Health insurance differences

Every public health insurance company offers additional benefits that are included in the monthly contribution. These can vary depending on the health insurance company. Here is a list of the benefits offered by the five largest health insurance companies in Germany.

AOK

The AOK offers additional benefits in the form of health accounts. These contain freely selectable services that are available to the insured during the course of a calendar year. Each insured person is offered a certain amount of money, which is reimbursed. Health accounts can vary from state to state:

  • AOK Baden-Württemberg: The AOK Baden-Württemberg offers two types of health accounts – a general health account and a health account for pregnant women. The former provides 150 € per calendar year for services such as osteopathy, foreign vaccinations and homeopathic medicines. The latter, with a maximum of 250 € per year, includes an on-call midwife service and a prenatal care lump sum that can be used for ultrasound scans, an attendant for antenatal classes, infant care classes, and relaxation and exercise classes.

  • AOK Bayern: The AOK Bayern health account „Mehr Vorsorge für mich“ offers extended benefits of up to 250 € per year. This is topped up each calendar year with 100 € for extended services and 150 € for health courses. These benefits include check-ups for women over 25, pregnant women and their partners, travel vaccinations, homeopathic medicines and health courses. Depending on the service, you will be reimbursed for the full cost or up to 80% of the cost.

  • AOK Bremen/Bremerhaven: At the beginning of 2017, AOK Bremen/Bremerhaven At the beginning of 2017, AOK Bremen/Bremerhaven increased its offer from „300 € PLUS“ to „500 € PLUS“. The costs for osteopathy, homeopathy, vaccinations, dental cleaning, etc. are covered. New services include strep test for pregnant women and special services for children.

  • AOK Hessen: The AOK Hessen provides 400 € per year for eight different services – „Check-up 35“ starting at age 25, skin cancer screening, homeopathy, laughing gas sedation for wisdom teeth removal, breast care, osteopathy, travel vaccinations, dental sealants.

  • AOK Niedersachsen: Customers benefit from additional services worth 250 € per year for two dental cleanings, skin cancer screening, osteopathy, travel vaccinations, etc. Only the original invoices need to be submitted to AOK Niedersachsen for reimbursement. 80% of the invoice amount will be reimbursed.

  • AOK Nordost: AOK Northeast: Customers are entitled to 270 € per year for health courses, homeopathic medicine, baby swimming, childbirth preparation courses and many other additional services. The application for reimbursement must be submitted to AOK Nordost (Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) by March 31 of the following year, along with the invoice or proof of payment.

  • AOK NORDWEST: For pregnant women, a reimbursement of 100 € is offered for various preventive medical examinations. In addition, 80% of the costs for a maximum of four osteopathic treatments per year (max. 40 € per session) are covered. The same applies to naturopathic treatments, up to a maximum of 150 € per year.

  • AOK PLUS: A subsidy of 150 € for non-invasive prenatal examinations is available from AOK PLUS for all expectant mothers. 

  • AOK Rheinland-Pfalz/Saarland: AOK Rheinland-Pfalz/Saarland also offers a health account with a special budget of 250 € per calendar year. For osteopathy, homeopathic treatment and medication, natural remedies, travel vaccinations, skin cancer screening, sports physicals and additional services for pregnant women, up to 80% of the invoice amount is reimbursed.

  • AOK Rheinland/Hamburg: AOK Rheinland/Hamburg: AOK Rheinland/Hamburg will pay 125 € per calendar year for special treatments, extended vaccinations, extended check-ups, professional teeth cleaning, sports physicals, eye exams for children up to age seven, and extended services for families and pregnant women.

  • AOK Sachsen-Anhalt: Last but not least, the additional services of the AOK Sachsen-Anhalt should be mentioned: They reimburse up to 500 € per year for medical check-ups, up to 800 € over five years for hearing aids, up to 300 € over two years for vaccinations, etc. In addition, up to 1000 € per year (80% of the cost) will be reimbursed for medical treatment by naturopaths and doctors. In addition, special dental services and the AOK-ZahnPRIVAT tariff are two attractive solutions for your dental needs.

BARMER

All BARMER services are listed in alphabetical order. The most important additional services include the following:

  • Skin check: You can get a free skin exam every two years and a free skin cancer exam if you are 35 or older.

  • Cancer screening: All women age 20 and older and men age 45 and older can be screened annually for cancer.

  • Pregnancy: BARMER covers the cost of medical care throughout your pregnancy.

