Disadvantages of Basic Ability Insurance: What You Should Definitely Know Before Signing Up
7 Apr 2025
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
The basic ability insurance promises protection in case of loss of fundamental abilities, but the reality is often more complex. Many policyholders overlook crucial disadvantages that can lead to unpleasant surprises in an emergency. Understand the risks before you sign.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The basic ability insurance often only provides coverage in cases of complete loss of defined abilities and frequently excludes mental illnesses, which constitutes a significant disadvantage.
The cost of a basic capabilities insurance can increase significantly with modular components, reaching or even exceeding the price of a more comprehensive occupational disability insurance.
A thorough review of the contract terms, especially the definitions of skills and performance exclusions, is essential as the rates vary significantly and there may be high barriers to benefits.
Limited Protection: The High Hurdles of Service Delivery
A significant drawback of the basic skills insurance is the often severely limited scope of benefits. Many policies only pay out if an insured basic skill is completely lost for at least twelve months. A partial impairment, even if it makes practicing a profession difficult, is often not sufficient. The bar for a payout by the insurance is often set very high. For example, a tiler who can no longer kneel for six hours a day might get nothing if the policy only pays out when he cannot kneel even once a day. This aspect clearly sets basic skills insurance apart from a more comprehensive occupational disability insurance. The precise definition of skills and the degree of loss in the contract terms is therefore crucial. An unclear formulation, for instance whether picking up a cup with one or both hands is meant, can make the difference in a claim. As a result, you might fall through the cracks despite noticeable impairments.
Matter of Definition: Why the Devil is in the Details of the Clauses
The precise details of the insurance terms are a critical point in occupational disability insurance. There are no uniform standards, and the policies differ significantly in terms and conditions. Terms that sound similar for coverage components can represent different triggers for benefits, creating a lack of transparency. For example, the ability to "walk" can be defined differently: must one be able to cover 200 metres or 400 metres without aids? Waiving aids as a condition is usually better for the insured. The complexity of the clauses is increasing, which does not always lead to more clarity. An example is the clause on gripping: If an insured person cannot hold a light everyday object with one hand for five minutes, it is unclear whether this also applies if the other hand is still fully functional. A careful examination of which abilities are particularly important for one’s profession is indispensable. For a self-employed craftsman, other basic abilities are central compared to an office worker.
Pay particular attention to the following points in the terms:
Exact definition of each insured basic ability.
Required degree and duration of ability loss (e.g., six or twelve months).
Exclusion clauses, especially for pre-existing conditions or certain causes.
Rules regarding the involvement of aids (e.g., walking aids, visual aids).
The forecast period: Shorter periods, such as six months, are more advantageous.
These details determine whether and when you will receive benefits in the event of an emergency.
Mental Illnesses: An Often Overlooked Coverage Gap
A significant disadvantage of many basic ability insurance policies is the inadequate or missing coverage for mental illnesses. However, these are one of the main causes of occupational disability – over 33 percent of all claims in occupational disability insurance (BU) are due to this. Most basic ability insurance policies (GFV) only provide benefits for mental illnesses if they are the result of an organic disease, such as multiple sclerosis or a traumatic brain injury. Often, the loss of basic abilities is even explicitly excluded if it is psychologically induced. So, for example, someone who loses their driving licence due to depression often receives no benefits, even if 'driving' was insured. Some insurers now offer additional modules for severe depression or schizophrenia. These extend the coverage, but often do not completely close the gap compared to comprehensive occupational disability insurance (BU). Here, BU usually remains the better choice for comprehensive income protection.
Cost Factor: Affordable Entry, Expensive Expansions?
The basic skills insurance is often advertised as a cost-effective alternative to occupational disability insurance. A basic policy for a 30-year-old bricklayer with a 1,000 Euro monthly pension can start at about 50 Euro net per month. However, this price advantage can quickly diminish. Depending on the scope of benefits and the number of components, a basic skills insurance can cost more than a disability insurance contract. A basic product with additional components for serious illnesses and mental health can cost the same bricklayer 70 Euros or even over 160 Euros when all components are included. For comparison: An independent occupational disability insurance (IDDI) starts at around 134 Euro for this person. The modular offerings with many policy combinations – one insurer offers up to ten different components – increase the complexity and potentially the costs. It is therefore important not only to consider the entry price but also the total costs for the desired coverage and to weigh them against the costs of a disability insurance. A tax deductibility can influence the net burden but should not be the main criterion.
