Statutory accident insurance covers you against accidents at work and commuting accidents as well as occupational illnesses. As an entrepreneur, self-employed person or volunteer, you are generally not covered by statutory accident insurance. However, you can take out voluntary insurance.

This also applies to

• spouses (wives and husbands) or life partners who are not employed by the company,
• Persons who work as entrepreneurs. These are persons who work in corporations or commercial partnerships (GmbH, KG, GmbH & Co. KG):
  • either hold at least 50% of the company's share capital as a shareholder-managing director or can prevent all decisions by other shareholders in accordance with the provisions of the articles of association
  • or, as a non-managing partner, hold more than 50% of the company's share capital or are able to prevent all resolutions by other shareholders in accordance with the provisions of the articles of association.

There are cases in which entrepreneurs are covered by statutory accident insurance. Volunteers may also be compulsorily insured in certain cases, for example in the healthcare sector. If this applies to you, you can take out supplementary insurance. This allows you to adjust the benefits to your personal needs in the event of an insured event.

The employers' liability insurance associations and accident insurance funds regulate the details of the insurance policies, such as contributions and the calculation of cash benefits.

If you are voluntarily insured in this sense or have taken out supplementary insurance, you can change the sum insured at any time.

The employers' liability insurance associations and accident insurance funds set the upper and lower limits of the sum insured. The chosen sum insured should correspond to your actual income. It is the basis for calculating contributions and cash benefits such as injury benefit and pensions.

The insurance begins on the day after your application is received by your employers' liability insurance association or accident insurance fund.

An application is required to apply for, change or terminate voluntary insurance or supplementary insurance.

A change or termination is possible at any time.

You can choose the date of termination. If you do not specify a date, the insurance ends in the month in which the notice of termination is received by your employer's liability insurance association or accident insurance fund.

Retroactive termination is not possible.

In certain cases, no notice of termination is necessary, but the voluntary insurance or supplementary insurance expires automatically, for example in the event of

• unpaid contributions,
• Change of employer's liability insurance association or accident insurance fund,
• discontinuation of the company,
• the insured person leaves the company or
• death of the insured person.