Insurance for self-employed midwives and birth centres in Germany
Few jobs carry so much responsibility for two people at once. A birth injury can lead to treatment and care costs for a whole lifetime, which is why professional indemnity is compulsory for midwives and expensive if you attend births. This page explains what it costs, what the German health insurers pay back and which other cover you need.
How much of my liability premium do the health insurers pay back?
For midwives who attend births, a special supplement from the health insurers (Sicherstellungszuschlag) offsets most of the premium. According to industry reports, it recently covered more than 90 percent under the group contract of the German Midwives Association, provided you attend enough births and apply on time. Without birth attendance there is no supplement, but the premium is far lower.
What goes wrong in this trade
01
Birth injury
Lack of oxygen during labour or a complication spotted too late can harm a child permanently. Claims run into millions.
02
Postnatal period
A missed infection, jaundice in the newborn or feeding problems with consequences lead to accusations against the midwife.
03
Home visits
In someone else's home a changing table tips over or a device damages the furniture. That is a liability claim too.
04
Always on the road
Postnatal visits in all weathers and on call at night: the car is both workplace and risk.
05
Nights and backs
On-call duty, shifts and physical work often lead to exhaustion and back problems that can end a career.
06
Records
In a dispute, what counts is what was written down. Gaps in the birth report are held against the midwife in court.
For professional disciplinary cases, disputes with health insurers and criminal proceedings after a birth injury; often very cheap through professional associations.
For the CTG, Doppler and laptop that travel on home visits and are easily dropped or stolen.
What it costs: example prices
Professional indemnity depends almost entirely on whether you attend births. Most self-employed midwives insure through the group contracts of their professional associations.
Insurance
Example
Typical range
Professional indemnity
Self-employed with birth attendance, group contract of the professional association
around 13,000 to 14,000 euros a year, mostly refunded by the health insurers
Professional indemnity
Self-employed without birth attendance, antenatal and postnatal care, courses
around 400 to 1,200 euros a year
Business legal expenses
Professional legal expenses cover through the association
around 20 to 50 euros a year
Occupational disability
Monthly benefit of 1,500 euros, entry age 30
around 900 to 1,800 euros a year
Car insurance
Small car with comprehensive cover, many home visits
around 450 to 900 euros a year
For comparison: Liability cover without birth attendance costs about as much a year as ten to twenty postnatal home visits.
Guide prices excluding German insurance premium tax, as of September 2026.
The figures for birth attendance are based on published numbers for the group contract of the
German Midwives Association, the rest on association information and our own quoting experience.
Six things that really happen to midwives, all in one long day on call. Tap through the day and see who pays.
Damage so far€2,521,900
At a home birth the baby's heart rate drops and the transfer to hospital takes too long. The child suffers permanent harm.
€2,500,000 · Paid by: Professional indemnity
On the way to the first postnatal visit you skid on a wet road into the crash barrier.
€7,500 · Paid by: Car insurance
Your baby scales tip over during weighing and break the family's glass table.
€900 · Paid by: Professional indemnity
The CTG monitor falls out of your bag onto the stairs.
€3,500 · Paid by: Electronic equipment
The public prosecutor opens an investigation into the night. You need a lawyer specialising in medical criminal law.
€6,000 · Paid by: Business legal expenses
Carrying the birth bag, you twist your ankle on the cellar stairs. Torn ligament, six weeks without home visits.
€4,000 · Paid by: Accident insurance
Which package would you have had?
Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €2,521,900
Illustrative amounts before any excess.
What is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
Apply for the health insurers' supplement on time; without an application you carry the full birth attendance premium yourself.
When switching between birth attendance and postnatal care, change the tariff in good time so there is neither a gap nor an overpriced premium.
Pay attention to run-off cover: claims for birth injuries can be made many years later.
Document every birth fully and promptly; in a dispute that is your most important defence.
Take out income protection early, while your back and health show no pre-existing conditions.
Use the low-cost association contracts for legal expenses and personal liability, and let us compare your other policies alongside them.
Why NAMMERT for your business
We put the association contract in context
Your liability cover usually comes through your professional association. As a broker we compare what is missing beyond it: car, income protection, accident and practice.
We know claims from the inside
In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves. We know how much a clean claim report matters and we support you through it.
One contact for work and family
Car, health, pension and home contents are handled with you in one place, even if you are on call at night and short of time by day.
Family business since 1989
Free of charge for you, as the insurer pays our commission. You reach people who know your policies.
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
Is professional indemnity compulsory for midwives in Germany?
Yes.
The professional codes of the federal states require it,
and without proof of cover you cannot bill the health insurers.
What does liability cover with birth attendance cost?
Under the group contract of the German Midwives Association it was around 13,300 euros a year in
2025/26.
The health insurers offset most of it through the supplement.
And without birth attendance?
Without birth attendance the cover costs a few hundred euros a year,
because severe birth injuries do not need to be insured.
The premium stays stable under the current group contract.
How high is the sum insured?
Under the German Midwives Association's group contract,
15 million euros per claim and 25 million euros per midwife per year.
Further improvements have been announced for new contracts from July 2027.
Am I insured as an employed midwife in a hospital?
For your hospital work, through the hospital's liability insurance.
If you also work on a self-employed basis, you need your own professional indemnity for that.
What insurance do I need besides liability?
Important are motor insurance with breakdown cover, income protection,
accident cover and professional legal expenses cover.
With your own rooms, contents and electronics insurance come on top.
NAMMERT insurance broker
Request quotes for Midwife
The recommended covers are ticked.
Change what does not fit; we compare quotes, in English.
Thank you, we have your request.
We will be in touch within one working day. If it is urgent: +49 3375 29 12 77.
