How to Call German Health Insurance Providers From Abroad (TK, AOK, Barmer)
8/19/2026
Quick answer: TK's English-speaking line, +49 40 46 06 62 53 00, handles general account questions, with a separate 24/7 line for medical travel emergencies only. Barmer's main line, +49 202 568 333 1010, is a standard landline that works from abroad as-is. AOK is the outlier, it's a federation of independent regional insurers with no single number, so which one you need depends on where you live.
Why this varies so much by provider
TK and Barmer are each single national organizations, so each has one main number (plus, in TK's case, a separate emergency line) that works the same way for every member. AOK is structured completely differently: it's a shared brand across 11 legally independent regional insurers, each running its own customer service. There's no AOK number that works for everyone, only the number for your specific region.
Verified numbers at a glance
| Provider | Number (from abroad) | Notes | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| TK | +49 40 46 06 62 53 00 | English-speaking line for account questions; separate 24/7 ReiseTelefon for medical emergencies only | Call TK from abroad |
| Barmer | +49 202 568 333 1010 (general) or +49 202 568 333 0060 (English page) | Standard landline, works from abroad as-is | Call Barmer from abroad |
| AOK | No single number, regional | Find yours with "Meine AOK ermitteln" | Call AOK from abroad |
Each guide above covers what to have ready and the best time to call for that specific insurer.
The cheaper way to actually make the call
Insurance calls tend to involve identity verification and some back-and-forth on documents, and roaming rates to Germany can run well over £/$1 per minute. With DialVia, you call any of these real German numbers over Wi-Fi from your browser instead:
- Open DialVia and sign up (about 30 seconds)
- Select Germany as the destination
- Enter your insurer's number
- Hit call
Frequently asked questions
Which German health insurer is easiest to reach from abroad? Barmer and TK, both are single national organizations with one number (or two, in TK's case) that work for every member. AOK requires finding your specific regional number first.
Is there one number for all AOK members? No. AOK is a federation of 11 independent regional insurers, and your number depends on where you live or work.
Does TK or Barmer have English-speaking support? Yes. TK's English line is +49 40 46 06 62 53 00 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm CET). Barmer's English-language page lists +49 202 568 333 0060 (weekdays 7am-8pm CET).
Why do some Krankenkasse numbers not work from abroad? Several statutory insurers, including TK's main line and some regional AOKs, lead with a free domestic 0800 number, which only routes within Germany's own phone networks. The alternatives above are standard numbers that work internationally.
Also need a German bank, government office, airline, or telecom provider's number? See our guides for German banks, German government offices, German airlines, and German telecom providers.
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