Pediatric Care in Germany: What Parents Need to Know

Raising a child involves numerous decisions, and healthcare may be one of the most significant ones.

Especially if you’re new to the country, you may be asking: What’s covered for my child? How do I find a pediatrician? And do I need private insurance?

The good news: Germany’s system offers excellent care for children, and many services are free under public health insurance. 

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• How pediatric care works in Germany’s public vs. private systems
• What services are free for children
• How to register your child for health insurance
• How to find and book appointments with pediatricians
• What to know about checkups, vaccinations, dental care, and mental health support

By the end, you’ll feel confident and equipped to make the best choices for your children’s needs.

How the German healthcare system works for families

If you’re raising a child in Germany, understanding how the healthcare system works is one of the most important things you can do to support their well-being. 

Germany is known for having one of the world’s best healthcare systems, but navigating it can feel confusing, especially for newcomers and families.

Let’s break it down.

Germany has a dual healthcare system made up of:

• Public health insurance (GKV): Also called statutory insurance, used by about 90% of the population.
• Private health insurance (Private Krankenversicherung – PKV): Private plans that offer tailored services but come with strict eligibility rules.

So, what does this mean for your kids, and what are the differences?

Public health insurance for families

One of the biggest advantages of public health insurance is family co-insurance. 

If one or both parents are publicly insured, children can be insured for free under the same policy.

However, if one parent has private insurance and earns significantly more, the child may not be eligible for co-insurance under the public system. 

In those cases, you might have to insure your child privately.

What’s covered for children under public insurance (GKV)?

Germany’s statutory health insurance provides robust care for children, prioritizing early intervention and preventative services. Here’s what fully covered services families can expect:

Children insured under the public system receive 100% coverage for essential health services, including:

• Pediatric visits and medical checkups
• Vaccinations (as recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination, STIKO)
• Vision and hearing tests
• Basic dental care, including annual checkups and fluoride treatments

What is not covered?

While public insurance coverage is generous, there are some limitations:

• Alternative therapies (e.g., osteopathy, homeopathy) are generally not covered unless prescribed by a doctor.
• Specialized treatments, like orthodontics, may only be partially reimbursed, or not at all, unless deemed medically necessary.
• Vision care may only include basic glasses, not designer frames or lenses beyond standard.

For a complete list of covered benefits, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) publishes a benefits catalog outlining coverage for children.

Private health insurance for families

Private health insurance (PKV) differs from its public alternative for pediatric care in Germany.

Private insurance can offer children a broader range of benefits. Some key differences include:

• Faster access to specialists: With private insurance, waiting times for dermatologists, pediatric neurologists, or mental health services are often shorter.
• Greater flexibility in treatment: Many private plans include alternative therapies like osteopathy or orthodontics by default.
• Private hospital rooms and doctor choice: These upgrades can make a big difference in comfort and care for serious illnesses or surgery.

That said, not all private plans are the same…

Unlike with public, which offers a standardized benefits catalog, private plans are customized. 

That means some plans may not fully cover a given treatment, and others may have limits or waiting periods. But the opposite might be true, too; it really depends on the company and the plan. 

Please double-check the details and fine print of any policy you’re considering for your child, or ask for help from experts at Feather.

Who is eligible for private health insurance?

Private insurance isn’t available to everyone. You’re generally eligible if you’re:

• Self-employed, a freelancer, or a civil servant (Beamter)
• Earning above a certain threshold as an employee (in 2025, that’s €73,800 per year gross)

Learn more about how private health insurance works in Germany.

How to access healthcare for your child

Once you’ve chosen your children’s health insurance, the next step to access care is: 

1. Registration
2. Choosing a pediatrician
3. Booking appointments and dealing with emergencies

Let’s take a look at how to take those steps effectively.

1. Registering your child for health insurance

In Germany, health insurance registration is time-sensitive, especially for newborns. 

