Paul Sanchez
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is Germany's biggest health insurance fund, providing a comprehensive range of benefits tailored to your personal situation and individual needs. TK covers everything from rehabilitation services, dental care, medical aids and appliances, and mental health services. To apply for TK insurance, you must first ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria, which include being employed, a student, self-employed, or a family member of an insured individual. You can then fill out the application form online or visit a TK office in person, providing the necessary documents such as proof of identity, residence, and any relevant employment or student status documentation. Once your application has been submitted, TK will review it and provide confirmation of your insurance coverage, including your insurance number.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Employees earning below €66,600 per year (2023 figure), students under 30, apprentices, self-employed individuals (depending on income and other criteria), family members of insured individuals |
| Application Process | Online application form or visit a TK office in person. Provide proof of identity, residence, and relevant employment or student status documentation |
| Coverage | Rehabilitation services, basic dental treatments, medical aids and appliances, mental health services, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy |
| Cost | Contribution rates are a set percentage of income, with a general contribution rate and a supplementary contribution rate set by the health insurance fund |
| Advantages | Germany's biggest health insurance fund, providing a comprehensive range of benefits tailored to personal situations and needs |
| Activation | Activate online or through the TK User Portal after arriving in Germany. Provide a Certificate of Enrollment for university students |
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What You'll Learn
- Eligibility criteria: Employees, students, self-employed, family members
- Application process: Online or in-person, with necessary documents
- Cost: Depends on income, with employer contributions
- Coverage: Dental, mental health, rehabilitation, medical aids
- Activation: After arrival in Germany, via the User Portal
Eligibility criteria: Employees, students, self-employed, family members
To be eligible for TK health insurance, you must be eligible for statutory health insurance in Germany. This includes specific categories of individuals, such as employees, students, self-employed individuals, and family members of insured individuals. Here are the eligibility criteria for each of these categories:
Employees
If you are employed in Germany and earn below a certain income threshold (EUR 66,600 per year in 2023), you are generally obligated to have public health insurance. This includes both full-time and part-time employees. As an employee, your employer will pay half of the contribution rate, which is based on a set percentage of your income. If your regular income exceeds the social security threshold, you are considered voluntarily insured, and you will need to pay the contributions yourself.
Students
Most students under 30 years old who are enrolled in a recognized educational institution in Germany are required to have public health insurance. This applies to both domestic and international students. The cost of student health insurance is a standard contribution based on the maintenance need defined by the German Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (BAföG). It is important to note that if you undertake a mandatory internship as part of your degree program, your health insurance will continue with TK. However, for non-mandatory internships, the same rules apply as for jobs alongside degree programs.
Self-employed
Self-employed individuals can be eligible for TK health insurance depending on their income and other specific criteria. The cost of health insurance for self-employed individuals is typically more expensive because they need to pay the full contribution rate themselves. In some cases, self-employed individuals may opt for private health insurance, especially if they are young, healthy, and have no dependents.
Family members
If you are insured with TK as an employee, self-employed individual, or retiree, you can add your family members to your policy at no additional cost. To cover your family members for free, you need to fill out a specific form provided by TK. Details of the exemptions to free cover for family members are also available from TK.
To apply for TK health insurance, you can visit their website or go to a TK office in person. You will need to fill out the necessary application forms and provide proof of identity, residence, and any relevant employment or student status documentation. Once your application is submitted, TK will review it and provide confirmation of your insurance coverage, including your insurance number.
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Application process: Online or in-person, with necessary documents
To apply for TK health insurance, you must first ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. This includes being eligible for statutory health insurance in Germany and falling into one of the following categories: employed, a student, self-employed, an apprentice, a retiree, or a family member of an insured individual.
The application process for TK health insurance can be completed either online or in person. If applying online, you can fill out the application form on the TK website, which is available in English. The TK website also features an easy-to-use calculator to help you determine your personal contribution rate. Alternatively, you can visit a TK office in person to fill out the necessary application forms.
Regardless of the application method, you will need to provide certain required documents, such as proof of identity and residence, as well as any relevant employment or student status documentation. For example, if you are a student, you will need to provide your Certificate of Enrollment (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung) from your German university. If you are applying as a family member of an insured individual, you can use the form available on the TK website to register for free cover.
Once you have submitted your application, TK will review it and provide confirmation of your insurance coverage, including your insurance number. You will then receive your insurance card (Versichertenkarte), which you should present when visiting healthcare providers. If you were previously insured with another public insurance company, TK will notify them of your switch.
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Cost: Depends on income, with employer contributions
The cost of TK health insurance depends on your income and your situation. If you are employed, your employer will pay half of the contribution rate. In 2025, the TK contribution rate to health insurance is 17.05% of gross income, consisting of a general contribution rate of 14.6% and a health insurance fund's individual supplementary contribution rate of 2.45%. You are considered voluntarily insured if your regular income in 2025 exceeds the social security threshold of €73,800. In this case, you are generally required to pay the contributions to health and long-term care insurance yourself.