  • Household help: For up to 26 weeks, BARMER provides assistance with shopping, cooking, cleaning and, most importantly, child care if you are ill and unable to manage your household.

  • Artificial insemination: BARMER contributes to the cost of artificial insemination and pays 50% of the cost.

  • Vaccinations: For many vaccinations, BARMER will cover the cost, for travel vaccinations there is a subsidy of 100 €.

  • Free choice of hospital: BARMER will pay for all general services associated with a Full Benefit treatment at a contracted hospital. In addition, as an insured person, you are free to choose from all contracted hospitals.

  • Midwife on-call service: The health insurance also reimburses the agreed cost of a contract midwife and subsidizes the midwife’s on-call service. A maximum of 200 € per pregnancy is covered.

  • Contraception: For young women up to the age of 20, BARMER will cover the cost of medical consultations, exams and certain contraceptives.

BIG Direkt

In contrast to many other health insurance companies, BIG Direkt sets a contribution rate of 15.6% for private additional services that are subject to a fee. The following additional services are included:

  • Comprehensive travel immunizations and future care

  • Professional dental cleaning

  • Up to 240 € per year for preventative care courses

  • Up to 160 € per year for osteopathy

  • Up to 360 € for homeopathy

  • 200 € baby bonus for newborns

  • Up to 250 € for on-call midwife services

  • Burnout Program

  • Free U10/U11 check-ups and rotavirus vaccination for children

  • Exclusive benefits with the online fitness programs of GYMONDO, Sophia Thiel and „Mach dich krass“.

DAK

The DAK offers its customers a wide range of services that make it a worthwhile alternative to other health insurance companies:

  • Prevention: The DAK subsidizes two prevention courses per year and pays 80% of the cost, up to a maximum of 75 €. To qualify, you must attend at least 80% of the course dates and choose two courses from different subject areas.

  • Chronic Illnesses: For the chronically ill, there are special health programs called Disease Management Program (DMP) – currently almost 700.000 DAK members participate.

  • Pregnancy and childbirth: As a health insurance company that focuses primarily on families, DAK offers many additional benefits for pregnant women. For example, there is an extra 100 € for nine different plus services, paid antenatal classes and postnatal gymnastics, etc. DAK parent counseling is available for some time after the birth.

  • Artificial insemination: The DAK also covers 100% of the costs of artificial insemination if both partners are insured.

  • Vaccinations: For your convenience, DAK has compiled a list of vaccinations that are covered.

  • Dental services: This overview shows which dental treatments and check-ups are covered by DAK.

The following DAK-specific services are of particular interest to students:

  • Get medical advice via DAK Doctor Video Chat

  • Secure up to 135 € with the AktivBonus bonus program

  • Benefit from up to 100% coverage for dental prostheses

  • If you are healthy and fit, you can get your money back thanks to certain optional tariffs

  • The international health insurance ensures that everything runs smoothly on every trip

  • If you fall ill abroad, the DAK Europe Service will help you

  • DAK Plus Travel“ offers additional travel insurance at a reasonable price

  • Search engines such as the Doctor Finder or Hospital Finder help you find the best treatment

  • Care Management acts as a personal health advisor

  • The youth portal provides useful information about studying

  • Anyone who recruits new customers will receive a bonus worth 25 €

TK (Techniker Krankenkasse)

The additional services provided by TK are defined in its bylaws and include domestic help, homeopathy, preventive medical check-ups, preventive courses and health seminars, and home nursing.

  • Alternative healing methods: The TK covers the costs of the initial homeopathic anamnesis, as well as follow-up anamnesis and shorter consultations.

  • Domestic help: TK will also contribute to the cost of domestic help if there is a child under the age of 14 living in the household.

  • Health check: Starting at age 35, members can receive a comprehensive check-up, including cancer screening. Starting at age 20, skin cancer screenings are also covered every two years.

  • Vaccinations: TK pays for all vaccinations recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination. It also pays travel vaccinations such as cholera, TBE, hepatitis A and B, malaria, etc.

  • Sport medical examination: Heart, circulation and musculoskeletal system will be examined, for which the TK subsidizes up to 80% (max. 120 €) every two years.

  • Midwife on-call duty: In the last weeks of pregnancy, expectant mothers can arrange for a midwife to be on call. The costs are covered by the TK up to a maximum of 250 €.

  • Artificial insemination: Married couples with TK insurance receive up to 50% of the cost of artificial insemination. In addition, there is a subsidy per treatment attempt for a maximum of three attempts, up to a maximum of 250 € per attempt.