Au-Pair Insurance: What Host Families Must Arrange
Photo: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels
In Germany, the host family must insure the au-pair — and on three fronts: health, accident, and personal liability. This isn't an optional gesture but a condition of the au-pair arrangement, and usually of the visa too. The family bears the cost, not the au-pair.
In this guide we explain which three covers are mandatory, what they include, what they cost per month — and what to watch for if your au-pair comes from the USA or the EU. Honest, concrete, and with no fine print.
The three mandatory covers at a glance
For an au-pair in Germany there are three covers that belong together. Regular statutory health insurers usually won't take on an au-pair — so in practice families take out a dedicated au-pair or visitor health policy that often bundles health, accident, and liability cover into one package. Here are the three building blocks:
| Versicherung | Pflicht? | Was sie abdeckt |
|---|---|---|
| Health (Krankenversicherung) | Yes | Doctor visits, hospital, medication, emergencies. Au-pair policies often include repatriation to the home country. |
| Accident (Unfallversicherung) | Yes | Consequences of accidents on and off duty — disability, treatment costs, and a lump sum in serious cases. |
| Liability (Haftpflichtversicherung) | Yes | Damage the au-pair causes to others (e.g. a broken vase, a damaged smartphone). |
Who pays — and what does it cost?
The host family pays for the insurance. In Germany this is a mandatory part of the au-pair arrangement, much like the €280 pocket money or the language-course subsidy of at least €70.
In practice, specialised providers bundle health, accident, and liability cover into a single au-pair package. Such a policy costs, depending on provider and level of cover, around €30 to €60 per month. Budget for this from the start — together with pocket money, language course, and board, most families land at around €600 to €800 per month.
Don't confuse the short travel insurance for entry with the long-term policy. Some au-pairs arrive on a pure travel health insurance that only lasts a few weeks. For the au-pair year itself you need continuous cover for the whole length of stay — usually up to 12 months. Take out the long-term policy before the travel insurance runs out.
Au-pair from the USA (J-1): what to watch for
If your au-pair comes via a US program — or if you as a family send someone to the USA — the J-1 visa applies stricter minimum standards for health insurance. The policy must usually cover at least two things:
- Medical treatment: a sufficient coverage amount for illness and accident.
- Repatriation: the cost of returning the person to their home country in a serious case — both medical evacuation and repatriation of remains.
The exact minimum sums can differ by program and year, so without quoting a fixed figure: get written confirmation from the provider or agency that the policy meets the current J-1 requirements. That way you're on the safe side, rather than relying on an outdated number.
Au-pair from the EU: is the EHIC enough?
If your au-pair comes from another EU country, they usually hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This covers necessary medical treatment during a short stay — but it does not replace a full au-pair policy.
For a longer au-pair stay the EHIC is often not enough: it doesn't cover repatriation, for example, nor liability or accident risks, and it isn't designed for a long-term stay. We therefore recommend full cover for EU au-pairs too — either a dedicated au-pair policy or, where possible, regular enrolment in a German health insurer, topped up with accident and liability cover.
Take out the insurance before the au-pair arrives, and hand over the policy documents (policy number, emergency hotline) right at the start. If someone falls ill it saves time and stress — and you're both on the safe side.
