SDK-Versicherung, Fellbach

SDK-Versicherung, Fellbach, commonly known as SDK, is a German mutual insurance group whose full name is Süddeutsche Krankenversicherung a.G. It is headquartered at Raiffeisenplatz 11 in Fellbach near Stuttgart and operates as part of the cooperative financial network of Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken. The group brings together three mutual insurance associations under common management and, since 2005, a unified external brand: Süddeutsche Krankenversicherung a.G., Süddeutsche Lebensversicherung a.G. and Süddeutsche Allgemeine Versicherung a.G. Its main regional offices are in Augsburg and Freiburg. The company was founded in 1926 by Johannes Hummel as the "Freiwillige Krankenkasse des Landwirtschaftlichen Hauptverbandes Württemberg und Hohenzollern e.V." to close a coverage gap for farmers, who were then excluded from statutory health insurance. Over the decades it broadened its membership, merged with other mutual insurers, and repositioned itself as a private health insurer for all occupational groups. Today SDK offers private full health insurance and a broad range of supplementary policies, including dental, hospital, outpatient, nursing-care and foreign travel health cover, as well as life and pension products through its sister companies. SDK positions itself as "Deutschlands fairste private Krankenversicherung" (Germany's fairest private health insurer), emphasizing transparent tariff structures, modular tariff components, no hidden deductibles and a cost brake for older age. It distributes through the cooperative banking network, brokers and multi-tied agents, and increasingly through direct sales. As of 2024 the group reported roughly 760 employees at the health insurer, about 682,000 insured persons and a premium volume of around 1 billion euros across all three SDK companies, ranking 13th among German private health insurers by premium income. The group also maintains the SDK Stiftung, founded in 2007, and the gesundwerker e.G. corporate health management subsidiary founded in 2013.

SDK was founded in 1926 by Johannes Hummel as the "Freiwillige Krankenkasse des Landwirtschaftlichen Hauptverbandes Württemberg und Hohenzollern e.V." The purpose was to close a coverage gap: farmers were excluded from statutory health insurance at the time and needed an alternative form of protection. Alongside the health insurance fund, a death benefit fund (Sterbekasse) of the same agricultural association was created; this later developed into Süddeutsche Lebensversicherung. When compulsory insurance for farmers was introduced in 1972, SDK lost a large part of its members. However, a previously adopted amendment to its statutes allowed it to extend its insured circles to all occupational groups. In 1978 SDK merged with "Erzieherhilfe Krankenversicherungsverein a.G." As part of this, "Erzieherhilfe Hausratversicherung a.G." was integrated into the group as a sister company, forming the core of today's Süddeutsche Allgemeine Versicherung. In 1982 the company was renamed Süddeutsche Krankenversicherung a.G. and SDK-Lebensversicherung a.G. In 1994 the SDK head office moved to Fellbach. Since 2005 the three mutual insurers have operated under a unified external brand. In 2007 the SDK Stiftung was founded to promote science and research as well as public health. In 2013 the subsidiary gesundwerker e.G. was established, a registered cooperative for corporate health management (BGM). In January 2009 a cooperation with MHplus Betriebskrankenkasse began. In November 2024 rhythmic gymnast Darja Varfolomeev became the SDK brand ambassador. On 1 July 2025 the members' representative assemblies of both SDK Group and Stuttgarter Versicherungsgruppe unanimously resolved to establish a Gleichordnungskonzern (a group of equals). SDK is a member of the cooperative financial network of Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken. Other important distribution channels are brokers and multi-tied agents, and in recent years direct sales has been added. As of 2024, about 760 people worked at Süddeutsche Krankenversicherung, of whom 630 were in the office and about 130 in the field. SDK had 682,000 insured persons with a premium volume of about €1 billion (all three SDK companies, as of 2024). Nationwide, SDK ranks 13th among private health insurers by premium income. SDK offers private full and supplementary insurance. The supplementary range extends from dental and hospital supplementary insurance to many other supplementary policies and nursing-care supplementary insurance. In the nursing-care supplementary segment, SDK has offered a state-subsidised "Pflege-Bahr" tariff since the beginning of 2013. The SDK Stiftung was founded in 2007 with a broad purpose: it supports science and research, environmental protection, healthcare, art and culture, education and upbringing, and charitable causes. On 1 December 2009 the SDK-Institut für Gesundheitsökonomie was founded; the institute and endowed chair are part of Steinbeis-Hochschule Berlin. Since 2013 the SDK Stiftung has published a themed booklet called SDK-Blickpunkte twice a year. The foundation also supports the aid organisation Ärzte der Welt e.V. and has sponsored the Tour Ginkgo of the Christiane-Eichenhofer-Stiftung for more than 15 years. In 2024 an external impact rating on sustainability was conducted with the consultancy Concern. The focus was on corporate customer products and the organisational structure in the area of sustainability. SDK received the grade "very good" for its sustainable products in corporate health insurance (bKV), corporate health management (BGM), corporate health services (GDL) and the care concept Gesundheit der Wirtschaft und Industrie (VGWI). SDK has signed the "Charta der Vielfalt" and has been awarded "fairster Versicherer" several times. It holds several sustainability seals, including the Klimawin seal.

