What Bertelsmann BKK does

Bertelsmann BKK is a German statutory health insurance fund (Betriebskrankenkasse) founded in 1957 by the Bertelsmann corporate group, headquartered in Gütersloh with branch offices in Köln (serving RTL employees at Picassoplatz 1) and Pößneck (Eastern Germany). Organized as a federally supervised public-law corporation (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) under the German Social Code (SGB V), it serves approximately 47,000 insured members nationwide through a combination of captive Bertelsmann/RTL employees and open-enrollment members admitted since 2007 deregulation. The fund offers full statutory health insurance coverage supplemented by extra benefits including a €50 professional dental-cleaning subsidy, expanded preventive care, travel vaccinations, and supplementary insurance through a partnership with Barmenia branded "Extraplus."

The digital infrastructure centers on the Online-Geschäftsstelle web portal and mobile application (developed by partner Sal.A iT Services GmbH), enabling 24/7 member self-service for document submission, personal-data changes, and bonus-program tracking. This is supplemented by an electronic patient record app (ePA v3.0.5), e-Rezept electronic prescriptions, and an expanding suite of digital health services including TeleClinic telemedicine, teledermatology (Hautarzt online), online psychotherapy, the mamly pregnancy companion app, the Neolexon speech-therapy app, and DiGA-prescribed digital health applications — all integrated with Germany's national TI-M healthcare infrastructure. Distribution is multi-channel across digital self-service, a phone service center (05241 80-74000), three physical branches, and employer partnerships.

Revenue is generated through mandatory statutory health insurance contributions split between employers and employees, augmented by the federal risk-structure compensation scheme (Risikostrukturausgleich), government subsidies, and affiliate commissions from Barmenia supplementary-insurance referrals. Leadership comprises Vorstand Thomas Johannwille, Deputy Vorstand Andreas Titlbach, and a Verwaltungsrat chaired by Martin Kewitsch (with Helmut Gettkant as Deputy), following the 2023 Sozialwahl governance refresh. The fund is independently rated Sehr gut (1.4) by Krankenkasseninfo.de as of March 2026.

Name

Bertelsmann BKK

Legal name

Bertelsmann BKK

Website

https://bertelsmann-bkk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Bertelsmann BKK is a German statutory health insurance fund (Betriebskrankenkasse) founded in 1957, serving approximately 47,000 insured members nationwide through statutory coverage, employer partnerships with Bertelsmann Group and RTL, and an Online-Geschäftsstelle digital portal with ePA, e-Rezept, and telemedicine services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gütersloh

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 fund (gesetzliche Krankenkasse), Bertelsmann BKK generates revenue through mandatory health insurance contributions from members (employees and pensioners), with contributions split between employers and employees. Additional funding comes from government subsidies and the risk structure compensation scheme (Risikostrukturausgleich).
2. Supplementary Insurance Commission: Partnership with Barmenia for supplementary insurance products (Zusatzversicherung), generating commission revenue from policy referrals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bertelsmann BKK is a German statutory health insurance fund (Betriebskrankenkasse) providing mandatory health, dental, nursing care, sickness, and maternity coverage to approximately 47,000 members nationwide. Its core offering combines regulated statutory coverage with extra benefits, a digital self-service infrastructure (web portal, mobile app, ePA, e-Rezept, telemedicine), preventive care programs, a bonus program rewarding healthy behavior, and supplementary insurance products distributed in partnership with Barmenia under the Extraplus brand.

Product overview

Bertelsmann BKK offers a suite of digital health services centered around its Online-Geschäftsstelle portal and mobile applications. The core offering includes an online business office for member self-service (web and app), an ePA (electronic patient record) app for managing digital health records, and various integrated digital health services including TeleClinic for video consultations, e-Rezept for electronic prescriptions, online dermatology (Hautarzt online), online psychotherapy, and approved health apps (DiGA). Additional specialized apps include the mamly pregnancy app and Neolexon speech therapy app. The company operates primarily in Germany as a statutory health insurance provider (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Statutory Health Insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung)
• Supplementary Insurance (Extraplus via Barmenia)
• Online-Geschäftsstelle (Online Business Office)
• Bertelsmann BKK Mobile App
• ePA-App (Elektronische Patientenakte / Electronic Patient Record)
• TeleClinic (Online Doctor Consultation)
• e-Rezept (Electronic Prescription)
• Hautarzt online (Online Dermatology)
• Psychotherapie online (Online Psychotherapy)
• mamly Schwangerschafts-App (Pregnancy Companion App)
• Neolexon-App (Speech Therapy App)
• DiGA (Gesundheits-Apps / Digital Health Applications)
• Bonus Program (Bonusprogramm)

