German private health insurance companies are now forced to accept all applicants, irrespective of their health situation, in their "Basistarif" which became available from January 1, 2009. In other words, if you have a serious pre-existing medical condition and cannot be accepted into normal private health insurance tariffs, you can purchase this tariff as a last resort. It offers similar benefits to the government system and the cost is capped at the maximum rate of the Krankenkasse. Unfortunately this monthly premium is approx. 657 Euros per month for each adult and approx. 250 Euros per dependent child not including nursing care insurance. If you are eligible for welfare support you only pay 50% of these amounts.