Far from an ordinary insurance provider, TK has been named Germany's best health insurance fund by Focus Money many times over.
This reputation is based on many things, from maintaining face-to-face relationships with customers to strong multi-lingual support, and its reliable insurance packages for workers, families, and students.
Service lies at the heart of everything they do. That focus has driven to the top of German health insurance rankings.
Is TK insurance private or public?
TK is one of Germany's gesetzlichen Krankenkassen, meaning that it is a public insurer. As such, the fund doesn't base its operations around maximizing profits. Instead, it is run for the public benefit, and only charges small supplementary fees to fund its operating expenses.
In accordance with German Federal Law, TK provides statutory healthcare support, including dental and medical appointments, and assistance with obtaining medication.
How can I apply for the TK Bonus Program?
Membership is available for all TK customers. With a Bonus Program, customers can then earn points for attending checkups and exercising, and these points can be converted into rewards.
At a time when the German state was seeking to deepen support for workers, TK sought to serve the technical experts who were powering the nation's rapidly industrializing economy. However, it didn't become a modern insurer for many decades. It took until 1927 for legal changes to convert the grant-making body into a proper occupational insurer.
From the 1950s, TK developed into a broader-based, democratically run organization, where members dictated who was in control. The fund constantly looked forward, pioneering coverage for unmarried partners and making sick pay easier to obtain.
Membership soared, hitting 1.1 million by 1984 (with 2.4 million insured). TK constantly adopted procedures ahead of the pack, making heart transplants mainstream well before other insurers. But it has still remained a very human organization, relying on an army of volunteers to liaise with members and assist with its many care centers.
In 1995, TK was a trailblazer once more, being the first insurer to create an online presence. Since 1996, it has also expanded from providing packages for technical workers, to serving all Germans - and foreign residents.
Nowadays, the innovation continues, from TK's popular apps, to the provision of acupuncture as a pain relief treatment. Wherever you look, TK sets the agenda for German health insurance, and this has been recognized by numerous industry experts.
For example, Focus Money magazine has named TK 17 times in a row, while the DFSI has given TK full marks in its GKV Quality Ratings.