The structural difference, in one table
| Statutory | Private | |
|---|---|---|
| Non-earning spouse | Can be covered at no extra contribution, subject to an income limit | Own contract, own premium |
| Each child | Can be covered at no extra contribution | Own contract, own premium |
| Cost driver | Your income | The number of people and their entry ages |
Read that table twice before reading any premium comparison. For a single high earner the private system is often attractive. For a single income supporting four people it usually is not, and no amount of benefit detail changes that arithmetic.
The two-month window for adding a newborn without a health check is the most valuable deadline in this whole subject, and the easiest to miss in the weeks after a birth. Put it in the calendar before the birth, not after.
When private still makes sense for a family
| Two earners, both above the threshold | The free-cover advantage of the statutory system does not apply to either of you, so the comparison is fair again. |
| Civil servants | Beihilfe covers a share for the family too. Here the private route is usually not only viable but the obvious one. |
| No children planned | The main cost driver is absent. Then it comes down to benefits and long-term stability. |
Common questions
Are children covered free of charge in the private system?
No. There is no equivalent of the statutory family cover. Each child has an individual contract with an individual premium, typically lower than an adult premium but never nil.
We plan to have children. Should we wait?
Not necessarily, but plan for it. A newborn can normally be added to an existing private contract without a health check if the application is made within two months of birth and the parent has been insured for at least three months. That option is valuable and easy to lose by missing the deadline.
One of us earns well, the other does not. What then?
Then the arithmetic matters more than the brochure. The higher earner may be eligible for private cover while the family as a whole is better off statutory. I calculate both and tell you which one wins, including when that means you stay where you are.
Can children be statutory while a parent is private?
It depends on which parent earns more and whether that parent is privately insured. The rules in § 10 SGB V are specific and catch many families by surprise. It is worth checking before, not after.
Send me your situation, I will tell you where you stand
No form, no obligation, and an answer in plain English. If the statutory system is the better fit for you, I will say so. I only work on private health insurance, so I have no reason to sell you anything else.
This page is general information on German law and market practice as at September 2026. It is not legal or tax advice. Figures are stated with their source and date in the German version of each topic.