Together with T-Systems, BARMER is driving digital transformation in healthcare with a new secure messaging solution. The gematik-certified TI Messenger enables more than 8.3 million insured members to communicate with their health insurer securely and conveniently. From development and integration to operations in the Open Sovereign Cloud, T-Systems provides the technological foundation for a modern, high-performance communication platform.
With more than 8.3 million members and around 13,700 employees, BARMER is one of Germany's largest statutory health insurance providers. Headquartered in Berlin, the organization is a self-governing public-law corporation. BARMER operates nearly 350 branches across Germany and manages an annual budget of approximately €45 billion.
DEUTSCHLAND TEST has named BARMER "Company of the Year" in its March 2025 issue. The health insurance company not only provides its members with high-quality, innovative medical care in the event of illness but also supports them in many areas of everyday life and offers a wide range of programs to promote and maintain good health.
BARMER recognized the potential of digitalization early on and, with the support of T-Systems, became a pioneer in digital identities for the healthcare sector. Through its electronic patient record eCare (also available as a mobile app), the BARMER app, and a wide range of digital services—including electronic sick notes and telemedicine—it has established itself as a leader in Germany's digital healthcare landscape. These innovative services provide members with fast and convenient access to advances in medical care, prevention, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Underpinning these services is a secure and reliable telematics infrastructure (TI), which ensures the protected exchange of highly sensitive health data.
Email has long been an established digital channel for communication between customers and health insurers. However, more and more insured members expect faster and simpler communication channels—similar to the messaging services they use in their personal lives. Messenger services have set a new benchmark in this regard. In response, gematik, Germany's national agency for digital health, required statutory health insurance providers to introduce a secure messaging service by July 2025.
BARMER recognized the added value that a secure messenger could bring to communication with its members. The organization wanted to provide a modern user experience, enabling the fast and convenient exchange of text messages, documents, and images. However, conventional messaging services are generally unsuitable for exchanging health and social data because they do not meet the strict regulatory and compliance requirements of the healthcare sector.
To address these challenges, a new type of messenger had to be developed—one that combines efficient communication with full compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements of the healthcare sector. The solution also needed to integrate seamlessly into existing systems while meeting stringent standards for data protection, information security, and interoperability. In addition, BARMER aimed to deliver a high-quality messaging solution that combines security, reliability, and ease of use.
Together with Deutsche Telekom Healthcare Solutions, T-Systems, and Telekom MMS, BARMER developed a TI-Messenger service for the healthcare sector. Based on the open Matrix protocol, the solution communicates via the gematik-certified telematics infrastructure (TI).
Following a detailed requirements analysis, customized clients were developed for employees (TI-M Pro by T-Systems) and members (TI-M ePA by Telekom MMS), along with the corresponding backend services. The TI-Messenger was integrated into BARMER's electronic patient record app, eCare, making it available to all BARMER members.
In addition to text messaging, the application supports the secure exchange of documents and images. It is designed with accessibility in mind and provides comprehensive security features, including end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication.
To meet BARMER's high quality standards, the Deutsche Telekom teams partnered with Element. As a Matrix specialist and software provider, Element delivers regular updates and security patches for the Matrix protocol, ensuring rapid access to the latest enhancements without relying solely on releases from the open-source community.
All components of the messaging service are operated in T-Systems' Open Sovereign Cloud. This highly sovereign cloud platform also hosts the health insurer's digital identity solution. Built on open-source technologies, the Open Sovereign Cloud protects sensitive health data against unauthorized access and tampering. It is operated exclusively from EU locations by EU personnel within the ISO 27001-certified Telekom Cloud. The TI-Messenger benefits from this secure infrastructure and its integrated digital identity services.
As part of the certification process, Telekom MMS carried out extensive manual and automated testing, including functional, integration, interoperability, load, performance, and security tests in accordance with the specifications of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). By meeting all regulatory requirements, the TI-Messenger received gematik certification in July 2025, confirming its compliance with the standards of Germany's telematics infrastructure.
By integrating the TI-Messenger into our eCare app, we are expanding our digital services platform with a secure communication channel. This enables our members to communicate seamlessly—both with us and with their healthcare providers.
More than 8 million BARMER members benefit from secure, end-to-end encrypted communication with BARMER employees via chat. As a result, processes related to healthcare services and preventive care are simplified and accelerated.
With the TI-Messenger, BARMER is setting a new standard for secure, efficient, and regulatory-compliant communication in the healthcare sector. Thanks to its integration into the eCare app, members can access the service easily and conveniently. The TI-Messenger combines maximum security with greater convenience. It enables direct, encrypted communication with BARMER—without the need for telephone hotlines, paper or web forms.
By expanding its digital services platform, BARMER continues to drive digital transformation in healthcare. Members, employees, and healthcare providers all benefit from a modern, future-proof platform that can be continuously enhanced to support new digital services.
The only certified, cross-sector messenger developed by Telekom Healthcare Solutions specifically for the German healthcare sector. It connects all service providers in a legally compliant manner, operates on a unique sovereign platform, and uses digital identities.
