Immediate cover: your daily sickness benefit insurance without waiting period
08.04.25
10
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
A sudden loss of earnings due to illness can affect anyone and quickly lead to financial shortfalls. A sickness benefit insurance policy with no waiting period offers immediate protection and bridges the gap to your net income. Find out how to protect yourself in the best possible way.
The topic in brief and concise terms
A sickness daily allowance insurance policy with no waiting period often provides financial protection from the first day, especially in the event of accidents, and bridges the usual three-month waiting period found in many tariffs.
In particular, self-employed people, low-income earners and people with high financial commitments benefit from an immediate start to benefits, as statutory sick pay is often insufficient or not paid at all.
When taking out the policy, pay close attention to the tariff details: does the waiver of waiting periods apply to all causes of illness, are there benefit limits or higher premiums, and how are the insurer’s cancellation rights regulated?
Understanding immediate cover: What does “no waiting period” mean?
A sickness daily benefit insurance policy without a waiting period promises benefits from the first day of the agreed deferred period, without an additional waiting period of several months after the contract is concluded. As a rule, contracts provide for a general waiting period of three months. In tariffs without a waiting period, this hurdle is waived, often in particular in the event of incapacity for work resulting from an accident. This means that in the event of a claim, you do not first have to bridge several months until the insurance pays out. For employees, the start of benefits is typically relevant after six weeks of continued salary payment by the employer. Self-employed people, on the other hand, often need protection from an earlier point in time, as their income ceases immediately.
Many insurers generally waive the waiting period in the event of accidents, even if a general waiting period applies. This provides important basic cover from the start of the contract for accident-related absences. However, pay close attention to the terms and conditions: Does the waiver of the waiting period apply to all causes of illness or only to accidents? Some providers allow the waiver of waiting periods if a medical certificate is submitted or when taking out a policy together with full health insurance. A sickness daily benefit insurance policy is therefore an important building block of your financial provision. The exact provisions are decisive for your seamless cover.
Clearly recognise the benefits: Why choose sickness daily allowance insurance without a waiting period?
The main advantage of sickness benefit insurance without a waiting period is immediate financial security. If your income stops, gaps quickly appear, often after just a few weeks. With immediate cover, you do not have to dip into savings that may have been intended for other purposes. Statutory sick pay often covers only around seventy per cent of gross income, but no more than ninety per cent of net income. This difference of twenty to thirty per cent can represent a considerable burden. A sickness benefit insurance policy that pays out immediately closes this gap from the agreed point in time, for example from day 43 for employees.
This aspect is particularly vital for the self-employed and freelancers, as they usually receive no continued salary payments and every day off work means a direct financial loss. They can often choose the benefit start date more flexibly, for example from day 15 or 22. A quicker start to benefits without months of waiting significantly reduces financial pressure. In addition, some policies without a waiting period also provide cover for certain pre-existing conditions if they can be taken out without a health check, which makes access easier. Find out about the sickness benefit insurance options that provide you with immediate cover. This way, you secure your liquidity and can concentrate fully on your recovery.
Practical examples and calculations: This is how instant cover works
Imagine you are an employee with a net income of 3,000 euros per month. After six weeks of continued salary payment, you receive sickness benefit from the statutory health insurer, which could be around 2,300 euros. This creates a monthly gap of 700 euros. A daily sickness allowance policy with no waiting period, which pays from day 43, would close this gap immediately. With a typical waiting period of three months, you would have to bridge 2,100 euros yourself. A self-employed person with similar income has this gap from the first day of incapacity for work, provided they have no cover. If they choose a tariff that pays from day 22 with no waiting period, they receive financial support much earlier.
Example calculation for an employee:
Net income: 3,000 euros/month (100 euros/day)
Statutory sickness benefit (approx. 77% of net): 2,300 euros/month (approx. 77 euros/day)
Income gap: 700 euros/month (approx. 23 euros/day)
Required daily sickness allowance: 23 euros/day
Without a waiting period, this money flows directly after the end of continued salary payment. With a three-month waiting period, you are short by 2,100 euros (3 months x 700 euros). For an exact adjustment of your sickness allowance, an individual calculation is essential. This illustrates the immediate financial advantage of daily sickness allowance insurance with no waiting period.
Target groups in focus: For whom is avoiding waiting times particularly important?
Although sickness daily allowance insurance without a waiting period is advantageous for many, certain groups benefit particularly. First and foremost, these include self-employed people and freelancers. As a rule, they are not entitled to continued payment of wages, and statutory sickness benefit often only applies with an opt-in declaration and additional contributions. Every day of incapacity for work means a direct loss of earnings of one hundred per cent for them. A swift start to benefits is often essential here. Employees with limited financial reserves or high ongoing costs should also consider a tariff without a waiting period. Bridging three months can put a heavy strain on the budget.
Other groups for whom immediate cover makes sense:
Start-ups: in the launch phase, financial buffers are often thin.
Single earners: the entire family income depends on one person.
People with recently arranged financing (e.g. property loan): instalments must be paid on time here.
Employees whose income is significantly above the contribution assessment ceiling: the gap created by statutory sickness benefit is particularly large here.
