Barmer health insurance, explained

Why people choose Barmer

Best for: Members who value prevention programmes (Bonusprogramme) and broad service offerings.

• Founded 1884 (formed from merger 2010)

  Established 1884 (formed from merger 2010). ≈8.6 million members.

• Zusatzbeitrag (2026): 2.0%

  On top of the base public rate (~14.6%), each Krankenkasse charges a small Zusatzbeitrag. The number changes annually.

• Standard public benefits

  Same statutory benefit catalogue as every public insurer — Krankenkassen mainly differ on service and additional benefits.

• Switching is easy

  You can switch Krankenkassen with two months' notice. Cancellation is straightforward and benefits continue uninterrupted.