It does not have to remain at the initially agreed level of pension in the event of disability. There are often ways to adjust the amount. However, certain deadlines must be met for this.
If you take out disability insurance (BU) in your first year of work, you are acting cleverly. Even when you are young, you are not immune to a serious illness or an accident and the resulting loss of earnings.
With an increasing salary, increasing expenses and starting a family, it makes sense to adjust the BU. Because if you should actually drop out of work, the financial losses should be as small as possible - otherwise the preservation of the previous standard of living is in jeopardy. You can read here how the insurance benefit grows with you.
In the case of BU contracts, there is always talk of a dynamic increase in contributions. What does that mean?
"First of all, this means that the contribution is automatically increased annually by a certain rate, for example two percent, compared to the previous year's contribution," explains Constantin Papaspyratos from the consumer protection organization Bund der Versicherungen based in Hamburg. According to him, however, there are now a variety of different regulations on the market. For example, the contribution can also increase by certain percentages of the previous year's contribution, inflation-oriented or about so far that the BU pension increases by certain percentages of the previous year's pension.
The BU pension itself increases disproportionately to the increase in contributions. Because every dynamic increase is a calculated new contract. This means that the insurer charges new acquisition and sales costs for each increase. For example, for a contribution dynamic of five percent, this could mean that the BU pension only increases by 3.8 percent, according to Papaspyratos.
Should a dynamic premium increase be agreed upon when concluding the contract?
That could make sense for a BU, says Sandra Klug from the Hamburg consumer center. After all, the cost of living is also increasing every year. The BU should therefore at least keep pace. Another advantage of the dynamic: it does not require a new health check like the completion of the BU.
Is a dynamic increase also possible with existing contracts?
Not without further ado. The insurer first checks its risk and asks the policyholder to answer health questions. The subsequent installation of a dynamic is not possible with every insurer.
And can the premiums be increased manually to improve performance in the event of a claim?
This is possible without a new risk and health check if the contract provides for a one-off supplementary insurance guarantee without cause - about once during the first five years of the contract up to the age of 50, according to Constantin Papaspyratos.
In addition, some providers also provide adjustments to the BU for certain life events - such as marriage, the birth of a child or a salary increase. However, anyone who lets the corresponding deadline for the respective event pass must wait for the next event, according to consumer advocate Klug. The alternative: If necessary, increase the pension without a reason, accepting a new health check.
Should I seek advice on BU?
"That often makes sense," says Constantin Papaspyratos. The insurance conditions are often very extensive and complicated, so it can be an advantage if experts from the Association of Insured Persons or consumer centers look at them and give tips.
What else matters?
Policyholders should know that the dynamics can also be controlled somewhat. "You don't have to accept them every year," says Sandra Klug. You can opt out of the automatic premium increase for two consecutive years before the momentum picks up again in the third year. This can be useful, for example, if the financial situation is tight. If you contradict the dynamic increase more often in a row, you lose it forever.
Also good to know: Anyone who pays their BU contribution annually travels much cheaper than paying monthly.
And what if you actually become disabled?
Anyone who becomes unable to work must report this to the insurer, apply for the BU benefit and provide evidence. "That can be particularly time-consuming, since disability is a complex insurance case," says Constantin Papaspyratos.
He advises against submitting an application for benefits on your own, as it must be complete and plausible. Insurance consultants and specialized lawyers can provide support. "The costs for this are justifiable, since it is about pensions over many years and you can thus significantly reduce the risk of a legal dispute," says the expert.