Expert Depth: What to Consider When Making Your Choice
Selecting a suitable basic ability insurance requires careful consideration. Experts advise preferring policies that cover all relevant basic abilities, rather than relying solely on job-related skills, as occupations can change. A catalogue of at least fourteen core abilities, as defined by companies such as Franke & Bornberg, can serve as a guideline. These include walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, as well as the use of hands. Our expert tip: Look for a prognosis period of no more than six months to qualify for benefits. Additionally, it is advantageous if benefit triggers do not depend on aids – being able to walk 400 metres without aids is a different challenge than with them. Consumer advice centres stress that basic abilities insurance should never be the first choice, and an income protection insurance generally offers more comprehensive protection. Nevertheless, basic ability insurance can be worth considering for certain groups, like high-risk tradespeople who find it difficult or expensive to get income protection insurance, provided the conditions are favourable. Independent advice is invaluable here. Get your insurance situation reviewed free of charge and receive specific recommendations for improvement.
More useful links
Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview of the basic ability insurance.
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides information on people with disabilities in Germany.
The German Pension Insurance informs about the disability pension and its requirements.
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) offers a research report on the participation of people with disabilities.
Finanztip offers an article on basic ability insurance.
The Handelsblatt presents an article on basic ability insurance as an alternative to disability insurance, based on findings from Stiftung Warentest.
The Federal Employment Agency provides statistics on the labour market situation of severely disabled people.
The Consumer Advice Centre Lower Saxony discusses basic ability insurance as a potential alternative to occupational disability insurance.
FAQ
Ist eine Grundfähigkeitsversicherung eine gute Alternative zur Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung?
Nein, Verbraucherschützer und Experten sehen die Grundfähigkeitsversicherung (GFV) im Allgemeinen nicht als gleichwertige Alternative zur Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung (BU). Die BU bietet einen umfassenderen Schutz, da sie leistet, wenn Sie Ihren konkreten Beruf nicht mehr ausüben können. Die GFV leistet nur bei Verlust bestimmter, im Vertrag definierter Grundfähigkeiten, oft erst bei vollständigem Verlust.
Was sind die häufigsten Leistungsausschlüsse bei der Grundfähigkeitsversicherung?
Häufige Ausschlüsse betreffen psychische Erkrankungen (es sei denn, sie sind organisch bedingt), Suchterkrankungen und oft auch Folgen von Vorerkrankungen, die bei Antragstellung nicht korrekt angegeben wurden oder spezifisch ausgeschlossen sind. Auch der nicht vollständige Verlust einer Fähigkeit führt oft zur Ablehnung.
Wie wichtig sind die Definitionen der Grundfähigkeiten im Vertrag?
Extrem wichtig. Die genaue Formulierung, was unter dem Verlust einer Fähigkeit (z.B. "Gehen", "Greifen", "Sehen") verstanden wird und welcher Grad der Einschränkung für wie lange vorliegen muss, entscheidet über den Leistungsanspruch. Diese Definitionen können von Anbieter zu Anbieter stark variieren.
Kann ich eine Grundfähigkeitsversicherung trotz Vorerkrankungen abschließen?
Das hängt von der Art der Vorerkrankung und vom Versicherer ab. Es kann zu Risikozuschlägen, Leistungsausschlüssen für bestimmte Fähigkeiten oder Erkrankungen oder sogar zur Ablehnung des Antrags kommen. Eine wahrheitsgemäße Angabe aller Gesundheitsdaten ist unerlässlich.
Lohnt sich eine Grundfähigkeitsversicherung für Handwerker?
Für Handwerker und andere körperlich tätige Berufe, die möglicherweise schwer oder nur sehr teuer eine Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung bekommen, kann eine Grundfähigkeitsversicherung eine Überlegung wert sein. Entscheidend ist, dass die versicherten Fähigkeiten und die Bedingungen exakt zum individuellen Risiko passen.
Was sollte ich tun, bevor ich eine Grundfähigkeitsversicherung abschließe?
Prüfen Sie immer zuerst, ob eine Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung für Sie in Frage kommt. Vergleichen Sie Angebote genau, achten Sie auf die Definitionen der Fähigkeiten, Ausschlüsse und den Prognosezeitraum. Holen Sie unabhängige Beratung ein, um Fallstricke zu vermeiden. Jetzt individuelle Risikoanalyse anfordern: Lassen Sie Ihre Versicherungssituation kostenfrei prüfen und erhalten Sie konkrete Optimierungsvorschläge.
