Quick answer
Important
1. Who may be included
A spouse, registered partner and eligible children can be family-insured in GKV if statutory conditions are met. Unmarried partners are not included merely because they live together.
The family member must generally live or habitually reside in Germany and must not have their own compulsory or qualifying voluntary coverage.
Family-insurance general income limit
565 €
regular total monthly income
Applies from 1 January 2026
The assessment uses regular total income under the statutory rules, not simply cash received in one month.
Last verified 21 August 2026 · Federal Ministry of Health (opens in a new tab)
Family-insurance limit for a Minijob
603 €
per month
Applies from 1 January 2026
This special limit applies where the family-insured person has marginal employment.
Last verified 21 August 2026 · Federal Ministry of Health (opens in a new tab)
Who may qualify
You may be eligible if the following apply to your situation. This is not a decision:
- Eligible spouse or registered partner
- Children, stepchildren, grandchildren or foster children where the statutory dependency rules are met
- Regular total income stays within the applicable limit
- No exclusion through own insurance status or the mixed-parent rule
Your statutory Krankenkasse decides the individual case decides your case. Confirm your own position with them before relying on it. Who is covered by statutory health insurance (opens in a new tab)
2. How long children can remain covered
The limit changes with the child’s circumstances. Tell the insurer when education, employment or income changes.
| Situation | Typical age limit |
|---|---|
| Normally | Until 18 |
| Not gainfully employed | Until 23 |
| School, vocational training, university or qualifying voluntary service | Until 25 |
| Disability prevents self-support | Potentially without an age limit if the statutory timing condition is met |
Official source
Rules for compulsory, voluntary and contribution-free family insurance, including children and mixed-insurance families.
Federal Ministry of Health
3. When one parent is privately insured
Free GKV family insurance for a child can be excluded if the parent married to or partnered with the GKV member is not in GKV, earns more than the GKV parent and regularly exceeds the applicable monthly compulsory-insurance threshold. All elements matter.
Do not infer the result from “one parent is private” alone. Ask the Krankenkasse to examine both regular incomes and legal relationship.
Example
GKV parent earns more
One parent is in GKV and has the higher regular income. The special exclusion may not apply, but the insurer must check the full case.
Example only, for illustration. Your own amount depends on your circumstances.
Example
Privately insured parent earns more
If that parent also exceeds the threshold and is married/registered to the GKV parent, free child cover may be excluded.
Example only, for illustration. Your own amount depends on your circumstances.
4. Register a newborn promptly
Contact the intended insurer after birth and supply the birth certificate or the insurer’s requested version. If the requirements are met, GKV family insurance normally applies retrospectively from birth.
If either parent is privately insured, obtain written guidance before choosing because PKV newborn admission deadlines and conditions differ by contract.
Tell the insurer
Ask for its newborn or family-insurance form.
Submit evidence
Provide birth certificate and information about both parents’ cover and income.
Confirm the start date
Keep the written membership confirmation and arrange the child’s eGK.
5. Insurance during Elternzeit
Compulsorily insured GKV members generally remain members during Elternzeit and are usually contribution-free if they have no other contributory income. Voluntary members may owe contributions unless they qualify for family insurance.
Privately insured parents continue paying their premium and normally also bear the former employer share. Students generally continue the student contribution. Confirm the effect before leave starts.
Example
Compulsory GKV employee
Membership continues during leave; no contribution is usually due without other contributory income.
Example only, for illustration. Your own amount depends on your circumstances.
Example
Voluntary GKV member
Minimum contributions may remain unless contribution-free family insurance is available.
Example only, for illustration. Your own amount depends on your circumstances.
Example
PKV member
The private premium continues and the employer subsidy normally stops during unpaid leave.
Example only, for illustration. Your own amount depends on your circumstances.
6. Frequently asked questions
No. Apply through the Krankenkasse and report changes; the insurer decides eligibility.
It is a limit on regular total income under statutory rules, not a simple gross-salary label. The insurer assesses what counts.
Not simply as a cohabiting partner. The spouse/registered-partner relationship requirement generally applies.
If the requirements are met and registration is completed, GKV family cover generally runs from birth. Confirm promptly with the insurer.
Contribution-free cover usually ends, subject to limited extension and disability rules. The child needs another insurance basis.
Official information
Rules and amounts change. Always verify current requirements using official sources.
Who is covered by statutory health insurance, opens in a new tab
Federal Ministry of Health
Rules for compulsory, voluntary and contribution-free family insurance, including children and mixed-insurance families.
Contributions and income thresholds for statutory insurance, opens in a new tab
Federal Ministry of Health
Current GKV contribution rate, contribution ceiling and compulsory-insurance threshold.
Related guides
Amounts and legal requirements can change. We verify this information against official sources and show when each figure was last checked, but always confirm important requirements with the responsible authority before you apply.
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