Family insurance

Under certain conditions, spouses and children can be insured free of charge under the statutory health insurance scheme. They then do not have to pay their own contributions to the health insurance fund. The insured member simply has to notify the health insurance company of the family members. Read here who is covered free of charge.

In many cases, family insurance under the statutory health insurance scheme is cheaper than voluntary private health insurance. This is particularly the case if one parent takes a career break to care for children and temporarily forgoes part of their own income. Even while maternity/parental allowance is being received, membership of the statutory health insurance scheme continues (non-contributory for employees subject to compulsory insurance and non-contributory for those with voluntary insurance). The option of family insurance does not exist in private health insurance. There, all family members must be insured themselves and pay contributions.

Free family insurance is possible if

• the family member to be co-insured has his/her place of residence or habitual abode in Germany,
the family member insured has only a low income, the income must not exceed the amount of 470 euros per month (parental allowance does not count),
• there is no other health insurance that excludes family insurance, for example compulsory insurance as an employee or pensioner,
there is no full-time self-employment.

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If the above conditions are met, spouses or civil partners can be co-insured in statutory health insurance free of charge in accordance with the Civil Partnership Act. The following are included in family insurance:

• Persons in certain professional groups are excluded. These include civil servants, judges, soldiers and clergy.
• If one parent has private insurance and the other has statutory insurance, family insurance is excluded if:
  • the privately insured parent earns more than the parent with statutory insurance and
  • the total monthly income of the privately insured parent regularly exceeds one twelfth of the annual earnings limit (JAEG) (2021: €5,362.50 per month)
  • Children must then either also be insured in private health insurance or become a voluntary member of statutory health insurance.

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If you had private health insurance and meet the requirements for family insurance, you can switch. Private health insurance must be terminated retroactively by the insured person within 3 months of the start of family insurance. Insured persons must provide their private health insurance company with a membership certificate from the new health insurance fund within two months, stating the reason for the statutory insurance.

If the conditions for family insurance are no longer met, those affected automatically continue to have voluntary health insurance, but must then pay contributions. However, the insured person can declare their withdrawal if they wish to change health insurance provider or join a private health insurance scheme.