Family private health insurance: How to insure your partner and children?

How much does private health insurance cost for families?

The cost of family private health insurance can vary a lot because all family members needs their own insurance policy. The price you pay for this insurance depends on each person's health and how old they are when they start the policy. For example, insurance for children is usually cheaper because they tend to be healthier and don't need as much medical care as adults. This keeps their insurance costs low.

Families should know that the price of insurance can change over time. As kids grow up or if anyone in the family gets sick, the insurance might get more expensive. Adults' insurance prices also depend on things like their age, if they have any ongoing health issues and their habits that might affect their health.

There are many different health insurance plans for families out there, and they all offer different things. Some plans might be more expensive but cover more medical services, while others might be cheaper but cover less. Some insurance companies give discounts if the whole family signs up together. Families need to look around and find a plan that fits what they need and what they can afford. This way, they can make sure everyone in the family is covered without spending too much.

What benefits can children access with private health insurance?

Privately insured children can access exactly the same benefits as their parents. Here’s a selection:

• They will be seen quickly by specialist doctors and always receive the best treatment. At ottonova, you can even speak to a doctor whenever you need via video call – even in the evenings or on the weekend.
• Need medication? We’ll reimburse you for all prescriptions.
• If you’d rather turn to naturopathic treatments, private health insurance is the best choice.
• Your child needs to stay in hospital? Private insurance makes this exceptional situation far easier and less stressful, as many private tariffs include free rooming-in, allowing you to stay at your child’s side.
• Parents always want to do everything right – and double check whenever they’re unsure. The private insurance system allows you to get a second opinion free of charge.
• Straight teeth and clear vision are part and parcel of private health insurance, which provides higher quality equipment such as hearing aids and also covers 100% of the costs of orthodontics.

When can I privately insure my child?

If you and your spouse are privately insured, you’ll have no issues arranging private health insurance for your child. If one of you is privately insured and the other has public insurance, the following questions are key:

• Is the annual income of the privately insured parent above the annual income threshold (JAEG)?
• Does the privately insured parent regularly earn more than the publicly insured parent?

If the answer to at least one of these questions is “yes”, you have the choice of private or public insurance for your child. In the public health insurance system, co-insured children do not incur premiums.

What do you need to insure children in private health insurance?

One way is the "Kindernachversicherung" (Subsequent child co-insurance). This is when you are already insured with a private health insurance for at least three months, or with ottonova before the 21st week of your or your partner’s pregnancy. Then you can co-insure your child right after birth with your private health insurance with no medical check-up. After the birth, you have two months to register your baby with your private health insurance.

ottonova advantage: the new-born is insured free of charge in the month of birth and the following 3 months.

However, if you co-insure your child later than two months after childbirth, or you haven't been in Germany before the birth of your child and you want to take out private health insurance for you and your child(ren), you will have to do a medical check-up before the private health insurance can offer you coverage.

How does the medical check-up for children work?

Your health insurance will ask about any pre-existing conditions during a medical check-up before offering coverage. You will have to answer some medical questions and potentially undergo a medical check-up by a medically trained and certified professional.

If your child needs a medical check, the private health insurance will probably ask for the U-Heft (short for “Untersuchungsheft” = examination booklet). It the easiest way to get an overview of your child’s health, as all relevant health history is noted in the U-Heft.

Where do I get a U-Heft?

You can get the yellow U-Heft from a pediatrician. Most parents will receive the 72-page booklet at a clinic upon the childbirth in Germany, or the midwife/obstetrician will give it to them. During ten preventive check-ups, the doctor collects all the observations made on his or her little patient: information about weight, growth, motor skills, vision and hearing, mental and emotional development is recorded. This enables doctors to assess whether a child is growing up in line with their age.

If you came to Germany later, you might have a similar medical record of your child from your country of origin. Potentially, you can see if their translation works for ottonova as a substitute for the U-Heft. If not, and you are a newcomer to Germany, ottonova will support you in making an appointment with a medically trained person to get and fill these out.

Offsetting your child’s private insurance against tax: How it works!

Your child’s premiums are considered expenses of a provident nature, which makes them tax-deductible under the German Citizens’ Relief Act (BEG).

This is subject to certain conditions:

1. You must submit a tax return.

2. You must be eligible to tax abatements for dependent children or child benefits.

3. You must fulfill your child support responsibilities.

But remember, only expenses within the basic tariff are tax-deductible. The base tariff differs from provider to provider.