👨‍👧 Mother-child and father-child cure for exhaustion
In brief
Mothers and fathers whose exhaustion is also linked to the double burden of employment, family and care work can use a mother-child or father-child measure. This is a separate benefit of statutory health insurance – depending on medical necessity as a preventive or a rehabilitation measure, usually in a facility of the Müttergenesungswerk or a comparable clinic, generally together with the children.
One special feature: unlike other outpatient preventive benefits, you do not first have to prove that outpatient treatment options have been exhausted.
Step by step
- Get a medical certificateYour GP or gynaecologist establishes the medical necessity and fills in the corresponding prescription.
- Apply to the health insurerSubmit the prescription together with your health insurer's application form.
- If refused, involve an advice centreRecognised advice centres (e.g. of the MĂĽttergenesungswerk) help with objections (WidersprĂĽche) against a refusal.
- Choose a facilityYou can choose among suitable, certified facilities, often with childcare for the children who come along.
- Plan aftercareAfterwards, use outpatient support services to stabilise the effect of the measure.
Deadlines
- A refusal by the health insurer is not uncommon and can be successfully challenged in many cases – if in doubt, contact an independent advice centre before drafting the objection yourself.
- How long the wait for a cure place actually is varies by region and season; a reliable nationwide figure could not be researched and is therefore not given.
- This benefit is aimed equally at mothers and fathers; fathers historically had to fight for this equal access, but it has since been clarified in law.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Legal basis
§ 24 SGB V regulates medical prevention for mothers and fathers, § 41 SGB V the corresponding medical rehabilitation for mothers and fathers. Both provisions expressly also cover fathers (father-child measures) and make clear that the benefit is to be provided in a facility of the Müttergenesungswerk or an equivalent facility.
No duty of prior outpatient treatment
Unlike general outpatient preventive benefits under § 23 SGB V, § 24 Abs. 1 Satz 4 SGB V expressly does not require that outpatient treatment options at the place of residence must first be exhausted (§ 23 Abs. 4 Satz 1 SGB V does not apply). The principle of "outpatient before inpatient" therefore does not apply here with its otherwise usual strictness.
Why this benefit matters for exhaustion
The measure is aimed specifically at states of exhaustion linked to the multiple burden of child-rearing, care and paid work, and combines medical treatment with a break from everyday structures, usually together with the children. It supplements, but does not replace, the general rehabilitation of the pension insurance described on the page "Medical rehab for exhaustion".
A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.