Income protection insurance without unemployment insurance fund - can you do that?

Can you get income protection without an a-kasse?

Almost not. All of the income protection insurance that we have verified require membership of an A-kasse because the payout requires entitlement to unemployment benefits. Also, the insurance companies' own products (Topdanmark, GF and Købstædernes Forsikring) require a Danish A-kasse. CA states that individual companies offer income protection insurance without an A-kasse, and Alm. Brand's conditions from 2018 describe such a product - but we have not been able to confirm that it is sold today (checked 01.10.2026).

Sources: CA: Income protection with or without an unemployment insurance fund

Can you get income protection without a trade union?

Yes. Many unemployment funds’ income protection policies only require fund membership, for example Ase, CA, Krifa, Det Faglige Hus, Min A-kasse, MA and A&TIL. Topdanmark and GF only require membership of a Danish unemployment fund. Trade union agreements (e.g. Djøf, IDA, 3F, FOA, HK), however, require union membership.

Are income protection and an a-kasse the same thing?

No. The unemployment insurance fund pays unemployment benefits, a public benefit capped at DKK 22,041/month (2026). Income protection is private insurance paid on top of unemployment benefits. Almost all policies require membership of an unemployment insurance fund – often a specific fund.

Which income protection providers operate in Denmark?

Income protection is sold mainly through unemployment funds (e.g. Ase, CA, Krifa, Det Faglige Hus, Frie, A&TIL, Min A-kasse, MA, DSA, Lærernes a-kasse), trade union group agreements (Djøf, IDA, DM, Lederne, 3F, FOA, Dansk Metal) and directly by insurers (Topdanmark, GF Forsikring, Købstædernes Forsikring, Privatsikring). Insurers behind the products include Alka, Topdanmark/If, AmTrust, Gjensidige, FF Forsikring, LB Forsikring, Bauta and Alm. Brand.