Why children's needs differ from adult supplementary cover

For adults, supplementary insurance is often about comfort, premium stability, or specific high-cost scenarios. For children, the priorities are different:

Orthodontics (KFO): Many children need orthodontic treatment. GKV covers only severity levels KIG 3–5. KIG 1–2 (mild to moderate misalignment) is entirely out of pocket — and even for KIG 3–5, parents often face additional costs for modern techniques.
Hospital comfort: Parents want to be present during a child's hospital stay. Rooming-in (staying in the child's room) is not a GKV benefit for children over 5.
Extended preventive checks: Standard U-examinations have gaps — strabismus screening, speech development tests, and expanded hearing checks are not fully covered.
Glasses: Children's vision changes frequently. GKV covers glasses only under specific conditions; families with changing prescriptions often pay significant out-of-pocket costs.
Alternative medicine and Heilpraktiker: Naturopathy and alternative treatments for children are generally not covered by GKV.

The Junior tariff

Rather than requiring parents to assemble separate dental, hospital, and outpatient add-ons, a dedicated Junior tariff combines key child-specific benefits in a single product. Available in two tiers:

Benefit area	BJunior (Basis)	KJunior (Komfort)
Orthodontics (KFO) of costs beyond GKV	—	80% of Mehrleistungen max. €1,000 over entire contract
Composite fillings (Kunststoff)	—	80%, max. €500/2yr
Fissure sealing beyond GKV scope	—	80%, max. €100/2yr
Glasses / contact lenses	80%, max. €200/24mo	80%, max. €200/12mo
Heilpraktiker / alternative medicine	—	80%, max. €500/2yr selected methods
Extended prevention (U6a, U9a, U9b, J1a, strabismus, speech)	—	80%, max. €100/2yr
Rooming-in (ages 6–12)	✓ Included	✓ Included
Child sick-day allowance (Kinderkrankentagegeld)	€15/day per family when GKV provides	€15/day per family when GKV provides
Birth-related benefits (PEKiP, birth prep for fathers)	—	80%

One monthly premium covers all children in the household (through the calendar year in which the child turns 20), including adopted children and patchwork families. No health assessment required. BJunior: €13.44/month, KJunior: €38.98/month. Premiums as of July 2025. Newborns can be added at no extra cost.

Key structural features

One premium, all children

Unlike adult supplementary insurance (which prices per person and age), the Junior tariff charges a single flat premium regardless of how many children are in the household.

No health assessment

Children are enrolled without health questions or medical underwriting. This eliminates the risk of exclusions based on pre-existing conditions.

Dental Pro Z90Bonus transition

At age 21, Junior tariff holders can switch to the Dental Pro Z90Bonus — without a new health assessment — within a 2-month window. This preserves continuity of dental protection.

Beyond the Junior tariff: individual child protection

The Junior tariff is designed for parents who want integrated child-specific cover at a flat rate. But parents can also insure children individually through the standard supplementary tariffs:

Dental: Dent or Z tariffs can be taken out for children individually — offering higher orthodontic limits and prosthetic coverage than the Junior tariff
Hospital: MedKlinik tariffs are available for children (1-Bett or 2-Bett), including Rooming-in up to age 12 and daily hospital cash at half-rate
Prevention: V100 covers extended child screenings (strabismus, hearing, U-checks) and immunizations
Outpatient supplement (483): Glasses up to €165/year after GKV contribution (under 20), Heilpraktiker, co-pay elimination

Whether the Junior tariff or individual tariff selection is more appropriate depends on the child's specific needs and how many children you want to cover. A consultation helps clarify the best combination.

Frequently asked questions

Why do children's needs differ from adult supplementary cover?

Adults typically optimize for long-term premium stability, high-value prosthetic coverage, or hospital comfort. Children's needs center on orthodontics (the most common high-cost dental treatment for children), parental presence during hospital stays (Rooming-in), preventive screening gaps, and rapidly changing prescriptions for glasses. The Junior tariff addresses these child-specific priorities rather than scaling down adult coverage.

Is the Junior tariff mainly about hospital, dental, or broader outpatient benefits?

The KJunior (Komfort) tariff combines all three: dental (orthodontics, fillings, fissure sealing), hospital (Rooming-in, sick-day allowance), and outpatient (glasses, prevention, Heilpraktiker, birth-related benefits). The BJunior (Basis) tariff is narrower — primarily Rooming-in, glasses, and sick-day allowance. Neither replaces a standalone hospital add-on with consultant treatment or room upgrade.

What should parents prioritize first?

The most impactful gap is usually orthodontics — if a child needs KFO treatment at KIG 1–2 severity, the entire cost falls on the parents. Hospital Rooming-in is the second highest-impact area for families who want to stay with their child during inpatient care. Glasses and prevention fill smaller but recurring gaps. A consultation helps prioritize based on your family's actual situation.

Can one policy cover multiple important gaps?

Yes — that is the design purpose of the Junior tariff. The KJunior (Komfort) tier bundles dental, hospital, outpatient, and prevention benefits in a single contract at a flat premium for all children. However, its limits per category are lower than what standalone tariffs offer. For families with specific high-cost needs (e.g. extensive orthodontics or consultant-level hospital care), combining the Junior tariff with standalone add-ons may be more effective.

When exactly does Junior coverage end?

Coverage ends automatically at the end of the calendar year in which the child turns 20. For example, a child born on March 15, 2006 is covered through December 31, 2026. No cancellation letter is required — the policy terminates automatically when the last child's coverage ends.

Are benefit limits shared across all children or per child?

Shared. The capped benefit amounts (e.g. €500 for Heilpraktiker per 24 months, €1,000 for orthodontics) apply across all insured children combined — not per child individually. Rooming-in, Kinderkrankentagegeld, and birth-related benefits are not capped. This is an important consideration for larger families.

Can I switch between BJunior and KJunior?

Yes, a switch from BJunior to KJunior (or vice versa) is possible at any time. When upgrading from BJunior to KJunior, waiting periods apply for the additional benefits: 3 months general, 8 months for orthodontics. No health assessment is required since Junior tariffs never involve health questions.

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