A defined catalogue
Depending on the policy, insured abilities may include sight, hearing, speech, walking, climbing stairs, lifting or using the hands.
Abilities · defined benefit triggers
Basic ability insurance: not the same as occupational disability cover.
Basic ability insurance pays when a named ability is lost to the precise severity and for the duration defined in the policy. Whether the insured person can still perform their most recent occupation does not automatically decide the claim.
The policy definition governsOccupation is not decisiveReview occupational disability first
What exactly is insured?
The policy links benefits to abilities—not directly to income or occupation. The definitions therefore require particularly close comparison before a policy is taken out.
Substantial loss
A minor limitation is not enough. The defined loss must meet the requirements for severity, duration and, where applicable, the use of aids.
The agreed pension
If the insured person meets a benefit trigger, the agreed monthly pension is typically paid under the policy conditions.
Possible benefits and material limits.
Basic ability policies are not standardised. Abilities with similar names can be defined very differently between policies.
Possible cover
- An agreed pension upon the loss of at least one insured basic ability
- Benefits following illness or accident if the definition is satisfied
- Depending on the policy, additional triggers such as long-term care needs or dementia
- Policy-dependent cover for mental or severe illnesses as an additional module
- Possible options to increase cover later, indexation or a later switch to occupational disability cover
Points to check
- Loss of the ability to perform your occupation alone does not trigger a benefit.
- Mental illness is often not covered or only covered to a limited extent.
- Aids may be considered in the assessment and may prevent the benefit trigger from being met.
- Ability definitions, prognosis periods and required durations are policy-specific.
- Health questions and pre-contractual disclosure duties must be answered completely.
When can a review be appropriate?
Basic ability insurance is generally not a standard equivalent alternative to occupational disability cover. After a thorough occupational-disability review, it may serve as a more limited fallback.
Review broader protection
Occupational disability insurance refers to the most recent occupation and generally covers a wider range of health causes.
If occupational disability cover does not fit
If access is restricted or the available offer is unaffordable, basic ability cover may be reviewed as a narrower solution.
Match daily life and work
The key question is whether the insured abilities and thresholds fit the person's activity and lifestyle profile.
Illustrative example
Loss of one ability meets the exact policy definition.
Because of an illness, an insured person permanently loses the ability to use both hands as defined in the policy. If duration, severity and all other requirements are met, the agreed pension may be paid—regardless of a possible change of occupation.
Illustrative example only — not personal advice and not a guarantee of cover, benefits or price.How MB Finance supports you.
We compare not only premiums but especially the precise benefit triggers and the distinctions from occupational disability and accident cover.
Before considering a fallback, accessible variants and anonymous preliminary risk enquiries are assessed.
Catalogues, thresholds and precise definitions of key abilities are set side by side.
Health disclosures and relevant documents are organised fully and systematically.
Benefit amount, term, indexation and options to increase cover later are aligned with the protection goal.
Care, mental-health, switch and other additional clauses are explained clearly.
The protection can be reviewed and adjusted again when circumstances change.
Related policies with different benefit triggers.
Temporary incapacity for work, occupational disability, loss of an ability and accident disability must not be treated as the same event.
Next related page
Continue to private accident insurance.
The next page explains why an accident policy only covers permanent impairment caused by an accident and does not replace general ability-to-work protection.
Context, source and notice
Cover is determined exclusively by the selected policy, policy schedule and insurance conditions. Abilities and benefit scenarios mentioned here are examples, not a guarantee of payment. Basic ability insurance is generally not an equivalent replacement for occupational disability insurance.