Get Paid to Stay Healthy: The Guide to Insurance Bonuses

Earning money with step counters: For many public health insurance providers, an active lifestyle literally pays off. For years, we have observed a growing trend: digital technologies are increasingly being linked to health incentives.  For example, BARMER offers a 15-euro bonus if you walk 50,000 steps per week for four weeks — an average of just 7,143 steps per day.  Compared to other providers, this means BARMER requires the lowest minimum number of daily steps. This is one of the findings of our latest study. The analysis compared the maximum annual payouts for completed health activities, as well as the app ratings of the health insurance providers with the largest membership bases. The health measures eligible for bonuses typically include activities such as regular dental checkups, vaccinations, or active membership in a sports club. The results show which health insurance provider offers the greatest financial benefits to policyholders and which provider apps are the most user-friendly.


'For many consumers, smartwatches and fitness trackers are initially a costly investment. But our study shows that many people aren’t even aware of how much money they can get back  through their health insurance, whether through purchase subsidies or rewards for regular use and daily step-counting,' explains Leif Lindner, CEO of the IFA. 'The fact that public health insurance providers are promoting these digital technologies so specifically underscores the rapid shift in our health awareness. For us at IFA, this accurately reflects current market trends. Digital health and smart wearables are among the most important areas of innovation in consumer electronics. At IFA, we’re showcasing exactly the technologies that will make people’s lives not only smarter but also healthier in the future.'

IKK classic ranks first: the highest payouts for policyholders 

IKK classic (with three million policyholders) offers the greatest financial potential in this regard: By taking full advantage of all applicable measures (such as the annual health checkup or skin cancer screening), women can receive approximately 300 euros and men approximately 265 euros as a direct payment. If policyholders choose to use the bonus for health-related investments instead, its value triples  to approximately 900 euros for women and around 795 euros for men. In practice, this means that if policyholders submit receipts for health-related expenses — such as fitness trackers, professional dental cleanings, or first-aid courses — the insurer reimburses these costs up to the specified maximum amounts. 

In second place for direct cash payments is the Baden-Württemberg-based AOK, offering up to 225 euros. An additional health dividend for investments (subsidies for private healthcare expenses) is currently no longer offered to the AOK’s approximately 27 million insured members. The Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) pays its approximately 9.6 million insured members up to 200 euros as a cash payment or 400 euros as a health investment. DAK Gesundheit reimburses up to 185 euros (women) or 160 euros (men) and offers up to 500 euros for health investments. BARMER ranks last in terms of direct payments, , with a maximum of 100 euros (or 200 euros as an investment) for its approximately 8.3 million policyholders.

Earn bonuses by tracking your steps: BARMER has the lowest step requirement

Four of the five health insurance providers with the largest membership bases that were examined reward daily step-counting when their app is linked to a fitness tracker app: At BARMER, an average of 7,143 steps per day (over four weeks) is the minimum daily activity required to qualify for a reward. This earns 150 bonus points, which corresponds to a payout of 15 euros (or 30 euros as a health investment). TK requires an average of 8,571 steps per day. Here, 60,000 steps must be reached in at least ten of the twelve weeks. The insurance company rewards this perseverance with 1,000 points, which policyholders can redeem as 10 euros in cash or a 20-euro subsidy for health services. DAK Gesundheit and AOK set the highest bar at 10,000 steps per day. With DAK, the 10,000 steps must be completed on seven consecutive days (possible up to twice per year)). For each successful 7-day challenge, a 10-euro bonus (or 12 euros as a health investment) is offered, for a maximum of 20 euros per year. With the AOK health insurance provider, reaching this daily goal earns you 0.25 euros immediately (up to a maximum of 60 euros per year).

The most popular health insurance apps: DAK Gesundheit makes earning rewards the easiest

Since tracking steps and claiming bonuses are handled almost exclusively via smartphone, the user-friendliness of health insurance apps plays a crucial role in everyday life. In addition to the bonus programs, we therefore analyzed the ratings of the insurers’ own apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Overall, users seem to be very satisfied: The DAK Gesundheit app takes first place with an average rating of 4.6 stars. The path to earning a reward is particularly straightforward here—for the step challenge, all it takes is a simple screenshot of your own fitness app, which is then uploaded, and medical documentation can be conveniently photographed. Close behind is the TK app with an average of 4.55 stars. Through the integrated “TK-Fit” program, steps are synchronized fully automatically, and the points earned can be transferred to your account as a cash bonus with just a few clicks. IKK classic achieves 4.4 stars. Here, users can completely bypass the traditional paper bonus booklet by photographing receipts and proof of activity directly in the app and having the bonus paid out immediately. The BARMER app scores 4.3 stars and also impresses with a fast digital process: users simply take a photo of their proof of activity, and the cash bonus can be processed in just a few minutes. In last place is the “Meine AOK” app with an average of 4.1 stars. However, here too, fitness trackers can be linked directly to the digital bonus program and other activities can be documented via photo, which greatly simplifies the process of collecting points and the subsequent payout.

Picture-Credits: Standard-Unsplash-Lizenz