# Group accident insurance in Germany: 24-hour cover beyond the statutory system > In Germany, work and commuting accidents are covered by the statutory accident insurance of the employers' liability associations (Berufsgenossenschaften), funded entirely by employers. Accidents at home, in sport or on holiday are not. Group accident insurance, Gruppenunfallversicherung, closes that gap for all employees in one contract, worldwide and around the clock, and the employer can pay a flat 20 percent income tax on the premium on the employees' behalf. Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-group-accident.php Updated: 2026-09-18 ## Do my employees in Germany need group accident insurance if the Berufsgenossenschaft already covers them? The Berufsgenossenschaft only covers accidents at work and on the direct way to and from work, and it pays a pension only if earning capacity is reduced by at least 20 percent. Leisure accidents are not covered at all. Group accident insurance pays a lump sum for permanent disability regardless of where the accident happened. For international employers it is also the closest German equivalent to the accidental death and dismemberment cover many staff know from home. ## At a glance - **Compulsory?:** No, unless a collective agreement requires it - **Tax:** employer may pay a flat 20 percent wage tax (section 40b EStG) - **Scope:** usually worldwide, 24 hours, work and leisure - **Main benefit:** lump sum for permanent disability, by a fixed body-part table - **Statutory cover:** Berufsgenossenschaft for work and commuting accidents only ## How accident cover works in Germany Every employee in Germany is automatically insured against accidents at work, commuting accidents and occupational diseases through the Berufsgenossenschaft of the employer's sector. The employer pays the full contribution. In return, the employer is largely protected from being sued by injured employees for work accidents unless it acted intentionally (section 104 of Social Code VII). Outside work there is no statutory accident cover. An employee injured skiing or in a cycling accident gets treatment through health insurance but no money for permanent consequences. That is the gap group accident insurance fills, and it is why German employers use it as an affordable benefit. ## The 20 percent flat tax If several employees are insured together in one contract and have their own claim to the benefits, the premium is taxable salary, but the employer can pay the wage tax at a flat 20 percent plus solidarity surcharge and church tax where applicable. Employees see nothing on their payslip. Flat-taxed premiums generally remain free of social security contributions. If only the employer can claim the benefit, the premium is not treated as salary when paid; tax becomes relevant only when a benefit is passed to the employee. Agree the structure with your payroll provider or tax adviser before signing. ## What to compare in German policies The disability lump sum is calculated from a table called Gliedertaxe, which assigns a fixed percentage to the loss of a hand, eye or foot. Better policies use higher percentages. Progression multiplies the payout for severe disability, for example up to 350 or 500 percent of the base sum. Also check the definition of accident. Basic German wordings require a sudden external event; better ones include injuries from strain, such as a torn muscle while lifting. For older employees, the clause on pre-existing conditions matters, because it decides how much is deducted when wear and tear contributed to the injury. ## What is covered - Accidents at work, while commuting and during leisure time - Lump sum for permanent disability based on the Gliedertaxe - Progression for severe disability - Death benefit for dependants - Accident pension from an agreed disability level, depending on policy - Hospital daily allowance, as an option - Rescue and recovery costs, including mountain rescue - Cosmetic surgery after an accident - Rehabilitation management and practical support ## What is not covered - Illness, including heart attack and stroke - Wear and tear, for example spinal discs, unless specifically included - Accidents under the influence of alcohol above the policy limit - Motor racing - Self-inflicted injuries - War events in regions entered knowingly ## Who needs it - International employers wanting an accident benefit comparable to home-country plans - Companies with physically active staff, such as trades and logistics - Employers sending staff on business trips abroad - Start-ups looking for a low-cost, visible benefit - Companies bound by a collective agreement that requires accident cover ## Who can do without - Companies where all staff already hold good individual accident cover and want no additional benefit ## What it costs Group contracts cost far less per person than individual policies. The premium depends on sums insured, job categories and group size. There are no independent published price comparisons for German group accident cover, so we do not quote amounts. German insurance tax is added to the premium. **What drives the premium:** - Disability base sum and progression - Death benefit - Risk category: office or manual work - Work-only cover or 24-hour cover - Number of insured persons - Options such as hospital allowance or accident pension _The premium is only fixed in the quote, based on headcount, activities and sums insured._ ## The policy levels on the market - **Basic:** Disability and death with uniform sums for all staff, low progression. Affordable entry for the whole workforce. - **Enhanced:** Higher base sum, progression up to 350 or 500 percent, rehab management, improved Gliedertaxe. - **Premium:** High sums, accident pension, daily allowance, cover for strain injuries and certain infections, different sums by employee group. ## How to recognise a good policy | Criterion | Minimum standard | Strong policy | Why it matters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Gliedertaxe | standard values | improved values for hands, feet and senses | The table decides how much a given injury pays. | | Progression | none or 225 percent | 350 to 500 percent | Severe disability costs money for life. | | Definition of accident | sudden external event only | including strain and own movements | A torn tendon while lifting is otherwise not an accident. | | Pre-existing conditions | deduction from 25 percent contribution | deduction only from 50 percent | Older employees nearly always have some prior wear. | | Deadline for disability claims | 15 months | three years or more | Permanent damage is often only certain later. | | English documentation | German only | English summaries and claims support | International staff must know how to claim. | ## Insurers on the German market Nearly all large German property and casualty insurers offer group accident cover. Differences lie in the Gliedertaxe, progression and accident definition. This is a market overview, not a statement about who we work with. - **Allianz**: German property insurer of the Allianz group - **AXA**: German company of the AXA group - **ERGO**: part of Munich Re, agents, brokers and direct sales - **R+V**: insurer of the German cooperative banks - **HDI**: part of the Talanx group - **Zurich**: part of Zurich Insurance Group - **Gothaer**: mutual group, agents and brokers - **VHV**: broker-focused insurer in Hanover 123 insurers supervised by BaFin, the German regulator, are licensed for this class of insurance. (Unfall, Summenversicherung). Source: BaFin company database, retrieved 2026-09-18. Insurers from other EU countries selling through a branch or without a German office are not included. ## Typical claims and who pays - **Skiing accident on a weekend trip** (disability payout, often five figures): Leisure accidents are the main reason for group accident cover. The Berufsgenossenschaft pays nothing here. - **Rescue helicopter after a hiking fall** (several thousand €): Rescue costs are included up to a small amount in basic policies and a much higher one in strong policies. - **Slipped disc lifting a box** (four to five figures, depending on the outcome): German policies treat disc damage as wear and tear. Strong ones pay part of it if physical strain caused the injury. - **Heart attack in a meeting** (no payout): A heart attack is an illness, not an accident. No accident policy covers it. - **Tick bite leads to Lyme disease** (five figures for lasting damage): Standard German wordings do not treat tick bites as accidents. Strong policies include Lyme disease and TBE. - **E-scooter crash after a few beers** (depends on the lasting damage): Alcohol limits apply. Strong policies set a higher limit, basic ones exclude alcohol-related accidents quickly. ## Myth or truth - „German statutory accident insurance covers your weekend football match." ✘ No. It covers work, the commute and occupational diseases. A private football match is your own risk unless you have private or group accident cover. - „A detour to drop your child at daycare is still covered on the way to work." ✔ True. German law explicitly protects detours to bring children to care while you work. Stopping at the supermarket, by contrast, interrupts the cover. - „Accident insurance pays for every day you are off sick." ✘ Only if a daily benefit is included. The core payout is a lump sum for permanent disability, not for sick days. - „A tick bite can count as an accident under some German policies." ✔ Yes, if the policy includes tick-borne infections. Standard wordings do not, so check this before you buy. - „The payout for full disability is capped at the sum insured." ✘ Not with progression. Severe disability then pays a multiple of the base sum, for example 350 or 500 percent. ## Common mistakes - Assuming the Berufsgenossenschaft covers accidents outside work - Signing before clarifying the tax treatment with payroll - Forgetting to register new starters in a named policy - Comparing only the base sum and ignoring Gliedertaxe and progression - Copying a home-country benefit design that does not fit German tax rules ## FAQ ### Is group accident insurance taxable for employees in Germany? If employees have their own claim, the premium is taxable salary. The employer can pay the tax at a flat 20 percent when several employees share one contract, so employees see no deduction. Otherwise it is taxed individually. ### Does it cover accidents during leisure time? Yes, if it is a 24-hour policy, which is standard. Work-only policies exist but miss exactly what the statutory system does not cover. ### Who receives the payout? It depends on the contract structure: either the employee claims directly or the employer claims and passes the money on. The benefit is in any case meant for the injured employee. ### What is the Gliedertaxe? A table in German accident policies that fixes the disability percentage for losing a body part or sense, for example a hand or an eye. Higher values mean more money for the same injury. ### Are employees covered on business trips abroad? Usually worldwide. For travel to conflict regions, check the war exclusion and arrange special cover if needed. ### What happens when an employee leaves? Cover ends. Many insurers allow the employee to continue with an individual policy at their own cost. ### Can we insure only some employees? Yes, by objective groups such as department or role. For the flat tax, several employees must be insured together. German employment law requires equal treatment within groups. ### Why use a broker? Because German accident wordings differ widely in details that decide the payout, and the tax structure must be right from the start. We compare policies, explain them in English and support claims. The insurer pays our commission. ## Legal basis and sources - [Social Code Book VII (statutory accident insurance)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_7/) - [Income Tax Act (EStG, German)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/estg/) - [Insurance Contract Act (VVG, German)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/vvg_2008/) - [BaFin company database (licensed insurers)](https://portal.mvp.bafin.de/database/InstInfo/) ## 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/insurance-broker-group-accident.php#anfrage --- 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.