Familienversicherung: Enrolling Your Child in Health Insurance
As soon as you have the Geburtsurkunde — send a copy to your Krankenkasse. The child gets their own insurance number (Krankenversichertennummer) and is covered free of charge under GKV from day one.
WHAT TO DO
What and when
Familienversicherung allows children to be co-insured under a parent’s GKV policy at no additional cost. Coverage lasts until age 18 (25 if in education).
Do this immediately after receiving the Geburtsurkunde — health insurance is needed for the first U-Untersuchungen and any medical visit.
What you need to do
Contact your Krankenkasse via the most convenient method:
Option 1 — Online: Through the app or customer portal. Upload a scan of the Geburtsurkunde and fill in the “Anmeldung zur Familienversicherung” form.
Option 2 — By post: Send a copy of the Geburtsurkunde + completed Antrag (form available on the insurer’s website).
Option 3 — In person: At the Krankenkasse service centre with the original Geburtsurkunde.
Within 1–2 weeks you will receive the child’s Krankenversichertennummer by post, followed by the Gesundheitskarte.
If both parents are in PKV (private insurance)
Enrol the child in PKV separately. Contact your insurance agent immediately after birth — some companies have a 30-day window for special infant tariffs.
Sent the copy of the Geburtsurkunde via the TK app the day after receiving it. Insurance number came by post after 10 days. First pediatrician visit already covered.
Coverage is retroactive from birth — no need to panic if you don't submit on day one. Just make sure it's done before the first doctor's visit.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does the child's health insurance cost anything? ▾
Nothing — Familienversicherung is free for children when at least one parent is covered by GKV (statutory health insurance). Exception: if both parents are in PKV (private insurance), the child must be privately insured separately.
Which parent's Krankenkasse should the child be enrolled in? ▾
If both parents are in different GKV providers: either one, it makes no difference. If one parent is GKV, the other PKV: the child joins the GKV for free.
When does the child's coverage begin? ▾
Retroactively from birth. Even if you submit the documents a week after birth, the child is covered from day one. The health insurance card arrives in 1–3 weeks.