Family Insurance

Under the statutory health insurance system, a spouse and children can be covered free of charge under certain conditions. This means they do not have to pay their own health insurance premiums. The insured member simply needs to register these family members with the health insurance provider. Read here to find out who is eligible for free coverage.

Family insurance provides financial relief for many families. It is particularly beneficial

• when one parent works fewer hours or temporarily stops working altogether to care for the children,
• while receiving maternity and parental benefits,  
• while the children are in school or college,
• and for those with low incomes.

Private health insurance does not offer family coverage. In private health insurance, all family members must pay their own premiums.

Contribution-free family insurance is available if

• the family member to be covered has his or her domicile or habitual residence in Germany,
• the family member covered under the policy has only a small amount of personal income that does not exceed the statutory income limit (parental allowance is not taken into account),  
• there is no other health insurance that precludes family coverage, such as mandatory insurance as an employee or retiree,
• and the person is not self-employed as a primary occupation.

If the requirements are met, the following individuals may be covered under the policy at no additional cost:  

• Spouses
• Registered partners under the Civil Partnership Act
• Children up to age 18
• Children up to age 23 if they are not employed, e.g., because they are attending school
• Children up to age 25 while in vocational training or pursuing a degree. An extension of an additional 12 months is possible if the training was interrupted by military service, voluntary service, or work as a development aid worker.
• Children with a disability, if they are unable to care for themselves. They can remain covered under family insurance indefinitely—with no age limit.
• Stepchildren and grandchildren, if the insured person is their primary provider.
• Foster children living in the same household.  
• A spouse living separately until the divorce decree becomes final.

Certain occupational groups are excluded. These include civil servants, judges, military personnel, and members of the clergy.  

If one parent has private health insurance and the other has public health insurance, family coverage is not available if

• the parent with private insurance earns more than the parent with public insurance and
• the privately insured parent’s total monthly income regularly exceeds one-twelfth of the annual income limit (JAEG). You can find out the current income limit from your health insurance provider.

In this case, children must either be insured under private health insurance as well or become voluntary members of the public health insurance system.

Anyone who had private health insurance and meets the requirements for family coverage can switch. The insured person must retroactively cancel their private health insurance within 3 months of the start of family coverage. Those covered under family insurance must submit a membership certificate from their new health insurance provider to their former private health insurer within two months, stating the reason for the switch to statutory insurance.

If the requirements for family coverage are no longer met, the individuals concerned automatically remain voluntarily covered under health insurance but must then pay their own premiums. However, the insured person may choose to withdraw from the plan if he or she wishes to switch health insurance providers or enroll in private health insurance.