If you are just starting out in self-employment or have only a small financial buffer, you should review the option of sickness daily allowance insurance without a waiting period. The difference between sickness benefit and sickness daily allowance is central here. A careful analysis of your own financial situation helps with the decision.
Expert knowledge: Legal basics and tariff details when waiving the waiting period
The general waiting periods in daily sickness benefit insurance are regulated in Section 197 of the Insurance Contract Act (VVG). Accordingly, the general waiting period may not exceed three months. For certain benefits such as psychotherapy or childbirth, it can be eight months. Waiving the general waiting period is an improved tariff benefit for the policyholder. Often, this waiver is subject to conditions, for example in the event of incapacity for work caused by an accident. Some tariffs advertised as „Krankentagegeld Versicherung without waiting period“ refer primarily to this accident aspect or require a health assessment. However, there are also offers that completely waive waiting periods or waive them in certain circumstances, for example when switching from statutory health insurance with previous insurance periods.
Our expert tip: Check the insurance terms and conditions (AVB/MBKT) carefully. Make sure whether the waiver of the waiting period applies in full or is limited to specific scenarios. Also clarify whether there are graduated benefit levels in the first few months, even if the waiting period is waived. Sometimes a sensible daily sickness benefit insurance policy is also one with a shortened health assessment, which may then have a standard waiting period. The question „How long is daily sickness benefit paid?“ is also relevant, but independent of the waiting period. A waiver of the insurer’s ordinary right of cancellation in the first three years is another sign of quality.
Avoid pitfalls: What you should pay attention to when signing up
Even if a daily sickness benefit insurance policy without a waiting period sounds tempting, there are a few points to note. Not every tariff advertising “immediate cover” is automatically the best choice. Compare the monthly contributions carefully. Waiving waiting periods can sometimes lead to higher premiums. Check whether the insured daily rate meets your needs and whether there are any limits, for example a maximum of thirty euros per day for tariffs without a medical examination. Pay attention to exclusions: are certain pre-existing conditions excluded from cover, even if no health questions were asked? The wording “no benefit will be paid for insured events that occurred before cover began” is standard here.
Important points to check are:
Does the waiver of the waiting period apply to all illnesses or only to accidents?
Are there benefit limits in the first few months after the contract starts, even if the waiting period is waived (e.g. a maximum of 60 days’ benefits in months four to twelve)?
What are the rules on indexation, i.e. adjusting the daily benefit to rising income without a new medical examination?
Does the insurer waive its ordinary right to terminate in the first three years?
A close look at the insurance conditions is essential to avoid later surprises. Sometimes it can happen that the PKV does not pay the daily sickness benefit, if conditions are not met. A combination with a income protection insurance can also make sense, but it covers different risks. For self-employed people, daily sickness benefit is often the only source of income when ill.
Have your insurance situation checked free of charge and receive specific recommendations for optimisation. Request your personalised risk analysis now.
More useful links
Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides current data on sickness absence in Germany.
Federal Ministry of Health provides an online guide to health insurance in Germany.
GKV-Spitzenverband publishes key figures on statutory health insurance in Germany.
Consumer Advice Centre provides information on entitlement to sick pay and how to apply for it.
Federal Office for Social Security provides a comprehensive overview of health insurance in Germany.
German Pension Insurance explains transitional benefits during rehabilitation measures.
National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) provides information on incapacity for work.
Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BauA) provides data on the costs of incapacity for work.
Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides information on healthcare expenditure in Germany.
FAQ
What is the difference between the waiting period and the deferred period for sickness daily allowance?
The waiting period is a period directly after the contract is concluded (e.g. three months), during which, in principle, no entitlement to benefits exists yet. The deferment period is the period from the start of incapacity for work until the sickness daily allowance payment begins (e.g. the first six weeks, during which employees receive continued pay). Sickness daily allowance insurance without a waiting period pays benefits after the deferment period has ended, without the additional waiting period after the start of the contract.
Is the waiting period waived for every sickness benefit insurance policy in the event of an accident?
In many daily sickness benefit policies, the general waiting period does not apply if incapacity for work is the result of an accident occurring after the start of insurance. This is a common, but not universal, rule. Always check the specific policy terms of your contract.
Can I take out sickness benefit insurance without a waiting period if I am already ill?
No, cover is generally not provided for incapacity for work that already exists or that occurred before the contract was concluded, even with tariffs without a waiting period. Insurance cover applies to illnesses that occur after the policy start and, where applicable, after specific periods have expired.
Is sickness benefit insurance without a waiting period more expensive?
A plan without a waiting period may, in some cases, be slightly more expensive than a comparable plan with a standard waiting period, as the insurer bears a higher risk of earlier claims. A detailed comparison of different offers is therefore important.
What documents do I need for benefits from a sickness daily allowance insurance policy with no waiting period?
You will usually need a medical certificate confirming your incapacity for work (the so-called “yellow sick note” or a digital certificate of incapacity for work), details of your income and, where applicable, any other evidence requested by the insurer. Your insurer will inform you of the exact requirements.
How much should my sickness benefit be without a waiting period?
Sickness benefit should bridge the gap between your net income and statutory sick pay (or other wage replacement benefits). As a rule of thumb, sickness benefit, together with any other sickness benefits, must not exceed your average net income.
