Event ticket insurance in the event of illness: How to protect your costs
31.10.2025
9
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
The €150 ticket for the concert of the year is ready, but suddenly you are laid up in bed with a fever. Event ticket insurance for illness can help prevent financial loss. Find out which conditions apply and how to avoid pitfalls.
The topic in brief and concise terms
An event ticket insurance reimburses the full ticket price in the event of unexpected serious illness, but does not apply if the event is cancelled by the organiser.
For reimbursement to be successful, a detailed medical certificate including a diagnosis is essential; a sick note alone is not sufficient.
The insurance is particularly worthwhile for expensive tickets (over 100 euros) or events booked well in advance.
The key points of ticket insurance at a glance
Event ticket insurance in the event of illness protects you from financial loss if you unexpectedly cannot attend an event. The premium often amounts to only five to ten per cent of the ticket price. Before we delve deeper into the details, here are the key facts in brief.
These points you should know:
What is covered? As a rule, 100 per cent of the ticket price including pre-sale fees is reimbursed.
When does cover apply? Insurance cover applies in the event of unexpected serious illness, serious accident, a death in the family or even pregnancy.
What is not covered? If the event is cancelled or postponed, the organiser is your point of contact, not the insurance provider.
Who is it worth it for? According to the Verbraucherzentrale, the insurance is particularly worthwhile for very expensive tickets or events booked well in advance.
Is there an excess? Most ticket insurance policies are offered without an excess.
This overview provides an initial guide, but the crucial details often lie in the definitions and processes.
Practical use cases: When the insurance pays out
Theoretical benefits are one thing, but only concrete examples show the true value of cover. Imagine you bought a theatre ticket for 85 euros and suffer an acute stomach bug two days before the performance. In this case, after submitting a valid medical certificate, the insurer would refund the full 85 euros. The cost of the insurance here would have been only around five euros.
Case study 1: Acute illness before a festival
A festival weekend pass can quickly cost 250 euros. A week before the event, you are diagnosed with severe bronchitis. Your doctor forbids you from attending. With an event ticket insurance, you receive a full refund. Without insurance, the money would be lost, as the organiser is not obliged to take it back.
Case study 2: Unexpected worsening of a chronic illness
Many people wonder how pre-existing conditions are handled. For example, if you had an allergy that did not require treatment in the six months before taking out the insurance, and then suffer a severe flare-up, this is considered an unexpected event. The insurance would also provide cover in this case. What matters is that your health was stable when you made the booking.
Expert knowledge: Legal foundations and pitfalls
To fully take advantage of the event ticket insurance cover in the event of illness, understanding a few legal nuances is crucial. Without insurance, as the buyer you have hardly any legal recourse. Under Section 275 of the German Civil Code (BGB), the organiser is released from its obligation to perform if the event is cancelled, but not if you as the attendee are unable to attend. The risk therefore lies entirely with you.
The definition of an “unexpected serious illness”
Insurance companies define this term precisely. An illness is considered “serious” if it causes such severe impairment that attending an event is unreasonable. It is considered “unexpected” if it first occurs after the contract is concluded or if an existing condition suddenly worsens after a long stable phase (often six months). A simple cold is usually not sufficient for reimbursement of under €100.
Our expert tip: the correct medical certificate
A common mistake is submitting a simple certificate of incapacity for work. This is rejected by 99 per cent of insurers. The certificate must contain the following points:
Name of the patient.
The exact diagnosis of the illness.
Date treatment began.
The doctor’s confirmation that attending the event is unreasonable due to the diagnosis.
Only with this information is smooth processing guaranteed, as is also customary with travel cancellation insurance.
Cost-benefit analysis: When protection pays off
The decision for or against ticket insurance is a simple risk assessment. The cost of the policy is usually between four and ten euros for tickets up to 100 euros. At a ticket price of 30 euros for the cinema, the cover may seem excessive. However, if you buy four tickets for a musical for a total of 480 euros, cover for around 25 euros is a sensible investment. The premium here accounts for only around five per cent of the total cost.
A rule of thumb is: the higher the ticket price and the further in the future the event date is, the greater the risk of an unforeseen cancellation. An event cancellation insurance policy is therefore particularly worth considering for expensive sporting events, festivals or exclusive concerts. Before taking out cover, check whether another policy, such as an annual travel insurance policy, already includes cover for tickets.
Review alternatives and supplementary insurance options
Standalone event ticket insurance in the event of illness is not the only option for getting cover. Sometimes existing policies already provide adequate protection. It is worth taking a look at your own documents before taking out a new policy for ten euros.
A very good alternative is comprehensive annual trip cancellation insurance. Many of these plans not only cover cancellation costs for trips, but also include event tickets up to a certain value, often up to 200 euros per ticket. If you travel several times a year and attend events, such a policy for 90 euros a year can be the cheaper and more comprehensive solution. Check the terms of your travel & leisure insurance to avoid duplicate cover. This way, you can be sure you are ideally prepared for your next concert or festival.
Request a personalised risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation reviewed free of charge and receive specific recommendations for optimisation.
More useful links
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides detailed information on sickness absence in Germany.
An interactive page by Destatis visualises current data on sickness absence.
Destatis highlights the cost of illness in Germany with comprehensive statistics.
The Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) provides figures and facts on the business results of health insurance.
The Federal Ministry of Health's infection radar provides information on the current spread of infectious diseases in Germany.
The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) analyses the costs of incapacity for work.
The BKK Dachverband provides current statistics on the monthly sickness absence of its insured members.
FAQ
How much does event ticket insurance cost?
The costs depend on the ticket price and are usually between five and ten per cent of the price. For a ticket costing 100 euros, you therefore pay a premium of between five and ten euros.
Can I purchase ticket insurance afterwards?
Yes, purchase is often possible up to 30 days before the event. If there are fewer than 30 days between booking and the event, the insurance usually has to be taken out within three working days of buying the ticket.
Does the insurance also cover travel and hotel expenses?
No, a standalone ticket insurance policy only covers the cost of the admission ticket. For hotel and travel costs, you need separate travel cancellation insurance.
What happens if the event is postponed?
If the event is postponed, your ticket will usually remain valid for the new date, and the cover provided by the ticket insurance will also transfer to the new date. If you are unable to attend the new date, you must contact the organiser.
What documents do I need to report a claim?
You will need the original tickets (or a copy), the insurance policy, the detailed medical certificate and your bank details for reimbursement.
Is there a difference compared to event cancellation insurance?
Yes, event ticket insurance protects you as the ticket holder in the event of personal inability to attend. The event cancellation insurance protects the organiser against the financial consequences of cancelling the event.
