiropractic | about €250 to €500 a year |
| Business contents | Practice furnishings worth €25,000 | about €80 to €200 a year |
| Occupational disability | Age 40, €1,500 monthly pension until 67 | about €900 to €1,800 a year |

For comparison: Professional liability and practice contents cost about as much a year as three first consultations with a full case history.

_Guide prices as of September 2026, based on published tariff examples and on our own quoting practice. Some methods are insured only at a surcharge or not at all; we obtain the exact quote for you._

- [transparent-beraten.de: Berufshaftpflicht für Heilpraktiker](https://www.transparent-beraten.de/berufshaftpflichtversicherung/berufsgruppen/heilpraktiker/)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Starter** (single handed practice with gentle methods such as homeopathy or herbal medicine): Professional indemnity, Business contents. Together: about €180 to €400 a year
- **Practice** (practice with acupuncture, injections and its own premises): Professional indemnity, Business contents, Business interruption, Occupational disability. Together: about €1,400 to €3,000 a year
- **All round** (shared practice with staff, infusions and online booking): Professional indemnity, Business contents, Business interruption, Occupational disability, Cyber insurance, Business legal expenses. Together: about €2,200 to €4,500 a year

## The worst day in the Heilpraktiker practice

Six things that really happen in Heilpraktiker practices, all on a single Thursday. Click through the day and see who pays.

- 08:30: After an autologous blood injection a patient develops an abscess on the buttock and needs surgery. (€9,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 10:15: After acupuncture a patient complains of breathlessness. At hospital a pneumothorax is found. (€15,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 12:00: A patient has an allergic reaction to an infusion and the emergency doctor is called. (€4,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 14:30: The booking software is hacked, patient data is circulating and everyone affected has to be notified. (€7,000, Paid by: Cyber insurance)
- 16:00: A former patient goes to court over an allegedly delayed diagnosis. (€20,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 20:40: A short circuit in a heat lamp starts a fire in the treatment room. (€14,000, Paid by: Business contents)

**Damage so far:** €69,000

## Practical tips from your broker

- Give the insurer a complete list of your methods and have each one confirmed individually, especially injections, infusions and chiropractic.
- Choose at least €3 million for injury claims, and more like €5 million with invasive methods.
- Record information and consent in writing, including your advice on when to see a doctor.
- Check whether financial loss is included, for instance if you issue incorrect certificates.
- Make sure you have run off cover for the time after you close the practice; claims can come years later.
- Protect your own income: without employee status you have hardly any state protection against illness and disability.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We match insurers to your methods:** As a broker we compare several insurers and know which include injections, chiropractic or infusions on reasonable terms.
- **We know settlement from the inside:** In boat insurance we settle claims ourselves. We know how important complete records are in a dispute with a patient.
- **Practice and private cover with us:** Professional liability, practice, income protection and your private cover are handled by one contact.
- **Family run since 1989:** Advice is free, as the insurer pays our commission. You reach people who know your practice.

## FAQ

### Is professional liability compulsory for a Heilpraktiker?

Not by law. But the professional codes of the Heilpraktiker associations oblige their members to have it, and without insurance you are liable with everything you own.

### How much does professional liability cost for a Heilpraktiker?

For a single handed practice about €100 to €240 a year. With invasive methods such as injections, infusions or chiropractic it is usually €250 to €500.

### Is a Heilpraktiker for psychotherapy insured the same way?

No, there are separate tariffs. A Heilpraktiker limited to psychotherapy has a different risk and usually pays less than one who treats the body.

### Are injections always included?

Not always. Many tariffs include them, some only for a surcharge or with limits. Check before your first injection.

### Am I liable if I miss an illness?

If you should have recognised that a doctor was needed and did not refer the patient, yes. Professional liability then pays the damage and checks whether the claim is justified.

### Do I need a Berufsgenossenschaft as a Heilpraktiker?

For employees, yes: the BGW is responsible. You yourself are not insured there compulsorily as a Heilpraktiker, but you can join voluntarily.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison. Free of charge and without obligation: the insurer pays our commission. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-alternative-practitioner.php#anfrage

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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.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.