Founded in 1905 in Koblenz, Debeka Krankenversicherung originally specialised in coverage for civil servants, but eventually expanded its services to provide health insurance to all. Various types of insurance are provided in over 1200 locations across the country.
The company was founded as a health support fund for civil servants of the Rhine Province. In 1906 the business was extended to Prussia and in 1910 to the whole of the German Reich. The first full-time employees and apprentices were employed in 1923 and offices were moved into the Alte Burg in Koblenz. From February 1925, the group of persons eligible for admission was expanded to include Reich and state civil servants. On 1 January 1928, the name was changed to Deutsche Beamten-Krankenversicherung Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit (German Civil Servants' Health Insurance Mutual), based in Koblenz am Rhein. At the same time, the company moved into its first own administrative building, the office building of the Deutsche-Beamten-Krankenversicherung. In 1932, the first full-time field staff were employed. The initials Deutsche Beamten-Krankenversicherung (German Civil Servants' Health Insurance) later developed into today's name Debeka.
The core of the Group consists of the following companies:
Debeka Krankenversicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit (since 1 November 1905, private health insurer)
Debeka Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft (since 1981)
Debeka Bausparkasse Aktiengesellschaft (since 1974)
Debeka Lebensversicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit (since 1947)
Prorente-Debeka Pensions-Management GmbH (since 1995)
Debeka Pensionskasse AG (since 2002)
Debeka Unterstützungskasse e. V. (since 2010)
Debeka BKK (since 1995, public corporation, provider of statutory health insurance)
The two largest companies in the Debeka Group, health and life insurance, are mutual insurance companies.
At the end of 2018, Debeka had 16,194 employees, including 8,475 sales representatives and 1,617 trainees.
In 2019, Debeka served almost 7.1 million customers through a network of around 280 branches, managed by 26 regional offices. The portfolio of contracts amounted to almost 21 million at the end of 2019, of which over 10 million were health and long-term care insurance policies. The premium volume of the insurance companies was 11 billion euros. The health insurance association is the largest private health insurance company in Europe with more than 2.4 million fully insured persons.
What are the benefits of Debeka Krankenversicherung?
Cornering around 25% of the private health insurance market, Debeka are a major company in the field, although considerably smaller in size than the likes of Allianz. In total their client base numbers around the 5 million mark, generating approximately 6 billion Euro in premiums (for german private health insurance). A strong choice for German nationals, and a fair choice for expatriates. Those whose German-language ability is rudimentary, may seek a more english-language friendly provider, due to the need to fill in claims forms in German.
If Debeka Krankenversicherung is not for you, or you wish to find out which is the most popular choice for expatriates, then The Eye Newspapers, which is run by expatriates and German nationals alike, is able to guide you around any obstacles or answer any of your questions. Just fill out the form below and we will get back to you usually within a few hours. We are aware of the strain that acquiring health insurance can pose, and how different it is in Germany compared to many other parts of the world, so feel free to ask us for a recommendation or assistance.