Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)vs.DAK-Gesundheit

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 has the best English support among German public insurers. They offer 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.

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.