What you pay depends primarily on your income and our contribution rates. Whether you are an employee, self-employed or a trainee, with our TK contribution calculator you can calculate your estimated contribution rate quickly and easily.
More details
How are TK's health insurance costs made up?
In 2026, the TK contribution rate to health insurance is 17.29% of gross income. It consists of the general contribution rate of 14.6% and our supplementary contribution rate of 2.69%.
In Germany the health insurance contribution rate is shared equally between employers and employees. As an employee you therefore pay half of the general contribution rate, which is 7.3%, and half of the TK supplementary contribution rate of 1.345%.
In most cases, your employer will transfer your and their share of the contributions directly to the health insurance and long-term care insurance.
What are the general and supplementary contribution rates?
The general contribution rate for health insurance is paid by employees and the self-employed who are entitled to sick pay. Pensioners and retirees also pay the general contribution rate on their pensions and other pension payments, e.g., company pensions.
The reduced rate is paid by insurees who are in employment but who are not entitled to sick pay. For example, self-employed persons who have chosen health insurance cover without an entitlement to sick pay. Pensioners with voluntary health insurance cover who receive income from capital or renting/leasing also pay the reduced rate.
The supplementary contribution rate is set individually by each health insurance fund. Thanks to our streamlined structures and low administrative costs, we remain one of the most affordable statutory health insurance funds. As of January 2026, our supplementary contribution rate is 2.69%. It is therefore lower than the average supplementary contribution rate of 2.9%
Good to know:
For the following groups of people, there is a 2-month delay before the changed supplementary contribution rate takes effect:
- Pensioners subject to compulsory insurance.
- Individuals who receive pension payments, e.g., company pensions, where the pension insurance provider or the paying agent withholds the contributions and transfers them to us.
This delay is due to the system changeover. The previous supplementary contribution rate continues to apply during this 2-month changeover period.
Other social security costs in Germany
Health care is only one part of social security in Germany. There's a lot more insurances to cover all kinds of life aspects, these include long-term care, pension and unemployment insurance.
Most details on social security costs in 2026
What does it mean to be voluntarily insured?
The majority of employees, students and pensioners can usually only take out insurance with a statutory health insurance fund, like TK. However, self-employed persons or employees with an income above a certain level, for example, can choose whether they want private or statutory cover. As an employee, you are voluntarily insured if your regular income in Platzhalter aktuelles Jahr 2025 exceeds the social security threshold of 77,400 EUR.
You and your employer share the costs of the general and supplementary contribution rate equally. You therefore both pay 8.645% each in 2026.
As a rule, your employer makes the payment and deducts your share of contributions to health and long-term care insurance from your salary. This is then paid directly to us together with the contributions to pension and unemployment insurance.
Statutory or private health insurance? Differences and advantages
How and when do I pay my contributions to TK?
If you pay the contributions yourself and not your employer, the most secure and convenient method is to set up a SEPA direct debit mandate with TK. This allows us to deduct your contributions from your bank account so that they are always paid on time.
SEPA direct debit mandate
German law requires that contributions be credited to the TK account by no later than the 15th day of the following month. This means that your contribution for April must be paid by 15 May at the latest. Of course, you can also use other payment methods. For example, you can pay your contribution via bank transfer yourself. To avoid any late fees or problems, your contribution must be credited to the TK account by the due date. The TK account number for your contributions to health and long-term care insurance can be found on your contribution and bank statements.
Why you do not find our bank details online
TK uses a specific bank account for each member. This allows us to clearly assign your contribution payments to you. Are you unable to find your specific TK bank details in your documents? The TK-ServiceTeam will be glad to help. Phone +49 40 - 46 06 62 53 00.
How am I insured if I am unemployed?
If you receive Arbeitslosengeld I [unemployment benefit I], you are generally subject to compulsory health and long-term care insurance. This means that you automatically remain insured with TK. The contributions during this period will be paid for you by the Agentur für Arbeit [Federal Employment Agency].
If you receive Bürgergeld [Citizens’ Basic Income] and were previously insured with TK, you will also remain insured with TK. You do not need to do anything else; TK will automatically receive information from the Agentur für Arbeit about your benefits. Your contributions will be paid by the job centre.
If you do not receive any benefits from the Agentur für Arbeit, you can continue to be insured voluntarily with TK or you may be entitled to family insurance.