Parents must register their birth with their chosen health insurer within the first two months after birth. If you don’t, it’s possible that any diagnosed pre-existing conditions will be excluded from your tariff. 

To do this, you’ll need:

• Birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde)
• Parent’s passport or ID
• Confirmation of parents’ health insurance (policy number or membership certificate)
• Proof of residence (Anmeldung)

The exact process for registering will depend on what insurance you picked:

• Public health insurance: Registration is generally straightforward. Parents simply notify their public insurer of the birth and submit the documents. Coverage is usually retroactive to the date of birth, and confirmation arrives within a few weeks.
• Private health insurance: You must submit a formal application for your child. Processing times vary by provider and may take longer. Parents must confirm whether coverage begins with the birth date or application approval.

For details, read our FAQ on how to cover your newborn with private health insurance.

2. Finding a pediatrician or family doctor

Choosing the right doctor is key to ensuring consistent care for your child.

Germany follows a “Hausarzt” model, where a general practitioner (GP) is the first point of contact.

But families should choose a pediatrician (Kinderarzt) for their children. Pediatricians are specialists in child development, vaccinations, and age-specific issues.

After adolescence, care transitions to a GP.

You can find pediatricians through:

• Doctolib: Online booking platform with specialty, language, and insurance type filters.
• Jameda: Germany’s leading doctor review and search platform.
• Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (KV) websites: Regional public physician associations list GKV-contracted doctors by location.

Check out our guide: Finding a doctor in Germany (our tips apply to pediatricians too!)

In urban areas, many pediatricians have lengthy waiting lists and may not accept new patients. However, children with private health insurance often find it easier to get appointments, as many practices reserve slots specifically for privately insured patients.

Start your search early, ideally before your child is born or as soon as you move.

3. Booking appointments

Once you’ve found a doctor, the booking process is straightforward. It’ll usually be by phone, via a platform like Doctolib, or via the practice’s website if they use their own booking software.

For regular visits, you should bring:

• Your child’s health insurance card (or insurance certificate for private patients)
• Vaccination booklet (Impfpass)
• Your child’s passport or ID, especially for first visits

Read our guide: How to see a doctor in Germany

If you’re in an emergency,no appointment is needed. Most pediatricians have open hours for acute illness, typically early in the day.

Outside practice hours, go to a children’s hospital or call the [116 117](tel:116 117) medical on-call service.

Read our guide: Accessing Emergency Services in Germany

Routine child checkups (U-Untersuchungen) and schedules

Germany has a structured schedule of preventive child health examinations known as the U-Untersuchungen. These are mandatory and covered in full by insurance. 

What are the U-exams?

The U-examinations (U1 to U9) are mandatory pediatric checkups, scheduled from birth through early school age. These preventive health checks monitor your child’s physical and developmental progress, and include:

• Physical measurements (e.g., weight, height, head circumference)
• Developmental screening (e.g., motor skills, speech, social behavior)
• Parental counseling and guidance

Participation in these checkups is essential. Many daycare centers (Kita) and schools require proof of completed U-exams for enrollment. You’ll track this in the “yellow booklet” (Gelbes Heft), which is issued at birth or shortly after moving to Germany with a child.

Here’s a simplified breakdown of each exam:

You can find the full schedule and descriptions through the KBV (National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians) or your local Landesärztekammer (state medical association).

Vaccination plan and costs for children

Vaccinations in Germany are coordinated nationally by the STIKO (Standing Committee on Vaccination), which publishes regularly updated immunization schedules for children and adolescents.

That means all STIKO-recommended vaccines are fully covered under GKV (public health insurance), including:

• DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
• Polio
• Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
• Hepatitis B
• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• HPV (for children 9+)
• Rotavirus (early infancy)
• Pneumococcal
• Meningococcal

These are administered during U-exams or other checkups.

Some states or schools also run vaccination outreach programs, especially for MMR or HPV. These offer free vaccines on-site in schools or through public health offices.

