A newborn's health insurance in Germany depends on which type of health insurance each parent has and on both parents' incomes. When both parents have private health insurance (PKV), the newborn also needs private health insurance. When both parents have public health insurance (GKV), the newborn can be added to family coverage (Familienversicherung) at no extra cost. If the application is submitted within 2 months of birth and further conditions are met, the newborn can be added to private health insurance without a health assessment, and coverage can start retroactively from the date of birth.
How is a newborn's health insurance determined in Germany?
A newborn's health insurance in Germany is determined by the type of health insurance each parent has and by the income of both parents. There are 4 possible situations:
Both parents have private health insurance (PKV). The newborn must also have private health insurance, which costs €170–€350 per month. Public health insurance is not an option for the newborn in this case.
Both parents have public health insurance (GKV). The newborn can be added to family coverage under public health insurance (Familienversicherung) at no cost.
One parent has private health insurance, the other has public health insurance, and the parent with private health insurance earns more. The newborn can have either private health insurance or public health insurance. Public health insurance is not free for the newborn in this case and will cost around €250 per month.
One parent has private health insurance, the other has public health insurance, and the parent with public health insurance earns more. The newborn can be added to family coverage under public health insurance at no cost, or be enrolled in private health insurance instead.
These rules do not apply when only one spouse is the biological parent and the other spouse has not legally adopted the child.
How much does private health insurance cost for a newborn?
Private health insurance (PKV) for a newborn usually costs between €170 and €350 per month. The exact premium depends on the plan chosen and the level of coverage. Each family member can be on a different plan, so a newborn's plan does not have to match the parent's plan.
Can a newborn join private health insurance without a health assessment?
A newborn can be added to private health insurance (PKV) without a health assessment when all of the following conditions are met:
The application is submitted within 2 months of the newborn's birth.
One parent has held our private health insurance for at least 3 months before the birth, or the mother applied for private health insurance before the 20th week of pregnancy.
The newborn's coverage is the same as, or less comprehensive than, the insured parent's coverage.
If these conditions are not met, a digital health assessment is required. In that case, parents provide information about the newborn's medical history and copies of the routine check-up reports (U-Untersuchungen), and risk surcharges may apply for existing medical conditions.
How do you enroll a newborn in private health insurance?
Enrolling a newborn in private health insurance (PKV) involves 4 steps:
Submit the application within 2 months of birth using the "Add dependents" option in your account.
Sign the application. You receive an email with the application to sign within 3 business days.
Provide additional information if it is requested during the review.
Receive confirmation of coverage. After approval, the confirmation documents are available digitally in your account.
Birth certificates, ID documents, and tax numbers are not required to confirm coverage for a newborn.
When does a newborn's private health insurance coverage start?
If the newborn is enrolled within 2 months of birth, private health insurance (PKV) coverage can start retroactively from the date of birth. Because confirmation can take several days, medical costs may need to be paid out of pocket at first. Once coverage is confirmed, parents can submit those medical bills for reimbursement, which is usually processed within 3–4 weeks. You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.
How do employer contributions work for a newborn's private health insurance?
If you are employed in Germany and your newborn has private health insurance (PKV), your employer contributes up to 50% of the newborn's premium as well as your own, capped at the maximum amount the employer would contribute toward public health insurance (GKV). As of 2026, employer contributions for private health insurance are processed through the German tax office: once the newborn is added to the policy and the newborn's tax ID is received, the employer receives the data automatically via ELStAM and starts contributing.
A newborn's tax ID is issued automatically by the Federal Central Tax Office after birth and sent by post. If the newborn is insured before the tax ID is available, coverage can still start, but the employer contribution may be delayed until the tax information arrives. The employer corrects any missing contributions retroactively once the ELStAM information is received, so no contribution is lost.