DAK health insurance, explained

No public Krankenkasse is dramatically cheaper than any other. The Zusatzbeitrag varies by ~0.5–1% — meaningful but not transformational. Service quality differs more than price.

Yes. Two months' notice. The new Krankenkasse handles the paperwork and benefits continue uninterrupted.

Yes — non-working spouses and children are covered free under family insurance, the same as every public insurer in Germany.

Yes, if you are an employee earning above €77,400 gross a year (the 2026 threshold), self-employed, a freelancer or a civil servant. DAK needs two months' notice once your private contract is confirmed. At 3.20% an employee pays up to about €517 a month for health cover alone before the long-term care contribution, so a healthy applicant under 45 often pays less privately for wider cover. The step is hard to reverse after 55, so compare the long-term cost first. See who qualifies or get a free comparison.