Hanseatische Krankenkasse

What Hanseatische Krankenkasse does

Hanseatische Krankenkasse (HEK), headquartered in Hamburg and founded in 1826, is a German statutory health insurance fund organized as a federally supervised public-law corporation (bundesunmittelbare rechtsfähige Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts mit Selbstverwaltung) under oversight of the Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung. It provides compulsory statutory health and nursing-care insurance to individuals in Germany across five primary segments — employees, self-employed, families, apprentices, and students — funded through regulated member contributions at the standard 14.6% rate plus nursing-care insurance contributions.

HEK's core technology stack is a digital health platform anchored by the HEK Service-App (iOS/Android) and the smarthealth electronic patient record (ePA), the latter hosted by IBM Deutschland GmbH under gematik specifications and BSI encryption with data stored in the EU. Supporting digital services include E-Rezept, video consultations via TeleClinic, docdirekt, digital obesity management (Gro Health), digital skin checks, digital physiotherapy, Krisenchat mental-health crisis support, and online prevention courses. The 8-language website, 24/7 hotline, live/video chat, and physical Kundenzentren round out the omnichannel service layer, while a curated provider ecosystem (DENT-NET with 1,000+ dentists, Median Clinics, Grönemeyer Institut, Medexo, Royal Spa) extends the in-network care offering.

HEK operates as a non-profit, member-funded entity with no external investors, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity. Billing data intake is outsourced to IQVIA Health System Services under §§ 302 SGB V and 105 SGB XI. The company has been recognized as 'Deutschlands beste Krankenkasse' by €uro Magazine for nine consecutive years, most recently in March 2026, and has received top ratings from Focus Money, Handelsblatt, and Krankenkasseninfo. Governance is provided by an Executive Board (Vorstand, currently Torsten Kafka) and a Supervisory Board (Verwaltungsratsvorsitzender, currently Jürgen Schuder).

Name

Hanseatische Krankenkasse

Legal name

HEK - Hanseatische Krankenkasse

Website

https://hek.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Hanseatische Krankenkasse (HEK) is a Hamburg-based German statutory health insurance fund serving employees, self-employed, families, apprentices, and students through regulated contributions, a digital service ecosystem (HEK Service-App, smarthealth/ePA), and a curated provider network including DENT-NET and Median Clinics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Statutory Health Insurance Contributions: As a statutory health insurance provider (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung), HEK generates revenue through mandatory health insurance contributions calculated as a percentage of gross wages. The standard contribution rate is 14.6% of gross income, split between employer and employee contributions. Additional contributions may include nursing care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) with differentiated rates based on number of children.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hanseatische Krankenkasse (HEK) is a German statutory health insurance fund that provides mandatory health and nursing care insurance coverage to members (employees, self-employed, families, apprentices, students) under Germany's gesetzliche Krankenversicherung system. Around this core insurance product, HEK offers a digital service ecosystem including the HEK Service-App, the smarthealth electronic patient record (ePA), electronic prescriptions (E-Rezept), video consultations (TeleClinic), digital prevention courses, and partner networks such as DENT-NET for dental care.

Product overview

Hanseatische Krankenkasse (HEK) is a statutory health insurance provider offering a digital service ecosystem centered on the HEK Service-App. The core digital infrastructure consists of smarthealth (the health record application) and the electronic patient record (ePA), available both via mobile app and desktop application. Supporting digital health services include E-Rezept for electronic prescriptions, Videosprechstunde mit TeleClinic for video consultations, docdirekt for digital medical advice, Gro Health for digital obesity management, Digitaler Hautcheck for skin cancer screening, die digitale Physiotherapie for remote rehabilitation, Krisenchat for mental health crisis support, and Online-Präventionskurse for prevention education. The service also includes physician and hospital search directories (Arzt-Suche, Krankenhaus-Lotse) and a dental partner network (DENT-NET) with over 1,000 contracted dentists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• smarthealth: Desktop application for accessing electronic patient health record (ePA) provided by HEK in partnership with IBM
• HEK Service-App
• HEK Service-App

