Court: Insurance Must Also Cover Pregnancy - German court bans pregnancy exclusions in disability insurance policies
A German court has ruled that insurers cannot exclude pregnancy-related work absences from occupational disability coverage. The Hanover Regional Court found the practice discriminatory against women. The decision follows a case where an insurer denied a payout to a woman who took time off during pregnancy.
The dispute began when an insurer refused to compensate a woman under her business interruption policy. Their policy explicitly excluded coverage for work incapacity linked to pregnancy, miscarriage, or childbirth. The court deemed this exclusion unlawful and ordered the insurer to pay €6,000 in damages.
The ruling sets a clear legal precedent for insurers in Germany. They must now include pregnancy-related absences in occupational disability policies. The case highlights the ongoing efforts to remove discrimination against women in insurance practices.
