Am I covered during pregnancy as a self-employed woman in Germany?
In short
Am I covered during pregnancy as a self-employed woman in Germany? Only if you insured sick pay beforehand. Statutory insurers pay maternity pay (Mutterschaftsgeld) only to members entitled to sick pay, through an election or an optional tariff. Private daily sickness cover pays during the protection periods too, but may impose a waiting period of up to eight months. So arrange it early.
Private daily sickness cover, self-employed, 35, EUR 150 from day 29
about EUR 76 to 150 a month
Parental allowance
EUR 300 to 1,800 a month
The election and maternity pay are calculated from the statutory rates.
Daily sickness premiums from publicly quoted tariff examples, October 2026; yours depends on age,
job and health.
The worked example is a guide value from our quoting practice.
Worked example
Graphic designer, voluntary statutory member, EUR 3,000 monthly income
She made the sick pay election well before becoming pregnant.
Extra contribution for the election
EUR 18 a month
Daily sick pay, 70 percent of EUR 100
EUR 70
Protection periods, 6 plus 8 weeks and delivery day
99 days
Maternity pay, 99 × EUR 70
EUR 6,930
About EUR 6,930 maternity pay for EUR 18 extra a month; without the election she would receive nothing.
Why self-employed women get nothing in pregnancy without planning
The Maternity Protection Act covers women in employment. It does not name self-employed women, so there is no employer paying you during the protection periods.
Statutory health insurers pay maternity pay only to members who are entitled to sick pay (Krankengeld). Self-employed members have that entitlement only if they chose it explicitly. Without that choice, there is no money from the insurer during pregnancy.
Statutory insurance: sick pay election or optional tariff
With the sick pay election you pay the general rate of 14.6 instead of the reduced 14.0 percent. Sick pay then starts in week seven of incapacity, and maternity pay equals sick pay: 70 percent of the income on which you pay contributions.
Optional tariffs (Wahltarife) pay sick pay earlier for a separate premium and bind you for at least three years. If you make the election while unable to work, it only takes effect the day after that incapacity ends.
Route
Cost
Benefit in pregnancy
No choice made
reduced rate 14.0 percent
no maternity pay
Sick pay election
0.6 percentage points more
maternity pay at the level of sick pay
Optional tariff
own premium, three-year commitment
maternity pay, earlier sick pay depending on tariff
Private daily sickness cover
premium by age and daily rate
agreed daily rate in the protection periods
Private insurance: daily sickness cover in the protection periods
Private daily sickness cover (Krankentagegeld) must also replace lost earnings in the protection periods before and after birth and on the day of delivery, unless you receive other adequate compensation.
For this benefit the insurer may agree a special waiting period of up to eight months. If you apply only once pregnant, you are usually too late. If the application asks about pregnancy, you must disclose it.
Parental allowance for the self-employed
Self-employed parents also receive parental allowance (Elterngeld): 67 percent of income, at least EUR 300 and at most EUR 1,800 a month. For the self-employed, the profit in the last completed tax year before the birth counts, not the last twelve months.
What no insurance covers in pregnancy
Maternity pay and daily sickness cover replace income, not your running business costs such as office rent, leasing or software. Build reserves for at least the 14 weeks of the protection periods.
If you are self-employed on the side and mainly employed, you receive maternity pay through your job. Then you do not need the sick pay election for pregnancy.
Step by step
Check how you are insured: voluntary statutory or private.
Statutory: make the sick pay election or take an optional tariff before pregnancy.
Private: check that daily sickness cover pays in the protection periods and when the waiting period ends.
Report your income correctly, as maternity pay depends on it.
Build reserves for business costs during the protection periods.
Checklist
Sick pay entitlement in place before pregnancy
Waiting period of private daily sickness cover over
Reported income matches real income
Parental allowance estimated from last year's profit
Business costs for 14 weeks covered
Common mistakes
Making the sick pay election only once the pregnancy is known
Reporting a low income to save contributions and cutting maternity pay with it
Assuming the Maternity Protection Act also protects the self-employed
Keeping private daily sickness cover that does not pay in the protection periods
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Do self-employed women get maternity pay in Germany?
Only with a sick pay entitlement,
through the election or an optional tariff with a statutory insurer.
It then equals sick pay.
Does the Maternity Protection Act apply to the self-employed?
No, it covers employees and some similar groups.
Self-employed women are not named.
Does private daily sickness cover pay during pregnancy?
Yes, in the protection periods before and after birth, unless you receive other compensation.
The insurer may require a waiting period of up to eight months for this.
Can I still make the sick pay election when already pregnant?
Yes, but if you are unable to work at that time, it only takes effect afterwards.
It is safest to arrange it before pregnancy.
How is parental allowance calculated for the self-employed?
From the profit in the last completed tax year before birth: 67 percent,