Travel vaccines

Some vaccines may not be fully reimbursed, including:

• Travel vaccinations (e.g., yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis)
• Influenza (only covered for high-risk groups)
• Tick-borne encephalitis (FSME)—covered in high-risk regions, but may be out-of-pocket elsewhere.

Parents should check with their insurer in advance or ask the pediatrician whether the vaccine is reimbursed or requires a co-payment.

Specialist referrals for children

In Germany, access to medical specialists will depend on what type of health insurance your child has:

• If they are publicly insured, they must see their pediatrician first. If specialized care is needed, the doctor issues a referral (Überweisung) to a specific type of specialist.
• If they are privately insured, they can usually see specialists directly.

Generally, you should expect some wait times when visiting a specialist, especially if you have public health insurance.

For urgent cases, like hearing loss or seizures, you’ll usually find an appointment quickly. If you don’t, you should know you and your child have a legal right to see a specialist within 4 weeks. 

Call 116117, the nationwide hotline for the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (KV), which manages public doctors and clinics. 

For elective consultations, such as orthopedist or ophthalmologist visits, expect delays of 4–12 weeks, especially in busy regions.

You can try speeding up access to specialists for elective consultations by:

1. Calling multiple practices.
2. Ask the pediatrician for help expediting appointments.

How children’s dental care works in Germany

Children’s dental care begins early and is fully covered under GKV.

The first dental checkup is recommended at six months of age or when the first tooth appears.

From age 6 to 17, children are entitled to two free dental checkups per year, including:

• Examination of teeth and gums
• Dental hygiene education
• Fluoride varnish treatments to prevent cavities
• Fissure sealants for molars, typically starting at age 6

These services are aimed at early cavity prevention and long-term dental health.

Orthodontics for children

Orthodontic care (e.g., braces) is a significant concern for many families, as 50% to 70% of children are expected to need them, and they are not cheap (€4,500 on average). 

Here’s how that works in Germany: 

1. Assessment for treatment happens between the ages of 9 and 12, when permanent teeth have mostly come in.
2. GKV covers 80–90% of approved orthodontic treatments for children under 18, but only if the condition meets a required severity threshold. That means many children will be ineligible for reimbursements, even if treatment would benefit them.
3. The final 10–20% is refunded after treatment ends, provided appointments are attended regularly.

Learn more about orthodontics in Germany.

For families on public health insurance, dental add-on insurance (Zahnzusatzversicherung) can be helpful. It may cover:

• Orthodontics is not approved by public health insurance
• Aesthetic upgrades, like ceramic brackets
• Additional preventive care and diagnostics

Mental healthcare for children

Children’s mental health care usually begins with their pediatrician, the gateway to specialized services. 

These can include:

• Early support (Frühförderung) is a free and widely accessible public program that offers developmental therapies, counseling, and parent coaching for children under 6 with developmental or emotional challenges.
• SPZ (Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum) is a multidisciplinary center focused on children’s developmental and psychological care.
• Referrals: For a child psychologist or child and adolescent psychiatrist.

However, waiting times are often long, several months for therapy, especially in urban areas.

There are some alternatives to consider while waiting:

• School psychologists or counselors are available in some schools for early intervention.
• Private therapists can offer faster access but require self-payment unless approved for reimbursement.
• University clinics or youth welfare offices (Jugendamt) may provide interim counseling support.

Private health insurance also offers faster access to therapists.

Generally, health insurance will cover:

• Diagnostic evaluations (e.g., ADHD screening)
• Psychotherapy sessions (with prior approval)
• Medication, if prescribed by a specialist

Learn more about mental healthcare in Germany

Conclusion

Raising a child in Germany comes with a lot to navigate, but when it comes to healthcare, you have access to one of the best systems in the world. 

Understanding how pediatric care works, from insurance options to dental checkups and mental health support, lets you to make confident choices for your family. 

Whether you’re weighing public versus private insurance or just figuring out where to begin, now’s the time to explore what fits best for your situation.