Insurance

With the commencement of self-employment you are leaving the previous employees’ network. For this reason, you must take care of your personal and social protection in good time. But your company is not safe from unforeseen events either. This poses the question, which insurance policies are needed and make sense?

This question cannot be answered generally; it depends on your individual requirements. IHK Berlin provides an overview of the various insurance policies.

You can also find tips on insurance for the business, employees and entrepreneurs at the Chamber of Crafts.

Social Security Scheme for Artists/Künstlersozialkasse (KSK)

Self-employed artists and journalists have to insure themselves via the social security scheme for artists. This covers statutory pension, health and long-term care insurance.

Who is subject to compulsory social insurance for artists?

An artist within the meaning of the social security scheme for artists is someone who creates, performs or teaches music, performing arts or visual arts. A journalist is someone who works in publishing as a writer or journalist or who teaches journalism.

Inspection by Künstlersozialkasse (KSK)

The Künstlersozialkasse (KSK) checks whether you are an artist or journalist. Anyone who meets the conditions for inclusion in the social security scheme for artists must then be insured by it. Unless their annual income falls below a level stipulated by law. They are then deemed to be exempt from insurance. This means that there is no insurance obligation for statutory health and long-term care insurance nor for pension insurance.

Entrants to the profession will be insured in the social insurance scheme for artists for the first three years, even if they do not earn the required minimum income. KSK registers the insured parties with the German pension insurance scheme and the statutory health and long-term care insurance schemes. It collects all of the contributions and passes them on. Entrants to the profession will be insured in the social insurance scheme for artists for the first three years, even if they do not earn the required minimum income. KSK registers the insured parties with the German pension insurance scheme and the statutory health and long-term care insurance schemes. It collects all of the contributions and passes them on.

Employee/employer contributions to the social security scheme for artists

In the social security scheme for artists, the insured parties pay 50 per cent of their contributions for statutory pension, health and long-term care insurance to the Künstlersozialkasse like “normal” employees. The Federal Government pays the other half. 20 per cent is a subsidy, the rest comes from the social contribution for artists. This is collected from the companies, or clients, who avail themselves of and use artistic and journalistic services, i.e. from galleries, publishers, broadcasters or concert promoters. They have to pay a small percentage of their fees or wages for artists or journalists to KSK.

Employers’ Liability Insurance Associations

The employers’ liability insurance association provides statutory accident insurance and is responsible for all companies, facilities and freelancers.

Furthermore, the employers’ liability insurance associations are responsible for all aspects of employee safety and health.