Preventive Examinations Also for Adolescents - Hesse rolls out personal invites to lift J1 youth health check-up rates
Hesse is taking new steps to boost participation in the voluntary J1 youth health check-up. The state will now send personal invitations to families with children aged 12 to 14. Officials hope this will raise attendance, which currently sits between 60% and 65%.
The J1 check-up remains optional, with no plans to make it mandatory. Before Hesse introduced its current system of required check-ups, participation in the J1 was around 85%. The state already enforces nine paediatric examinations (U-Untersuchungen) for children from birth to age six, with the first (U1) happening immediately after delivery and the last (U9) at age six.
These early check-ups show high compliance rates. In 2024, U4 attendance reached 100%, while U8 and U9 both exceeded 95%. Families receive written invitations for these visits, followed by reminders if they miss appointments. Persistent non-attendance triggers notifications to the youth welfare office.
To bridge the gap between U9 and J1, Hesse introduced two extra check-ups: U10 for ages seven to eight and U11 for ages nine to ten. However, these are not covered as standard benefits under statutory health insurance.
The new invitation system aims to lift J1 participation closer to previous levels. If successful, more adolescents in Hesse could receive timely health assessments. The state's approach combines voluntary measures with proven strategies from its mandatory early check-ups.
