If you're employed in Germany with Private health insurance (PKV), your maternity protection (Mutterschutz) entitlements depend on whether your policy includes sick pay. In both cases you're entitled to a BAS payment of €210 (2026) plus an employer top-up. If your policy includes sick pay, your full previous net income is typically restored. Your Private health insurance (PKV) policy continues without interruption during Mutterschutz and Elternzeit, but your employer's contribution stops. After the birth you can apply for Kindergeld and Elterngeld, which are generally available to all parents regardless of employment status or insurance type.
How do maternity protection (Mutterschutz) and parental leave (Elternzeit) work in Germany?
Maternity and parental leave in Germany are 2 separate phases with different rules and entitlements.
Mutterschutz (maternity protection): a legally protected period during which you're not required to work. Mutterschutz starts 6 weeks before your due date and ends 8 weeks after the birth, or 12 weeks after the birth in the case of premature or multiple births.
Elternzeit (parental leave): an optional period of job-protected leave open to both parents. Elternzeit can be taken at any point during the first 3 years of your child's life.
What are you entitled to during Mutterschutz if you have Private health insurance (PKV)?
Your entitlements during Mutterschutz depend on whether your Private health insurance (PKV) policy includes sick pay.
Sick pay (Krankentagegeld) is included as standard on current Private health insurance (PKV) policies. Some older policies do not include it. If you're unsure, check your policy documents in your Feather account.
BAS payment (all PKV policyholders): a one-time payment of €210 (2026) from BAS (Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung), the German federal authority that administers maternity payments for people with Private health insurance (PKV).
Employer top-up (all employed PKV policyholders): your employer is generally required to top up the BAS payment toward your previous net income. Your employer confirms the exact amount.
Sick pay (only if your PKV policy includes it): sick pay is paid out from the day of the birth, after a 42-day waiting period, and continues through the end of Mutterschutz. Combined with the BAS payment and the employer top-up, your full previous net income is typically restored.
Pregnant spouses co-insured on a PKV policy: you may apply for the BAS payment if your spouse is employed, including in a mini-job. You're eligible for the BAS payment only — employer top-ups and sick pay benefits do not apply to you or your spouse.
How is sick pay calculated during Mutterschutz on a Private health insurance (PKV) policy?
Sick pay on a Private health insurance (PKV) policy is set up to match the daily maternity benefit that employees with public health insurance (GKV) receive, which is €13 (2026) per day. Because the one-time BAS payment of €210 (2026) is spread across the Mutterschutz period, sick pay covers the remaining difference.
BAS payment: approximately €2.12 per day
Reference rate: €13 (2026) per day
Sick pay on your PKV policy: approximately €10.88 per day
These figures are a general illustration. Your exact daily amount is confirmed once your application has been processed.
Is there a waiting period before sick pay is paid during Mutterschutz?
Yes. There is a 42-day waiting period within the Mutterschutz period. Because Mutterschutz starts 6 weeks (42 days) before your due date, sick pay begins on day 43 — the day of the birth — and then runs for the remaining 8 weeks of Mutterschutz, or 12 weeks in the case of premature or multiple births.
The waiting period is separate from eligibility. To qualify for maternity-related sick pay at all, your sick pay coverage must have been active for the 8 months before the birth.
What happens to your Private health insurance (PKV) policy during Mutterschutz and Elternzeit?
Your Private health insurance (PKV) policy continues without interruption during both Mutterschutz and Elternzeit, and your monthly cost remains the same. Your employer's contribution stops from the start of Mutterschutz, so you're responsible for paying the full premium yourself during this period.
During Elternzeit, you may be able to pause your sick pay contributions for a small monthly fee.
Applying an annual deductible to your Private health insurance (PKV) policy can also lower your monthly cost.
What benefits can you apply for after the birth?
From the birth onward you can apply for Kindergeld (monthly child benefit) and, if eligible, Elterngeld (state parental allowance). Both are generally available to parents regardless of employment status or insurance type. Kindergeld can be claimed retroactively for up to 6 months and Elterngeld for up to 3 months, so a late application can result in lost payments.
Elterngeld eligibility and exact amounts are determined by the local Elterngeld office (Elterngeldstelle).
You're also entitled to Elternzeit (job-protected parental leave), which begins after Mutterschutz ends. You must give your employer 7 weeks' notice before your Elternzeit starts.
You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.
How do you request a maternity benefits confirmation letter for your Elterngeld application?
A maternity benefits confirmation letter is required when you apply for Elterngeld. To request one:
Log in to your Feather account.
Open your Private health insurance (PKV) policy.
Select Manage my policy.
Select Request a maternity benefits confirmation letter.
Have questions about your coverage during pregnancy? Find out more here.