The Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is the largest health insurance organization in Germany,[3] providing general insurance as required by law compared to private health insurance companies. The TK is a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts, meaning it's legally not a public company but its organization is defined by the Sozialgesetzbuch Fünftes Buch federal law.[4] Since September 2016, the TK is also branding itself as Die Techniker.
 | |
| Industry | Health insurance |
|---|---|
| Founded | August 3, 1884 |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Germany |
Key people |
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| Revenue |
|
Number of employees | 15,702[2] (2025) |
| Website | www |
Finances
editThe TK has about 9.6 million paying insured members and 2.7 million insured members who do not have to pay contributions as they are family members of paying insurance members. This adds up to a budget in 2026 of 53.8 billion euros for health insurance, 12.8 billion euros for long-term care insurance and 2.7 billion euros for payments under the Arbeitgeberaufwendungsausgleichsgesetz, for which public health insurance organizations in Germany are also responsible.[2]
In 2024, the ratio of income to expenditure at TK resulted in a deficit of 1.465 billion euros.[2]
The contribution rate has been 17.29% of the brutto income since 1 January 2026,[2] thus following the general trend of rising contribution rates for public health insurance in Germany,[5] but is still below the average of around 17.5% in 2026.[6]
Controversies
editDespite the evidence that homeopathy has no medical benefit, the TK has been the first public health insurance in Germany to offer homeopathy as part of its benefits package since 2009.[7] A study published in 2017 based on data from the TK shows that patients treated with homeopathy cause up to 20% higher costs to the insurance company.[8]
References
edit- ↑ "Vorstand der TK" (in German). Techniker Krankenkasse. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Unternehmensdaten" (in German). Techniker Krankenkasse. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ "Techniker Kasse ist erstmals größer als die Barmer" (in German). Der Spiegel. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ "Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) Fünftes Buch (V) - Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung" (in German). Bundesministerium der Justiz. 20 December 1988. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ "Zusatzbeiträge für 32 Millionen gesetzlich Versicherte steigen" (in German). Handelsblatt. 30 December 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ "Durchschnittlicher Zusatzbeitrag 2026" (in German). Haufe. 10 November 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ "Krankenkassen kämpfen für Homöopathie" (in German). Der Spiegel. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ "Studie: Höhere Kassen-Ausgaben bei Homöopathie" (in German). Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
Further reading
edit- Tode, Sven; Müller-Lutz, Fabian; Engel, Sandra (2009). Techniker Krankenkasse: 125 Jahre Innovation und Sicherheit (in German). Hamburg: Verlag Hanseatischer Merkur. ISBN 978-3-922857-42-6.
External links
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