TK vs ottonova: Public or Private Health Insurance?

TK and ottonova are not two versions of the same product. Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is a public health insurer with income-based contributions. Ottonova is a digital-first private health insurer with premiums based on your age, health and chosen plan. Which one suits you depends mostly on one thing: whether you are allowed to choose at all.

This guide compares the two on eligibility, cost, benefits, families and the exit problem, for employees, freelancers, students and families moving to or living in Germany.

TL;DR

• TK is public health insurance: your contribution follows your income, and family members can often be covered at no extra cost. Ottonova is private: each person pays a premium based on age, health and plan.
• Only some people can choose private cover, for example employees above the income threshold (€77,400 a year in 2026), freelancers and civil servants. Everyone else stays in the public system.
• Switching back from private to public later is generally restricted, so treat the decision as long-term.
• Ottonova's strength is its app-based service. TK's strength is a low contribution rate for a large public insurer and simple, predictable rules.
• A neutral comparison of your own numbers beats any general ranking.

Table of Contents

• What you are really comparing
• Can you even choose ottonova?
• What TK costs
• What ottonova costs
• TK vs ottonova side by side
• Where ottonova can win
• Where TK can win
• The exit problem
• Our perspective
• How to decide in five steps
• Get a comparison for your own situation
• FAQ
• Sources

What you are really comparing

People search "TK vs ottonova" because both names come up constantly among internationals in Germany. TK is the largest name in public cover. Ottonova, established in 2017, is a private insurer that runs documents, reimbursements and specialist bookings through its mobile app.

The Federal Ministry of Health describes the core difference like this: the public system is solidarity-based, with contributions linked to income and family insurance at no additional cost. Private insurance uses risk-based pricing by age, health status and plan level, with separate premiums for every insured person.

So the question is rarely "which brand is nicer". It is "which system fits my income, my age, my family plans and how long I will stay".

Can you even choose ottonova?

This is the first filter, and it removes many readers from the decision.

The ministry explains that a move into private insurance is open only to people who are not subject to compulsory public insurance, such as the self-employed, civil servants and employees above the income limit. In 2026 that compulsory insurance threshold is €77,400 a year (€6,450 a month).

In practice:

• Employees earning below the threshold are compulsorily insured in the public system. TK is a valid choice, ottonova is not.
• Employees earning above the threshold can choose. This is the typical situation for skilled professionals in tech, finance and academia.
• Freelancers and self-employed people can generally choose, but should think hard about income swings and future premiums.
• Students are usually served by public cover, with private cover possible in some situations. Our page on private health insurance for students in Germany explains where it applies.
• Families need a separate calculation, because the cost logic differs sharply between the systems (more on that below).

If you are below the threshold, you can stop comparing and focus on choosing between public insurers. Our comparison of AOK and TK covers that decision.

What TK costs

TK's additional contribution (Zusatzbeitrag) is 2.69% from 1 January 2026, which gives a total rate of 17.29%. TK states that employer and employee each carry half. The same page says this sits clearly below the market average.

That rate applies to income up to the contribution ceiling. For 2026 the ceiling is €69,750 a year (€5,812.50 a month). Our own arithmetic from those two figures:

This excludes long-term care insurance, which is charged separately. The takeaway: above the ceiling, a higher salary does not raise your public contribution. That is why public cover becomes relatively cheaper for high earners as salary rises, and why private insurance is mostly attractive when you are young and healthy.

What ottonova costs

There is no single ottonova price. Premiums depend on your age and health at entry and the tariff level you choose, not on your salary. The Handelsblatt review of ottonova notes that the insurer offers full private cover, plans for civil servants and supplementary products, all managed through its app.

We do not publish ottonova prices because they change with your profile. Two 32-year-old engineers with different health histories can receive different quotes. What matters is the premium for your profile, now and as you age. You can run your own numbers with our private health insurance calculator.

An employee with private insurance generally also receives an employer contribution, capped by law. The 2026 figure is listed on the same official figures page, and your payroll team can confirm how it applies to you.

TK vs ottonova side by side

The table is a simplification. Private tariffs vary widely, so read the exact tariff conditions before signing anything.

Where ottonova can win

For some people, ottonova is a good fit. Reasons we hear from clients in this position:

• Digital service. You manage documents, reimbursements and appointments in one app, in a market where paperwork often means German letters and fax numbers.
• Tariff-defined benefits. With private cover, the benefits you choose are written into your contract. Some people value that over the standard public catalogue.
• Single, healthy professionals. If you are young, healthy and above the threshold with no dependants, a private premium can be competitive.

