TK or hkk for students: for this pair the additional contributions (Zusatzbeitrag) are so close that the contribution alone hardly decides. More interesting are the payment rhythm, administration through the app and how concretely each fund quantifies its subsidies. This guide organises the documented details and gives no recommendation.
Short answer: hkk charges an additional contribution of 2.59 percent, TK 2.69 percent (fund list of the GKV-Spitzenverband, as of 27 October 2026). On 855 euros the difference is 0.86 euros per month and 10.26 euros per year. hkk states a total contribution of 140.30 euros, and TK would arrive at 141.16 euros with the same calculation.
The key points
- The additional contribution rates differ by 0.10 percentage points, which is 0.86 euros per month.
- hkk generally requires the contribution for a semester in advance. Monthly payment by direct debit or standing order is possible.
- hkk names dental cleaning, osteopathy and travel vaccinations for students without a subsidy amount, while TK’s articles quantify dental cleaning and osteopathy.
- hkk bundles administration, bonus and certificates in the meine hkk app. TK names the TK app and TK-Doc.
- Bonus models and optional tariffs of both funds are topics of their own. The guide to hkk for students goes deeper.
What do 0.10 percentage points mean in euros?
| Period | hkk (2.59 percent) | TK (2.69 percent) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional contribution per month | 22.14 euros | 23.00 euros | 0.86 euros |
| Per semester (six months) | 132.84 euros | 138.00 euros | 5.16 euros |
| Per year | 265.68 euros | 276.00 euros | 10.26 euros |
| Total monthly contribution, care 30.78 euros | 140.30 euros | 141.16 euros | 0.86 euros |
| Total monthly contribution from age 23 without children | 145.43 euros | 146.29 euros | 0.86 euros |
The hkk values come from hkk’s student page (2026). The TK values are calculated from the rate and the contribution base of 855 euros. For a difference of this size, small differences in benefits are enough to shift the picture. How the additional contribution arises is explained in additional contribution 2026: all health insurers.
How does payment work at hkk?
hkk states that contributions are generally payable for a semester in advance. If you prefer not to, you can pay monthly by SEPA direct debit or standing order. Assumption: you pay a semester in advance. Then 6 times 140.30 euros, that is 841.80 euros, are due at hkk, compared with 846.96 euros on a monthly calculation at TK. The pages reviewed do not say whether TK also provides for semester payment. The payment rhythm affects your liquidity at the start of the semester, not the annual amount.
How concretely do the funds state their subsidies?
| Benefit | hkk (student page, 2026) | TK (student page and articles) |
|---|---|---|
| Professional dental cleaning | At participating dentists, amount not stated | Subsidy, according to the articles up to 40 euros per year from age 18 (as of 17 April 2026) |
| Osteopathy | Named as an offer, amount not stated | Up to three sessions per year, 40 euros per session (§ 27b) |
| Travel vaccinations | Named, amount not stated | Named, subsidy amount not given on the student page |
| Glasses | Not mentioned | Not mentioned |
| Studying abroad | Heading on the page, details not contained in the pages reviewed | Detailed rules, no cost coverage in the country of study outside the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the United Kingdom |
Missing amounts do not mean that no subsidy exists. They only mean that the amount cannot be documented from the pages reviewed. Ask hkk for the amounts in its current articles of association before you use them in a calculation.
How do you handle administration and proofs?
hkk describes the meine hkk app with an online mailbox, online applications, certificates, bonus programme and data management. The membership confirmation for your university can be downloaded there. As an address the page gives hkk in 28185 Bremen and refers to a branch search. TK lists its app and TK-Doc for medical advice by smartphone, plus the service team on 040 460 660 around the clock. In daily student life what matters most is how quickly you get a proof when your university asks for one.
Frequently asked questions
Is such a small difference enough to switch?
That is your decision. A switch binds you for twelve months, and the difference is 10.26 euros per year. A switch makes more sense when benefits or service tip the balance for you, such as the payment rhythm, the app or a subsidy you would use anyway.
Can the gap change?
Yes. Both funds can adjust the additional contribution. If it rises, the special termination right under § 175 para. 4 sentence 6 SGB V applies until the end of the month from which the higher rate applies.
Where can I see what I will actually be reimbursed?
The binding source is each fund’s articles of association. Amounts on promotional pages and in overviews are only pointers.
Next steps
- Ask hkk and TK for the current additional contribution and the payment rhythm.
- Have the subsidy amounts for dental cleaning and osteopathy stated from the articles of association.
- Check whether the app delivers the certificates your university needs.
- Decide and keep the twelve-month commitment in mind (deadlines for switching).
Related reading
- hkk student health insurance: costs 2026, over 30 and benefits
- TK student health insurance: costs and benefits 2026
- Student health insurance in Germany 2026: key figures
- German health insurance terms for newcomers
Sources: GKV-Spitzenverband, health insurance fund list (27 October 2026, German), hkk, health insurance for students (retrieved October 2026, German), TK, studies and health insurance (retrieved October 2026, German), TK, articles of association (17 April 2026, German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
