This page looks at why you should choose Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) as your German health insurance provider. From English-speaking support and an easy sign-up process to market-leading coverage and a reliable claims process, we explore why TK is a firm favourite among expats living in Germany.
Related resources:
Health insurance in Germany: A complete overview
Documents required to start a job in Germany
How to obtain your German social security number
How to apply for a German Work Visa
When living in Germany, it is compulsory to have German health insurance. If you are in regular employment and earning below €66,600 per year (2023 threshold), it is mandatory that you sign up to the German Public Health Insurance System (GVK).
This public health insurance system is made up of 113 health insurance providers, known as Krankenkassen in Germany. As an employee, you must choose one of these health insurance providers, which can be a confusing and perplexing decision.
Thankfully, there is one standout provider when it comes to German public health insurance:
Not only is TK Germany’s most popular insurer, but it is also the most expat-friendly, which has helped the company consolidate its position as Germany’s no.1 public health insurer for the last 15 years.
Explore our top 6 reasons for choosing Techniker Krankenkasse below.
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) has English-speaking support
When it comes to your health, it is essential that you understand what is going on. After a quick browse online, it is abundantly clear that most German public health insurers are solely aimed at German speakers, making their policies unsuitable for many newcomers and expats in Germany.
TK, on the other hand, offers English-speaking telephone, chat and email support as well as an English website and English mobile app. So, if you have any lingering questions about your TK policy or coverage, rest assured that TK offers high-quality English-language support and policy information.
Better still, you can quickly sign up for TK in English through this simple sign-up form.
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) has a simple, online sign-up process
With many public health insurers in Germany, you need to complete a physical application form that must then be posted to their head office – in short, it can take weeks just to get signed up, which can be a frustrating delay if wanting to start a new job in Germany or apply for a Work Visa or EU Blue Card.
With TK, you can quickly complete the sign-up process online and in English. Once signed up, the convenience continues as TK allows you to access all your policy information online, including your policy confirmation, your health insurance number (Krankenversichertennummer) and your German social security number (Sozialversicherungsnummer). In short, all the health insurance information your employer needs can be quickly accessed online with TK.
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) has great healthcare coverage
While good customer support and a slick sign-up process are important, even more essential is the level of healthcare coverage that your German health insurer offers.
With regards to coverage, Techniker Krankenkasse has a really solid offering. Among other things, TK’s policy covers:
Preventative care – routine screenings to catch any medical issues early on.
Outpatient care – examinations and treatment from a doctor. Note: the only requirement is that the doctor is permitted to treat patients with German public health insurance.
Inpatient care – surgery and treatment at a hospital.
Rehabilitative care – ongoing medical care after an illness or injury.
Depending on the extent of the treatment needed, TK also covers pregnancy, medication, glasses, physiotherapy, basic dental care, family cover, overseas European medical cover, and more.
Expats in Germany are often worried about finding a suitable doctor and scheduling appointments. To combat this, Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) offers a really handy service (TK-DoctorGuide) for finding local English-speaking doctors so you can identify a suitable physician in your area. Once identified, TK also provides an appointment booking tool (TK-AppointmentService). These TK tools help ensure that you receive treatment that is covered by TK’s policy.
Before receiving treatment, we recommend always checking whether it is fully or partially covered by your TK policy to avoid any nasty surprises.
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) has a foolproof claims process
After receiving medical treatment, there is no pesky form filling or receipt gathering for reimbursem*nt. You simply show your TK eHealth card to your doctor or at the hospital before receiving treatment and they settle the fees directly with TK.
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is affordable
As with all public health insurers in Germany, Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) are legally obligated to charge the same standard rate of 14.6% of your gross salary plus a supplementary contribution rate (TK has set this supplementary rate at 1.2% for 2021, which is below the market average). If your pay increases, your health insurance contributions will also increase, although proportionally they will stay at 14.6% of your salary.
If 14.6% sounds quite high, then do not worry. As a regular employee, you are only required to pay half of your health insurance contributions (7.3%). Your employer is responsible for the other half.
If you are a student and covered by TK insurance, you instead pay a fixed monthly rate of roughly €110 for your health insurance policy.
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) meets the requirements for your German work visa
A key prerequisite for obtaining a German Work Visa or EU Blue Card is suitable German health insurance. As this is an integral part of your visa application, it is essential to have a health insurance policy that ticks all the required boxes.
Having helped a large number of clients obtain Work Visas and EU Blue Cards for Germany, we can safely say that TK’s policy is fully approved and accepted by the German immigration authorities when applying for a visa.
Is Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) right for you?
As mentioned at the start of this post, German health insurance is compulsory. When weighing up your insurance options, keep in mind that TK combines a solid insurance product with market-leading customer support, a slick sign-up process and extensive coverage, all at an affordable price. While there are plenty of other providers on the market, TK public health insurance is a reliable and safe option for newcomers to Germany.
We hope you have found this post helpful. For further information about moving to Germany, see our other free guides and resources. If you are specifically looking to move to Berlin, then our homepage is a great place to start planning your relocation.
Lana Zee
