Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) vs. hkk Krankenkasse

TK costs €141.16/month for students under 23 (or with children). Students aged 23+ without children pay €146.29/month due to the additional nursing care surcharge. This breaks down as: €87.38 base health insurance + €23.00 Zusatzbeitrag (2.69%) + €30.78 nursing care (or €35.91 if childless and 23+).

Yes, TK offers extensive English support: a 24/7 English-language hotline, the TK-App with English interface, an English website (tk.de/en), and English-speaking staff at many branches. Not all written correspondence is in English, but phone and app support are excellent.

Yes, if you are under 30 and enrolled in a degree program at a German university. You must sign up within the first 3 months of enrollment. Language course and preparatory course (Studienkolleg) students are not eligible for GKV.

TK rewards healthy behavior with up to €200/year in cash (or €400/year as Gesundheitsdividende if reinvested in health products). You earn points for preventive checkups, vaccinations, sports club membership, fitness tracking (via Google Fit, Samsung Health, or Fitbit), and health courses.

All GKV insurers cover the same legally mandated base benefits. TK stands out for international students thanks to its English-language support (24/7 hotline, English app), competitive Zusatzbeitrag (2.69% vs. BARMER's 3.29%), and strong digital services. AOK offers more branch offices, while BARMER excels in telemedicine and mental health extras.

hkk costs €140.30/month for students under 23 (or with children). Students aged 23+ without children pay €145.43/month due to the additional nursing care surcharge. This breaks down as: €87.38 base health insurance + €22.14 Zusatzbeitrag (2.59%) + €30.78 nursing care (or €35.91 if childless and 23+). hkk is among the cheapest bundesweit-open public health insurers in 2026.

hkk's English support is minimal. The website is primarily in German, and there is no dedicated English-language hotline. International students who do not speak German comfortably should consider TK or KKH, which offer dedicated English-language student services. hkk is best suited for German-speaking students or those confident using translation tools.

hkk is attractive for students primarily because of its low price — one of the cheapest bundesweit-open Krankenkassen in 2026 at €140.30/month. It also offers a strong bonus program (hkk bonusaktiv) worth up to €150/year. Its Zusatzbeitrag rose from 2.19% (2025) to 2.59% (2026), but it remains one of the lowest among nationwide-open Krankenkassen. Cost-conscious students who don't need English-first support get excellent value.