First job, studies, new to Germany or coming back from private health insurance: in most cases you are free to choose your health insurer – and the additional contribution differs by around 2.2 percentage points between the cheapest and the most expensive insurer. Here you see the insurers with their contribution and apply directly online. Free of charge, no comparison needed first.
In the online application, our partner VGK24 first asks: are you currently covered by statutory health insurance? Important: if you were covered through your parents or spouse (family insurance), you are covered by statutory insurance – choose “Yes” and enter their insurer.
If you start a paid apprenticeship or a job above the mini-job limit, your family insurance through your parents ends. From then on you are compulsorily insured yourself – and choose your insurer freely. A mini-job on its own does not change this.
In the application: “Yes”, plus your parents’ insurer. Occupational group apprentice or employee.
More for career starters →Family insurance ends at 25 (up to twelve months later after military or voluntary service). You then usually become compulsorily insured yourself as a student – until 30 at the latest – and choose your insurer freely. You pay the contribution on your own, so a cheaper insurer pays off twice.
In the application: “Yes”, plus your previous insurer. Occupational group student.
Costs and deadlines for students →If you are employed here and earn below the compulsory insurance threshold (2026: €77,400 a year), you are compulsorily covered by statutory health insurance. You choose the insurer yourself and tell your employer within two weeks – otherwise they register you with an insurer of their choice. If you earn more, you can join voluntarily within three months of starting your first job in Germany. You don’t need a social security number beforehand; it is issued when you are first registered.
In the application: “No”. Occupational group employee.
Everything for your start in Germany →To enrol, your university needs proof of your health insurance – the insurer sends it electronically. If you have statutory insurance in another EU country, your European Health Insurance Card may be enough. Compulsory student insurance only starts with enrolment and applies until 30 at the latest – for a language course or Studienkolleg you usually need private insurance.
In the application: “No”. Occupational group student.
Everything for international students →Returning is mainly possible once you become subject to compulsory insurance again – for example because your salary falls below the compulsory insurance threshold (2026: €77,400 a year) or you receive unemployment benefit. Citizen’s income (Bürgergeld) is not enough. From 55, the way back is usually closed.
In the application: “No”. Occupational group according to your work.
All ways back and the 2027 threshold →For example after a divorce, when your own income rises above the limit for family insurance, or when your partner switches to private insurance. If you start a job or studies at the same time, you choose your insurer freely. Otherwise you automatically become a voluntary member of your previous insurer – you can still switch.
In the application: “Yes”, plus your previous insurer.
Everything about family insurance ending →Not sure what applies to you? Write to us – we look at your case free of charge.
Sorted by additional contribution. Choose your federal state – regional insurers only accept you if you live or work there. “Apply” opens the online application of our partner VGK24 further down this page, with the insurer already selected.
| Insurer | Additional contribution | Total rate | Open in | Online application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BKK firmus | 2.18% | 16.78% | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt | Apply → |
| AOK Rheinland-Pfalz/Saarland | 2.47% | 17.07% | Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland | Apply → |
| BKK Faber-Castell & Partner | 2.48% | 17.08% | Bavaria | Apply → |
| hkk | 2.59% | 17.19% | nationwide | Apply → |
| Audi BKK | 2.60% | 17.20% | nationwide | Apply → |
| AOK Bayern | 2.69% | 17.29% | Bavaria | Apply → |
| Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) | 2.69% | 17.29% | nationwide | Apply → |
| BKK Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg | 2.79% | 17.39% | Baden-Württemberg | Apply → |
| AOK Sachsen-Anhalt | 2.89% | 17.49% | Saxony-Anhalt | Apply → |
| HEK | 2.89% | 17.49% | nationwide | Apply → |
| AOK Hessen | 2.98% | 17.58% | Hesse | Apply → |
| AOK Niedersachsen | 2.98% | 17.58% | Lower Saxony | Apply → |
| AOK Baden-Württemberg | 2.99% | 17.59% | Baden-Württemberg | Apply → |
| AOK NordWest | 2.99% | 17.59% | North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein | Apply → |
| BKK Freudenberg | 2.99% | 17.59% | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony | Apply → |
| AOK PLUS | 3.10% | 17.70% | Saxony, Thuringia | Apply → |
| DAK-Gesundheit | 3.20% | 17.80% | nationwide | Apply → |
| AOK Bremen/Bremerhaven | 3.29% | 17.89% | Bremen | Apply → |
| AOK Rheinland/Hamburg | 3.29% | 17.89% | Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia | Apply → |
| BARMER | 3.29% | 17.89% | nationwide | Apply → |
| Salus BKK | 3.29% | 17.89% | nationwide | Apply → |
| BKK EUREGIO | 3.39% | 17.99% | Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia | Apply → |
| IKK gesund plus | 3.39% | 17.99% | nationwide | Apply → |
| BKK Gildemeister Seidensticker | 3.40% | 18.00% | nationwide | Apply → |
| BKK Herkules | 3.48% | 18.08% | Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony | Apply → |
| R+V BKK | 3.49% | 18.09% | nationwide | Apply → |
| AOK Nordost | 3.50% | 18.10% | Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | Apply → |
| BKK mkk | 3.50% | 18.10% | nationwide | Apply → |
| novitas bkk | 3.60% | 18.20% | nationwide | Apply → |
| BAHN-BKK | 3.65% | 18.25% | nationwide | Apply → |
| SKD BKK | 3.65% | 18.25% | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein | Apply → |
| BIG direkt gesund | 3.69% | 18.29% | nationwide | Apply → |
| Pronova BKK | 3.70% | 18.30% | nationwide | Apply → |
| KKH | 3.78% | 18.38% | nationwide | Apply → |
| Bergische Krankenkasse | 3.79% | 18.39% | Hamburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia | Apply → |
| BKK ProVita | 3.79% | 18.39% | nationwide | Apply → |
| vivida bkk | 3.79% | 18.39% | nationwide | Apply → |
| SBK | 3.80% | 18.40% | nationwide | Apply → |
| IKK classic | 3.85% | 18.45% | nationwide | Apply → |
| mhplus BKK | 3.86% | 18.46% | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia | Apply → |
| IKK Südwest | 3.87% | 18.47% | Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland | Apply → |
| BKK Mobil | 3.89% | 18.49% | nationwide | Apply → |
| BKK VerbundPlus | 3.89% | 18.49% | nationwide | Apply → |
| BKK melitta hmr | 3.90% | 18.50% | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein | Apply → |
| BKK Pfalz | 3.90% | 18.50% | nationwide | Apply → |
| Heimat Krankenkasse | 3.90% | 18.50% | nationwide | Apply → |
| SECURVITA BKK | 3.90% | 18.50% | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia | Apply → |
| energie-BKK | 3.98% | 18.58% | nationwide | Apply → |
| BKK Wirtschaft & Finanzen | 3.99% | 18.59% | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony | Apply → |
| VIACTIV Krankenkasse | 4.19% | 18.79% | nationwide | Apply → |
| IKK – Die Innovationskasse | 4.30% | 18.90% | nationwide | Apply → |
| Knappschaft | 4.30% | 18.90% | nationwide | Apply → |
| BKK24 | 4.39% | 18.99% | nationwide | Apply → |
Additional contribution 2026 according to the list of health insurers published by the GKV-Spitzenverband, retrieved on 1 November 2026. Listed are the 53 insurers we arrange via our partner VGK24 (out of 71 insurers open to the public) – sorted by additional contribution, not by remuneration. You will find all insurers in the full list. Benefits differ – compare contribution and benefits before you decide.
Click “Apply” in the list above. The insurer is already filled in.
Your occupational group, whether you are currently covered by statutory insurance and – if so – with which insurer.
Personal details, address, insurance details and occupation. Already with an insurer? The new insurer handles the termination for you.
The membership certificate goes electronically to your employer or university. Your health insurance card arrives by post – the insurer will ask you for a photo.
