Public Health InsuranceInsurance Comparison 2026
DAK-Gesundheit vs. KKH
An independent side-by-side comparison covering benefits, costs, and coverage details.
Based on official policy documentsUpdated September 2026Independent comparison
01Side by side
Features compared
| Feature | DAK-GesundheitView Details | Strong English SupportKKH — Kaufmännische KrankenkasseView Details |
|---|---|---|
| Cost & Contributions | ||
| Total monthly (under 23) | €145.52Better | €150.48 |
| Total monthly (23+ childless) | €150.65Better | €155.61 |
| Zusatzbeitrag rateAdditional contribution rate set by each insurer | 3.20% | 3.78% |
| Coverage & Benefits | ||
| Mental health / psychotherapy | Full coverage — psychotherapy, psychiatry, inpatient + online mental health programs | Full coverage — psychotherapy, psychiatry, inpatient treatment |
| Dental bonus system | Up to 75% after 10 years of regular checkups | Standard — up to 75% after 10 years of regular checkups |
| Bonus programs | ||
| Bonus amount | AktivBonus: no upper cap on cash rewards (1 point = €1), +20% for health services, up to €500/year for sport and fitness gear | Up to €150/year via KKH Bonusprogramm |
| Service & Digital | ||
| English support | Limited — primarily German-speaking; some English resources on website | Good — English-speaking hotline +49 511 80684 9303 (weekdays 9 am–3 pm), e-mail english@kkh.de, English website kkh.de/englisch |
| Digital services | DAK App · ePA (electronic patient record) · Online fitness and health courses · Digital health coaching · DAK Scan-App for document submissions | KKH-App · Meine KKH online portal · ePA · Videosprechstunde |
| Insured people | 5.39 million | 1.46 million |
| Visit DAK-Gesundheit→ | Visit KKH — Kaufmännische Krankenkasse→ | |
DAK-GesundheitView Details
Cost & Contributions
Total monthly (under 23)
€145.52Better
€150.48
Total monthly (23+ childless)
€150.65Better
€155.61
Zusatzbeitrag rate
Additional contribution rate set by each insurer
3.20%
3.78%
Coverage & Benefits
Mental health / psychotherapy
Full coverage — psychotherapy, psychiatry, inpatient + online mental health programs
Full coverage — psychotherapy, psychiatry, inpatient treatment
Dental bonus system
Up to 75% after 10 years of regular checkups
Standard — up to 75% after 10 years of regular checkups
Bonus programs
Bonus amount
AktivBonus: no upper cap on cash rewards (1 point = €1), +20% for health services, up to €500/year for sport and fitness gear
Up to €150/year via KKH Bonusprogramm
Service & Digital
English support
Limited — primarily German-speaking; some English resources on website
Good — English-speaking hotline +49 511 80684 9303 (weekdays 9 am–3 pm), e-mail english@kkh.de, English website kkh.de/englisch
Digital services
DAK App · ePA (electronic patient record) · Online fitness and health courses · Digital health coaching · DAK Scan-App for document submissions
KKH-App · Meine KKH online portal · ePA · Videosprechstunde
Insured people
5.39 million
1.46 million
02FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
DAK costs €145.52/month for students under 23 (or with children) and €150.65/month for students 23+ without children. Breakdown: €87.38 base health insurance + €27.36 Zusatzbeitrag (3.20%) + €30.78 nursing care (or €35.91 if childless and 23+). The DAK AktivBonus can pay back money for preventive behavior — no upper cash cap.
DAK has a higher Zusatzbeitrag (3.20% vs. TK's 2.69%), adding roughly €4.36/month. However, DAK offers an uncapped AktivBonus, osteopathy subsidies, alternative medicine coverage, and dental cleaning reimbursements that can offset the price difference depending on your usage.
DAK's English support is very limited. Most staff and resources are German-speaking. They do have some English content on their website, but no dedicated English hotline. If English-language service is important, TK or BARMER are better choices for international students.
DAK stands out with: AktivBonus without a cash cap (1 point = €1), osteopathy subsidies, professional dental cleaning subsidies, extended vaccination programs, and alternative medicine coverage (homeopathy, acupuncture). Sport and fitness gear earns a +100% bonus, up to €500/year.
Yes, if you are under 30, enrolled in a degree program at a German university, and sign up within 3 months of enrollment. However, due to limited English support, most international students prefer TK or BARMER.
KKH costs €150.48/month for students under 23 (or with children). Students aged 23+ without children pay €155.61/month due to the additional nursing care surcharge. This breaks down as: €87.38 base health insurance + €32.32 Zusatzbeitrag (3.78%) + €30.78 nursing care (or €35.91 if childless and 23+). KKH is one of the pricier nationwide-open options in our comparison, but the English-first service is often worth it for non-German speakers.
Yes, KKH offers extensive English support: an English-language student page (kkh.de/englisch/students), an English-speaking hotline at +49 511 80684 9303 (weekdays 9 am–3 pm) and an English e-mail service (english@kkh.de). This makes KKH a good option for international students who don't speak German comfortably.
KKH is attractive for international students primarily because of its English-language service: it addresses English-speaking students directly with an English student page, an English-speaking hotline and an English e-mail service. The trade-off is a higher price (€150.48/month vs. €140.30 at hkk).
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