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Does a baby need its own travel health insurance?

In short

Does a baby need its own travel health insurance? Usually not. If you hold a family tariff, many contracts cover your baby from birth, but you should add it by name. A policy of its own is needed if you only have single contracts. A good family policy (Auslandskrankenversicherung) starts at about EUR 19 a year, often barely more than two single contracts.

Does a baby need its own travel health insurance?

What it costs

Published annual premiums for holiday trips, as of 2026. The sources name no separate baby tariff; the child runs in the family or single tariff.

ExampleTypical range
Annual policy, one person, very good tariffsfrom about EUR 7.92 a year
Annual policy, one person, usual tariffsabout EUR 10 to 20 a year
Annual policy, family, very good tariffsfrom about EUR 18.60 a year
Annual policy, family, usual tariffsabout EUR 25 to 35 a year

Guide values, as of November 2026, from publicly quoted tariff examples.

Some family tariffs cost considerably more.

That a family tariff usually carries no surcharge for the baby,

and that a family tariff for two adults and a baby costs less than three single contracts,

are guide values from our quoting practice.

We obtain the exact quote for you.

Worked example

Parents with single contracts, baby aged five months, holiday in Spain

Each parent holds a single contract. The baby is in public family insurance and has its health card.

Two single contracts for the parentsabout EUR 16 to 40 a year
Cover for the baby under these contractsnone
One family tariff for all threeabout EUR 19 to 35 a year
Paid by public health insurance for flying the sick baby homeEUR 0

The family tariff costs barely more than the two single contracts and closes the gap for the baby. Cancel the single contracts at the end of their term so that you do not pay twice. Worked example with guide values.

Family tariff or a contract of its own

What matters is how you are insured yourself. Travel health insurance (Auslandskrankenversicherung) is a private add-on that pays for treatment abroad and the journey home. With a family tariff, a child born during the term is automatically included in many contracts. Report it with name and date of birth all the same, because some terms require every person to be listed in the contract.

If mother and father each hold only a single contract, the baby is not included. Then there are two routes: a contract for the child alone or a switch to a family tariff. The family tariff is usually the better choice, because from three people, and sometimes from two, it is cheaper than separate contracts.

Your situationWhat the baby needs
Family tariff existsnothing new, just add the baby by name
Parents hold single contractsa contract of its own or a switch to a family tariff
Single parent with a single contractcheck whether a tariff for one parent with child is offered
Child has private health insurancecheck the tariff for cover abroad and repatriation
Trip with the grandparents, without the parentscheck whether the parents' contract protects the child without them

What the baby's health card does

A baby in German public health insurance is covered free of charge through one parent's family insurance (Familienversicherung) and receives its own electronic health card. The European Health Insurance Card is printed on the back. Apply for the card straight after the birth so that it arrives before the first trip.

In other EU countries the public insurer then pays only what a local resident would get. With a private doctor you often have to pay first, and the refund is capped at what the treatment would have cost in Germany. Public health insurance never pays for transport back home. Outside Europe the card is generally of no help at all.

What parents of babies should look for

If a baby has to be admitted to hospital abroad, a parent will want to stay with it. Look in the terms to see whether accommodation for an accompanying person in hospital and that person's journey home with the child are included.

Also look for repatriation when it is medically advisable, not only when it is medically necessary. With a sick infant, every day you get home sooner counts.

When the baby does not need a contract of its own

If you already have a family tariff that covers trips of sufficient length, you need not take out anything else. If the child has private health insurance and the tariff applies worldwide including repatriation, a second policy is equally unnecessary. A contract just for the baby alongside the parents' family tariff means paying twice.

Step by step

  1. Look in your own contract to see whether it is a single or a family tariff.
  2. With a family tariff, report the baby with name and date of birth.
  3. With single contracts, take out a family tariff or a contract for the child.
  4. Apply to your health insurer for the baby's health card and take it with you.
  5. Save the insurer's emergency number in your phone and keep all invoices.

Checklist

  • Baby entered in the contract by name
  • Repatriation when medically advisable
  • Accommodation for an accompanying person in hospital included
  • Journey home of a parent with the sick child settled
  • No deductible
  • The baby's health card in your luggage

Common mistakes

  • Assuming the baby is included in one parent's single contract
  • Not adding the baby by name to the family tariff
  • Relying on the health card alone in other EU countries
  • Paying for a baby contract on top of the family tariff

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Does a baby need its own travel health insurance for trips within the EU?

It needs cover, but not necessarily a contract of its own.

The parents' family tariff is enough if the baby is listed in it.

The health card alone covers neither a private doctor nor repatriation.

Is my newborn automatically in my travel health insurance?

In a family tariff, in many contracts yes, from birth.

In a single tariff, no.

In either case report the child to the insurer by name.

Does my baby get a health card of its own?

Yes, the public health insurer issues a card to every insured person,

including children in family insurance.

The European Health Insurance Card is on the back.

What does travel health insurance cost for a family with a baby?

Good family tariffs cost from about EUR 19 a year, usual tariffs about EUR 25 to 35.

Some tariffs are considerably more expensive.

My baby has private health insurance. Do I need a travel policy?

Only if the tariff does not apply worldwide or does not include repatriation.

Your tariff terms tell you.

Up to what age are children included in the family tariff?

Usually up to age 21, in some tariffs longer while the child is in education or training.

The limit is stated in your terms.

Sources

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