Products and services

• Statutory Health Insurance Membership (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) Core statutory health and nursing care insurance product providing mandatory coverage (14.6% standard contribution rate plus nursing care insurance contributions) to eligible members in Germany, including access to preventive care, hospital treatment, alternative medicine, dental care, and digital health services.
• HEK Service-App Mobile self-service application for HEK members enabling digital management of insurance matters (submission of documents, certificate scanning, insurer communication, ePA access) on iOS and Android devices.
• smarthealth (Electronic Patient Record) Health record application enabling users to store, manage and share medical documents (physician letters, findings, diagnoses, medication data, vaccination records), available via the HEK Service-App and as a multi-OS desktop application integrated with the ePA.
• Elektronische Patientenakte (ePA) Statutory electronic health record allowing insured persons to electronically store, transmit and self-determine their personal health data for lifelong management and exchange with medical treatment providers, built to gematik standards.
• E-Rezept (Electronic Prescription) Digital prescription service allowing electronic prescribing and dispensing of medications through the connected German healthcare system for HEK insured members.
• Videosprechstunde mit TeleClinic Video consultation service enabling HEK-insured members to consult doctors remotely via the TeleClinic platform.
• DENT-NET Dental Partner Network HEK's contracted dental partner network of over 1,000 dentists across Germany offering free dental prosthetics without copayments, five-year guarantees on prosthetics, special implant rates, subsidies for fixed retainers, fissure sealing, and general anaesthesia for wisdom tooth extraction.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 consecutive years as Germany's best health insurance fund
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DENT-NETcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDENT-NET is HEK's dental partner network with over 1,000 participating dentists across Germany. Members receive free dental prosthetics without copayments, five-year guarantees on prosthetics, special implant rates, subsidies for fixed retainers, fissure sealing, and general anaesthesia for wisdom tooth extraction.
• Grönemeyer InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Grönemeyer Institut for microtherapy in Bochum and Berlin specializes in outpatient and interdisciplinary back treatment. They use innovative, microtherapeutic, and minimally invasive methods for treating back conditions. HEK members can access these services directly with their health card.
• Median ClinicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedian Clinics is HEK's exclusive partner for inpatient rehabilitation, providing expert and comprehensive care during rehabilitation with high-quality medical services at various locations nationwide in Germany.
• Royal SpaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal Spa represents exclusive rehabilitation facilities in Marienbad (Mariánské Lázně), Luhacovice, and Ostrozska Nova in the Czech Republic. HEK members can access these facilities for outpatient rehabilitation and wellness treatments.
• IQVIA Health System ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationSince January 1, 2020, IQVIA Health System Services serves as the central data collection point for HEK billing operations. They handle electronic and paper-based billing for various healthcare services including transport, home nursing, midwifery, therapeutic services, medical aids, and rehabilitation under German social security regulations.
• MedexominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedexo offers HEK members qualified second medical opinions from independent specialists. Particularly valuable for orthopaedic treatments, this service allows members to receive expert second opinions without long waiting times for appointments with additional specialists. Contact: 0800 2013123.
• 2te-ZahnarztMeinung.deminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThis internet portal enables HEK members to compare prices between different dentists for treatments beyond primary care. The service is free for members and helps them make informed decisions about dental treatments.
• IBM Deutschland GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationIBM Deutschland GmbH provides the technical infrastructure for HEK's smarthealth electronic patient record (ePA) system. IBM operates under HEK's data protection requirements and control, storing all data encrypted within the European Union.
• gematik GmbHcoreTechnology or Integrationgematik GmbH (National Agency for Digital Medicine) creates the specifications and standards for the electronic patient record (ePA). HEK provides the ePA according to gematik's technical and functional requirements.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DAK-Gesundheit: Major German statutory health insurance fund with comparable mid-tier member base and digital service offerings (DAK App, DAK ePA). Operates under the same GKV regulatory framework as HEK and competes directly for the same member segments.
• IKK classic: Germany's largest statutory health insurance fund within the IKK (Innungskrankenkassen) system with ~3 million members. Directly comparable to HEK as a mid-sized GKV fund competing for employed and family members nationwide.
• hkk Krankenkasse: Mid-sized statutory health insurance fund headquartered in Bremen, comparable to HEK in size, regional orientation (Northern Germany), and digital service strategy. Operates as a direct competitor in overlapping member segments.
• KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse: Statutory health insurance fund focused on commercial-sector employees with ~1.6 million members. Comparable to HEK in member segment focus (Beschäftigte), service philosophy, and digital offering scope.
• SBK (Siemens-Betriebskrankenkasse): Statutory company health insurance fund historically tied to Siemens but now open industry-wide. Comparable to HEK as a smaller GKV fund emphasizing digital services (SBK-App, electronic health record) and customer service quality.
• BARMER (operational peer): See Barmer above — listed separately to reflect intensity of direct competition in member acquisition campaigns and digital service benchmarks.

Broad incumbents

• Barmer: One of Germany's largest statutory health insurers with ~8.5 million members, offering similar digital services (Barmer App, electronic health record) and competing on the same dimensions as HEK in the GKV market.
• Techniker Krankenkasse (TK): Germany's largest statutory health insurance fund with over 11 million members and strong digital services (TK-App, TK-Safe). Directly comparable to HEK as a GKV fund competing on digital experience, contribution rate, and service quality.
• AOK (Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse): Federation of 11 regional statutory health insurance funds covering ~27 million members in Germany. As the largest GKV group, AOK competes with HEK on contribution rates, service breadth, and digital health investments.

Others

• TK-Safe (electronic health record technology): TK's electronic health record product is a direct technological analogue to HEK's smarthealth/ePA offering, and represents the most direct competitive benchmark for HEK's national digital health positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookhek.de/facebook
• Xx.com/HEKonline

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Hanseatische Krankenkasse