Quantifiable outcome

• Krankenkasseninfo test rating: Note 1,4 (Sehr gut) for 03/2026
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BarmeniacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBarmenia provides supplementary insurance products (Zusatzversicherung) offered to Bertelsmann BKK members through a partnership branded as 'Extraplus'. Members can access additional coverage beyond statutory health insurance through this partnership.
• IMK InstitutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMK (Institut für Marktforschung und Kommunikation) conducts telephone customer satisfaction surveys on behalf of Bertelsmann BKK, providing insights for service improvement.
• Bertelsmann Sport & GesundheitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBertelsmann Sport & Gesundheit provides health and fitness courses (including Bertelsmann Sport program) offered to BKK members, with courses in the Gütersloh region and beyond.
• Bertelsmann GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBertelsmann BKK was originally founded by Bertelsmann and maintains a special relationship with the Bertelsmann Group, serving as the company's corporate health insurance fund while also being open to the public.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IKK classic: Germany's largest Innungskrankenkasse (tradesperson health fund) with ~3M members. Operates under the same SGB V framework and competes for open-enrollment members across all German regions, including Bertelsmann BKK's territory. Larger scale and brand awareness create a structural competitive threat.
• AOK Rheinland/Hamburg: Regional AOK (Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse) system serving North Rhine-Westphalia, where Bertelsmann BKK also operates. AOKs are the largest single SHI family collectively (~26M members); this regional AOK competes directly for the same employer-channel and open-enrollment members in Bertelsmann's core geography.

Direct peers

• Techniker Krankenkasse (TK): Germany's largest statutory health insurance fund (~11M members) operating under the same SGB V framework as Bertelsmann BKK. Direct competitor for members via open enrollment, with comparable digital offerings (TK-App, ePA, TeleClinic) and a broader bonus program. Most relevant peer given identical regulatory regime and overlapping product portfolio.
• DAK-Gesundheit: Major German statutory health insurer (~5M members) operating under identical SGB V regulations. Competes directly for open-enrollment members and provides similar statutory-plus-supplementary product bundles. Operates physical service branches comparable to Bertelsmann BKK's three-office footprint.
• BIG direkt gesund: Direct-insurance statutory health fund operating nationwide with a digitally-led, no-branch service model. Comparable to Bertelsmann BKK in targeting digital-savvy members via online enrollment, and a direct competitor for younger, switch-prone insureds.
• Barmer: Second-largest German statutory health insurance fund (~8M members). Operates under the same SGB V framework with similar product set (ePA, telemedical services, bonus programs). Competes directly with Bertelsmann BKK for open-enrollment switchers and offers a comparable employer-channel partnership structure.
• Mobil Krankenkasse: Mid-sized Betriebskrankenkasse (formerly BKK Mobil Oil) with strong digital positioning and ~1M+ members. Directly comparable statutory insurer competing in the same open-enrollment segment, often cited for digital service quality — a benchmark for Bertelsmann BKK's digital strategy.
• Siemens BKK: A peer Betriebskrankenkasse (company health insurance fund) of similar size and structure, originally founded by Siemens. Directly comparable as another corporate-anchored BKK competing in the same open-enrollment SHI market with a similar regional branch model and employer-channel distribution.

Emerging players

• Ottonova: Germany's first digital private health insurer (PKV), targeting tech-savvy professionals and corporate clients. Operates outside the statutory SHI regime but competes for the same digitally engaged demographic Bertelsmann BKK serves — relevant as an emerging benchmark for digital UX expectations among members.

Others

• Barmenia Versicherung: Bertelsmann BKK's strategic partner for the 'Extraplus' supplementary insurance product line. Comparable as a German health-insurance counterpart, but positioned as a partner rather than competitor — provides a reference point for the supplementary insurance market Bertelsmann BKK monetizes via commission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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• Instagraminstagram.com/bertelsmannbkk
• Xx.com/Bertelsmann_BKK

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 Bertelsmann BKK