What BIG direkt gesund does

BIG direkt gesund (legal name BundesInnungskrankenkasse Gesundheit) is a statutory health insurance fund (gesetzliche Krankenkasse) operating as a public-law corporation under Germany's SGB V framework. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Dortmund with its legal seat in Berlin, BIG is positioned as Germany's first Direktkrankenkasse (direct health insurer), distributing membership entirely through digital channels (big-direkt.de, the meineBIG portal, iOS/Android apps) and a broker partner network (Vertriebspartner). Revenue is generated exclusively through statutory income-based contributions (16.25% of gross income in 2025, split between employee and employer) plus free Familienversicherung coverage for non-earning dependents.

The core product is the meineBIG member portal and mobile app, which handles digital mail receipt, online claim submission, bonus program management, and electronic patient record (ePA) and sick note (eAU) integration with the German digital health infrastructure. Supplementary modules include the BIGtionär annual bonus program for preventive care, a digital Health Check assessment tool, and a Stoma supply management app delivered through partner SmartHomecare. Customer service is increasingly automated through an AI chatbot and a 24/7 voicebot that executes self-service transactions with human handover, both operated on EU-hosted infrastructure by core IT partner BITMARCK.

BIG serves the full lifecycle of statutory insurance customers — employees, students, families, self-employed, apprentices, and pensioners — and is supported by a multi-channel acquisition stack (Google Ads, Meta Pixel retargeting, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube) plus regional Kundencentern and a Premiumhotline. External validation includes a 1.2 (Sehr gut) overall rating from krankenkasseninfo.de in 2025 across 72 funds, a TÜV Saarland service rating of 2.0, and recognition as FOCUS MONEY's top statutory fund for students in 2024. As a public-law entity BIG has no shareholders, no parent company, and no traditional funding rounds; governance is led by CEO Peter Kaetsch and Deputy CEO Markus Bäumer.

Name

BIG direkt gesund

Legal name

BundesInnungskrankenkasse Gesundheit

Website

https://big-direkt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BIG direkt gesund is Germany's first direct statutory health insurance fund, offering digitally distributed sickness and nursing care coverage via the meineBIG portal and app to employees, students, families, self-employed, apprentices, and retirees in Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Statutory Health Insurance

NAICS

Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers (52411)

SIC

Accident & Health Insurance (6321)

akta.pro primary industry

Large Group Health Insurance (Mid-Market & National Accounts) (FSAIAFAE)

Keywords

• Statutory health insurance
• Health insurance fund
• Digital member services
• Supplementary health benefits
• Direct health insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Dortmund

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Statutory Health Insurance Contributions: As a statutory health insurance fund (gesetzliche Krankenkasse), BIG direkt gesund generates revenue through income-based contributions from members and their employers. The standard contribution rate is 16.25% of gross income. For employed members, the employee pays half (8.125%) and the employer pays the other half. Family members with no income of their own are covered free of charge under family insurance (Familienversicherung).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

BIG direkt gesund is a German statutory health insurance fund (gesetzliche Krankenkasse) providing mandatory health and nursing care insurance under the SGB V framework. Members receive the full statutory benefit catalog plus supplementary benefits (osteopathy, professional teeth cleaning, travel vaccinations, pregnancy budget), managed through the meineBIG digital member portal and mobile app with AI-powered chatbot and 24/7 voicebot customer support. Coverage is offered to employed members, students, families (free Familienversicherung), self-employed, retirees, and apprentices, with employer contribution collection services and broker partner channels as secondary B2B touchpoints.

Product overview

BIG direkt gesund is a statutory health insurance provider (BundesInnungskrankenkasse Gesundheit) offering a comprehensive digital service ecosystem. The core platform consists of the meineBIG member portal and mobile app, complemented by specialized modules including the BIGtionär bonus program, electronic health record (ePA), Health Check tool, digital sick note processing (eAU), and Stoma supply management via SmartHomecare integration. Additional platforms serve employers (Firmenkundenportal) and distribution partners (Vertriebspartnerportal). The company also employs AI-powered chatbot and voicebot systems for customer service automation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Statutory Health Insurance Membership (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) Mandatory statutory health and long-term nursing care insurance under German social law (SGB V), covering the full statutory benefit catalog plus supplementary benefits (osteopathy, professional teeth cleaning, travel vaccinations, pregnancy budget) at no additional premium. Available to employed members, students, families (free Familienversicherung for eligible dependents), self-employed voluntary members, retirees/pensioners, and apprentices. Contributions: 16.25% of gross income, split 50/50 between employee and employer (employer portion capped by contribution assessment ceiling).
• meineBIG Digital Member Portal Protected online member portal providing 24/7 self-service access to insurance services for BIG-insured members, including receipt of digital post, online management of the BIGtionär bonus program, and electronic submission of invoices/receipts for reimbursement. Accessible via web and through the BIG mobile app.
• BIG direkt gesund Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android devices enabling BIG members to access insurance services, manage their member account, and interact with the meineBIG portal on the go. Available on Apple App Store and Google Play.
• BIGtionär Bonusprogramm Annual bonus program allowing insured members to earn rewards by completing preventive health measures (e.g., check-ups, vaccinations, fitness activities). All steps are tracked and managed digitally through the meineBIG portal and mobile app, with rewards available at the end of each calendar year.
• Health Check (Digital Health Check) Digital health assessment tool that supports members in proactive preventive care, well-being monitoring, and receiving personalized health guidance and recommendations. Positioned by BIG as simple, understandable, and individually tailored.
• Stoma Supply Management (via SmartHomecare App) Digital app-based service (SmartHomecare App) for BIG insured members to manage their stoma (Stomaversorgung) supply needs, including scheduling consultations with qualified specialists, uploading documents for BIG approval, managing flexible delivery location and schedule, and tracking shipments. Provided in cooperation with partner SmartHomecare.
• Firmenkundenportal (Employer Portal) Online employer portal providing services to companies whose employees are insured through BIG, including employee health insurance management, contribution collection (BIG acts as Einzugsstelle / collection agency for total social security contributions), and digital employer services.
• Vertriebspartnerportal (Insurance Broker Partner Portal) Partner portal for independent insurance brokers (Vertriebspartner) offering personalized online membership application tools, a Vorteilsrechner (benefit calculator) for customer consultations, Aufwandsentschädigung (activity-based compensation) management, and regional sales support (regional Ansprechpartner) plus a Premiumhotline (0800 4002007).

