Summary
A newborn’s health insurance in Germany depends on both parents’ insurance types and income levels. In some cases, babies must be privately insured, while in others they can join public family insurance at no cost. Private health insurance for newborns has specific enrollment deadlines and eligibility rules, especially if parents want simplified acceptance without a health assessment.
How is a newborn’s health insurance determined in Germany?
A newborn’s health insurance in Germany depends on two factors:
The type of health insurance each parent has (private or public).
The income of both parents.
The general rules are:
If both parents have private health insurance, the baby must also have private health insurance.
If both parents have public health insurance, the baby can join public family insurance at no additional cost.
If one parent has private health insurance and the other has public health insurance, the higher-earning parent’s insurance status determines the outcome.
If the privately insured parent earns more than the publicly insured parent, the baby must usually be privately insured.
If the publicly insured parent earns more than the privately insured parent, the baby can usually join public family insurance at no cost.
These rules do not apply if only one spouse is the biological parent and the other spouse has not legally adopted the child.
Spouse 1 | Spouse 2 | Your baby's insurance |
Private health insurance | Private health insurance | Private health insurance for €210-€350 per month. |
Private health insurance. | Public health insurance. | Public health insurance. |
Private health insurance. Lower income than spouse 2. | Public health insurance. | Cost-free public health insurance. |
Public health insurance | Public health insurance | Cost-free public health insurance |
How much does private health insurance cost for a newborn?
Private health insurance for a newborn typically costs between €170 and €350 per month. The exact premium depends on the selected tariff and level of coverage.
Each family member can choose a different tariff based on individual coverage needs.
Can a newborn join private health insurance without a health assessment?
A newborn can be added to private health insurance without a health assessment if all of the following conditions are met:
The application is submitted within 2 months of the baby’s birth.
One parent has been insured with 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 baby receives the same or less comprehensive coverage than the insured parent.
If these conditions are not met, a digital health assessment is required. In that case, parents must provide information about the baby’s medical history and copies of routine check-up reports (U-Untersuchungen). Risk surcharges may apply for any medical conditions.
How do you enroll a newborn in private health insurance?
To enroll a newborn in private health insurance:
Submit their application
Use the 'Add dependents' button in your account to sign them up within 2 months of birth.
Sign their application.
You'll receive an email to sign their application with 3 business days.
Provide additional information if requested during the review process.
Confirmation of coverage
After approval, confirmation documents are available digitally in your account.
Birth certificates, ID documents, and tax numbers are not required to confirm coverage for newborns.
When does a newborn’s private health insurance coverage start?
If the newborn is enrolled within 2 months of birth, coverage can begin retroactively from the date of birth.
Because confirmation may take several days, medical expenses may initially need to be paid out of pocket. After coverage is confirmed, parents can submit medical bills for reimbursement. Reimbursement is typically processed within 3-4 weeks.
If you are unsure which rules apply to your situation, you can contact our support team for assistance.
How do employer contributions work for a newborn’s private health insurance?
If you are employed in Germany and your newborn is privately insured, your employer is required to contribute up to 50% of their premiums as well as your own. This is capped at the maximum limit they would contribute towards public health insurance.
As of 2026, employer contributions for private health insurance are processed through the German tax office. Once your newborn is added to your policy and their tax ID is received, your employer will automatically receive the data via ELStAM to begin contributing to your newborn's policy.
After birth, your newborn's tax ID is automatically issued by the Federal Central Tax Office and sent by post. If your newborn is insured before the tax ID is available, the insurance coverage can begin, but employer contribution may be delayed until the tax information is received. Your employer will correct any missing retroactive contributions once the ELStAM information is received. Nothing is lost.