• 2025

  On 1 July, members' representative assemblies of SDK Group and Stuttgarter Versicherungsgruppe unanimously resolve to form a Gleichordnungskonzern.

• 2024

  External sustainability impact rating with Concern; Darja Varfolomeev becomes brand ambassador in November.

• 2013

  Subsidiary gesundwerker e.G. founded for corporate health management; SDK begins offering state-subsidised "Pflege-Bahr" tariff; SDK-Blickpunkte first published.

• 2009

  Cooperation with MHplus Betriebskrankenkasse begins in January; SDK-Institut für Gesundheitsökonomie founded on 1 December.

• 2007

  SDK Stiftung founded to promote science, research and public health.

• 2005

  Three mutual insurers adopt a unified external brand.

• 1994

  Head office moves to Fellbach.

• 1982

  Renamed Süddeutsche Krankenversicherung a.G. and SDK-Lebensversicherung a.G.

• 1978

  Merger with "Erzieherhilfe Krankenversicherungsverein a.G."; "Erzieherhilfe Hausratversicherung a.G." integrated as sister company, forming core of today's Süddeutsche Allgemeine Versicherung.

• 1972

  Compulsory insurance for farmers introduced; SDK loses many members but extends insured circles to all occupational groups via statute amendment.

• 1926

  Founded by Johannes Hummel as the "Freiwillige Krankenkasse des Landwirtschaftlichen Hauptverbandes Württemberg und Hohenzollern e.V."

Germany's fairest private health insurer, emphasizing transparent tariffs, modular components, no hidden deductibles and a cost brake for older age.

• Private full health insurance (PKV)

  Full private health insurance for employees, self-employed and civil servants, with special conditions for physicians and modular tariff components.

• Dental supplementary insurance

  Supplementary dental cover, e.g. tariff ZP5 from €8.78 per month.

• Hospital supplementary insurance

  Supplementary hospital cover, e.g. tariff SP2 from €6.61 per month.

• Outpatient supplementary insurance

  Supplementary outpatient cover, e.g. tariff AP5 from €6.79 per month.

• Foreign travel health insurance

  Travel health cover, e.g. tariff AR/ARU from €15.05 per year.

• Nursing-care supplementary insurance

  Includes a state-subsidised "Pflege-Bahr" tariff offered since early 2013.

• Life and pension insurance

  Offered through Süddeutsche Lebensversicherung a.G.

• Occupational disability and daily sickness benefit insurance

  Income protection products.

• Corporate health insurance (bKV) and corporate health management (BGM)

  Employer-focused health products and services, rated "very good" for sustainability in 2024.

1. 1Deutschlands fairste private Krankenversicherung | SDKsdk.de
2. 2Service-Center: Die wichtigsten Anliegen auf einen Blick | SDKsdk.de
3. 3Adressen | Die Versicherungen der SDK | SDKsdk.de
4. 4Telefonnummern | Die Versicherungen der SDK | SDKsdk.de
5. 5SDK-Versicherung, Fellbachwikidata.org
6. 6SDK (Versicherung)de.wikipedia.org