Industry commentary adds a nuance. A Versicherungsbote report on digital private insurers covers how the digital approach has pushed established insurers to improve their own digital services. That matters if you are weighing ottonova against a long-established private insurer: the app gap is narrowing, so decide on tariff and price rather than on interface alone. Some high earners also prefer providers with decades of claims experience when they think about long-term security.

Where TK can win

• Families. The Handelsblatt review context is clear: private cover often needs separate full premiums for each family member, while public insurance can include them at no extra cost. With a partner and two children, this can reverse the cost comparison.
• Income uncertainty. Public contributions follow your income. If your pay drops, your contribution drops too.
• Flexibility. You can leave public insurance for private cover if you qualify. Going the other way is the hard part.
• Simplicity. Public cover has standard rules and no health questionnaire at entry.

The exit problem

This is the point we ask clients to think about longest. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, once you are privately insured, returning to public cover is generally restricted. For employees it typically requires becoming subject to compulsory insurance again, for example when your salary falls below the threshold or your employment status changes. Simply deciding to switch back later is not permitted.

Ask yourself:

1. Might I reduce my hours, take parental leave or change careers in the next ten years?
2. Might I have children, or bring a partner who will not work?
3. Do I plan to stay in Germany long term, or leave in a few years?
4. Can I afford the premium if my income falls?

If several answers are "maybe", public cover with TK may be the safer base. If you are single, stable and committed to a high-income career, private cover deserves a proper look.

Our perspective

We are independent consultants, not tied to a single insurer, so we have no reason to push anyone into private insurance. A signed policy is how we are paid, through a fixed, regulated commission from the insurer, and the service is free for you. That is exactly why we tell people when public cover is the better answer.

Our honest view of "TK vs ottonova" is that it is the wrong first question. The first question is eligibility. The second is your household: single professionals and families often land on different sides. The third is time horizon. Only after that does the choice between a specific public insurer and a specific private tariff matter.

We also see people compare a polished app with a page of tariff conditions and choose the app. Do the opposite. Read the tariff, check how premiums may develop, and ask what happens if your situation changes. A good consultant makes the numbers beat a calculator, because your life has more variables than a form field.

If you are leaning toward ottonova, see our ottonova review and our guide to alternatives to ottonova. If you are unsure whether private or public is right, start with our statutory vs private health insurance guide.

— Marco

How to decide in five steps

1. Check your eligibility. Compare your gross annual salary with the €77,400 threshold, or confirm your status as a freelancer or other eligible group.
2. List who needs cover. Count partner and children, and note whether they will live in Germany.
3. Get two or three real quotes. One public contribution calculation and several private quotes for your age and health.
4. Compare tariffs, not brands. Look at what is covered, deductibles, how premiums can change and what happens if you leave Germany.
5. Decide with the exit in mind. Private is a long commitment, so test the plan against your worst-case year as well as your best.

If you want a view that includes insurers beyond these two names, our overview of private health insurance companies in Germany and public health insurance providers is a good next stop.

Get a comparison for your own situation

Myhealthcarebroker compares private and public options across the major German insurers, in clear English, from the first eligibility check through the application and ongoing support. You pay nothing for the advice. If you want your numbers instead of general rules, request your free quote or read about our private health insurance advice in English.

FAQ

Is ottonova better than TK?

Neither is better in general, because they are different systems. TK is public and income-based, ottonova is private and risk-based. For a healthy, single professional above the income threshold, ottonova can be worth considering. For a family or someone with an uncertain income, TK is often the more cautious choice.

Can I choose ottonova if I earn less than €77,400?

As an employee, generally not. Below the 2026 threshold you are compulsorily insured in the public system. Freelancers and some other groups have different rules, so check your status first.

How does ottonova compare with other established private insurers?

The main difference is the service model. Ottonova works through an app, while established insurers often bring long claims experience and have been improving their own digital tools. Compare tariff conditions, premium history and your own quote rather than the interface.

Can I go back to TK after joining a private insurer?

Only in limited cases. For employees, return generally requires becoming subject to compulsory insurance again, for example when your salary falls below the threshold or your employment status changes. You cannot simply decide to switch back.

Sources

• Federal Ministry of Health: switching between public and private health insurance
• TK: additional contribution for 2026
• krankenkassen.de: social insurance figures 2026
• Handelsblatt: ottonova review 2026
• Germany Visa: health insurance companies
• Versicherungsbote: digital health insurance

Recommended

• Public vs Private Health Insurance Germany
• AOK vs. TK, comparison of Germany's biggest public insurers
• Public vs. private health insurance in Germany (2026)
• Private Health Insurance vs AOK and TK in Germany