If you are self-employed, you can get voluntary insurance cover with TK, and they will calculate your monthly contributions based on your income. The monthly contributions for the self-employed range from €1,248.33 (the statutory minimum threshold) to €5,512.50 (the social security contribution assessment ceiling). This depends on factors such as whether your health insurance entitles you to sickness benefits and whether you need to pay a supplement for long-term care insurance.
If you are a student in Germany, you will need to take out health insurance or provide proof of valid health cover if you are not from an EU or EEA country, Switzerland, the UK, or a country with a social security agreement with Germany. As a student, you pay a standard contribution based on the maintenance need (requirement rate) defined by the BAföG, regardless of whether or not you receive BAföG assistance.
It is important to note that contribution rates are subject to change yearly, and your insurance provider must notify you of any modifications.
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Coverage: Dental, mental health, rehabilitation, medical aids
TK Insurance, or Techniker Krankenkasse, is a German statutory health insurance fund that offers comprehensive coverage for various therapies and treatments. The fund has been recognised by Focus Money business magazine for providing Germany's best health insurance. TK Insurance is available to those eligible for statutory health insurance in Germany, including employees, students, self-employed individuals, and family members of insured individuals.
Coverage
TK Insurance provides coverage for dental, mental health, rehabilitation, and medical aids. Here are the details:
Dental Care: TK Insurance covers basic dental treatments, including regular check-ups, fillings, and certain dental procedures. However, coverage for more extensive dental treatments may be limited.
Mental Health Services: TK recognises the importance of mental well-being and provides coverage for mental health services, including therapy and counselling sessions. This includes systemic therapy, behavioural therapy, analytical psychotherapy, and depth psychology-based psychotherapy.
Rehabilitation Services: TK covers rehabilitation services to aid in the recovery and improvement of patients' health. This includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. TK also covers the costs of contractually agreed-upon treatments, such as trips to the rehab centre and meals.
Medical Aids and Appliances: TK Insurance covers necessary medical aids and appliances, such as prosthetics, hearing aids (up to €1,775.30), and orthopedic devices.
To apply for TK Insurance, you can fill out an online application form or visit a TK office in person. The application process is straightforward and available in English. Once your application is approved, you will receive an insurance card (Versichertenkarte) to present when visiting healthcare providers.
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Activation: After arrival in Germany, via the User Portal
To activate your TK public health insurance after arriving in Germany, you must use the Expatrio Portal. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this:
Step 1: Login to the Expatrio Portal
Go to the Expatrio Portal and log in to your account.
Step 2: Navigate to the Health Insurance Section
Once logged in, find and select the 'Health Insurance' section.
Step 3: Click the 'Activate' Button
On the 'Health Insurance' page, you will see an ''Activate' button. Click this button to proceed.
Step 4: Provide Your German Address
On the next page, carefully enter your German address. TK will send letters to this address, so it is important to ensure it is correct. The street name cannot be longer than 23 characters; if it is, use 'Str' instead of 'Straße' or 'Strasse'. Put the building number under 'Street Number'. If you have a room number, add it to the 'Optional C/O address field', writing 'Zi.' before the number. If your name is not on your postbox, add the name that is on it to the 'Optional C/O address field', writing 'C/O' before the name.
Step 5: Confirm Your Arrival Date and Desired Insurance Start Date
Confirm your arrival date in Germany and the date from which you want your insurance to start.
Step 6: Upload Your Certificate of Enrollment
Upload your Certificate of Enrollment ('Immatrikulationsbescheinigung' or 'Studienbescheinigung') from your German university. This cannot be an admission letter, Anmeldung/Meldebestätigung, or a student card. The desired insurance start date should match the semester start date on your enrollment form.
Step 7: Submit Your Activation Request
After entering all the required information, submit your activation request by clicking 'Activate' at the bottom of the page. Your activation request will be reviewed, and you will be contacted if any clarification is needed. Once your request is approved, your data will be sent to TK, and the activation process will be completed within 2-4 weeks. You will be covered by TK insurance during this waiting period, even without your health insurance card.
Step 8: Receive Confirmation and Health Insurance Card
Once your activation is complete, TK will send a confirmation letter to your German address. After receiving this 'Welcome Letter', they will send another letter asking for a photo to be included on your health insurance card.
Please note that if you do not have an Expatrio Bank Account, you must provide another SEPA (Single European Payment Area) account to activate your health insurance.
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Frequently asked questions
You can apply for TK insurance by filling out an online application form on their website. You can also visit a TK office in person and fill out the necessary forms there.
To apply for TK insurance, you will need to provide proof of identity and residence. You will also need to provide relevant employment or student status documentation.
After submitting your application, TK will review it and provide confirmation of your insurance coverage. This confirmation will include your insurance number and other relevant details. You will then receive your insurance card, which you should present when visiting healthcare providers.