Quantifiable outcome

• Overall grade 1.2 (Sehr gut / Very Good) out of 72 statutory health insurers tested by krankenkasseninfo.de in 2025 for service, benefits, optional tariff plans, and bonus program
• +2 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• BITMARCKcoreTechnology or IntegrationBITMARCK (Kruppstraße 64, 45145 Essen) is BIG's IT service provider for the technical operation of its website, member portal, and AI chatbot. The chatbot processes inquiries using AI models hosted within EU data centers. BITMARCK operates under an order processing agreement (Auftragsverarbeitungsvertrag) per Art. 28 GDPR.
• Meta Platforms (Facebook / Instagram)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerBIG operates official Meta fan pages on Facebook (@BIG) and Instagram (@bigdirektgesund) for health education content and customer communication. Meta and BIG act as joint controllers under Art. 26 GDPR for the Meta fan pages, with Meta's data policy governing processing. BIG receives no personal user data from Meta; users can report concerns via Meta's channels.
• TikTok (ByteDance)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBIG maintains an official TikTok presence (@bigdirektgesund) for health education content targeted at younger demographics. BIG does not use additional tools to collect user data; TikTok's privacy policy governs data processing on the platform.
• Google (YouTube / Google Ads)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerBIG uses Google Ads / Remarketing for paid search and retargeting campaigns, and operates a YouTube channel for video content. Google processes data under its own privacy policy; US-based processing is covered under the Data Privacy Framework certification.
• Pinterest Europe Ltd.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBIG uses the Pinterest Tag on its landing page (vorteile.big-direkt.de) to analyze the effectiveness of online marketing campaigns and target visual content to Pinterest users.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Techniker Krankenkasse (TK): One of Germany's largest statutory health insurers, frequently cited for digital service quality and member satisfaction. Directly comparable to BIG as a national statutory Krankenkasse competing on service, supplementary benefits, and digital experience.
• Barmer: Large national German statutory health insurer with a strong digital focus and broad Zusatzleistungen portfolio. Directly competes with BIG for employed members and families across Germany.
• DAK-Gesundheit: Major German statutory health insurer operating nationally with comparable digital services and supplementary benefits. A direct competitor in the same GKV market.
• IKK classic: Largest Innungskrankenkasse in Germany and the closest peer by legal form — BIG is itself a Bundes-Innungskrankenkasse. Operates under the same IKK system with the same employer/employee contribution mechanics and competes head-to-head for the same trades and SME member base.
• KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse: Statutory health insurer historically tied to commercial sector employees, now nationally open. Directly competes with BIG on supplementary benefits, service quality ratings, and digital member experience.
• hkk Krankenkasse: Mid-sized German statutory health insurer with strong digital positioning and a track record of competitive Zusatzbeiträge. Comparable to BIG as a digital-first, value-oriented national statutory insurer.
• Pronova BKK: Open Betriebskrankenkasse with national reach and a strong supplementary benefits package. Directly competes with BIG for employed members and families seeking digital-first service.
• SBK (Siemens-Betriebskrankenkasse): Open BKK with national reach, strong digital service platform, and strong brand reputation in member satisfaction rankings. Directly comparable to BIG in service quality and Zusatzleistungen.
• Audi BKK: Mid-sized open Betriebskrankenkasse operating nationally with a strong digital offering. Directly competes with BIG in the same open-insurer segment of the German GKV market.

Broad incumbents

• AOK (Allgemeine Ortskrankenkassen): The AOK group is the largest statutory health insurance network in Germany with ~26M members and regional brand presence. Functions as a broad incumbent against which all national direct insurers like BIG compete.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BIG
• Facebookfacebook.com/BIG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-gesundheit-die-direktkrankenkasse

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BIG direkt gesund