ASISA vs Caser: at a glance
| Feature | ASISA | Caser |
|---|---|---|
| Plan name | ASISA Health Residents | Caser Adapta + Dental + Repatriation |
| From price | €42.88/month ✓ (headline only) | €46.95/month (incl. dental) |
| Contract length | 12 months | 12 months |
| Max joining age | 70 ✓ | 69 |
| Dental cover | Not included | INCLUDED (Sonrisa Esencial) ✓ |
| Repatriation | ✓ | ✓ (named in plan) |
| No copayments | ✓ | ✓ |
| No waiting periods | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hospital network | HLA: 18 hospitals + 20 owned centres ✓ | 45,000+ contracted professionals |
| HLA coverage cities | Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, Zaragoza | National contracted network |
| Certificate | 48–72 hrs via agent | 48–72 hrs via agent |
| English support | Limited | Via 247 Expat Insurance ✓ |
| DGSFP authorised | ✓ | ✓ |
Price: ASISA is cheaper on paper — but Caser includes dental
ASISA Health Residents has a lower headline from-price — €42.88/month versus Caser's €46.95/month. That is approximately €4.07/month or around €48.84/year difference at entry level. On the face of it, ASISA is the more affordable option.
But this comparison requires context. Caser's €46.95/month includes dental cover (Sonrisa Esencial). ASISA's €42.88/month does not include dental. If an ASISA policyholder arranges a basic dental plan separately, the effective monthly cost rises above Caser's combined medical-plus-dental price. The apparent ASISA price advantage disappears, and at that point the decision comes down to which policy offers more for the same total spend.
For applicants who genuinely will not use dental care in Spain at all — a rare position for anyone making a long-term move — ASISA's lower headline price is real. For everyone else, the effective total cost comparison favours Caser.
Dental: the decisive factor in this comparison
Caser Adapta includes dental as standard — the Sonrisa Esencial benefit covers routine dental care from day one, built into the policy with no waiting period. ASISA Health Residents does not include dental.
In Spain, the public health system does not cover adult dental care. Routine dentistry — check-ups, cleanings, fillings — is a recurring cost borne privately. For most expats making a long-term move to Spain, dental care will be needed at some point, and having it included in the base insurance policy removes a significant ongoing expense.
Among all non-Sanitas visa-compliant insurers, Caser is the only one that includes dental as standard. This is not a marginal feature — it is a meaningful coverage advantage that ASISA simply does not offer.
Hospital network: ASISA's genuine advantage in specific cities
ASISA has a real infrastructure advantage that deserves honest recognition. Through its link to the HLA (Hospitales de Levante Asociados) network, ASISA provides access to 18 hospitals and 20 owned medical centres. HLA is a properly owned hospital group — these are not contracted third-party arrangements but facilities that the ASISA/HLA group operates directly.
HLA hospitals are concentrated in specific cities: Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, and Zaragoza. If you are relocating to one of these cities, the HLA hospital access is a genuine quality differentiator — comparable in kind (though not in scale) to Sanitas's owned hospital advantage. You have access to an integrated care pathway within owned infrastructure.
Caser has no owned hospitals. Its network of 45,000+ healthcare professionals is entirely contracted. For routine GP and specialist access this is adequate across most of Spain, but for applicants who specifically want access to owned-hospital infrastructure and are relocating to Madrid, Sevilla, or one of the other HLA cities, ASISA's network is a legitimate reason to choose it over Caser.
The caveat: if you are moving to Barcelona, the Canary Islands, the Costa Blanca, Galicia, or any region not strongly served by HLA, this advantage does not apply in the same way. Check the HLA hospital locations against your intended province before weighting this factor.
Age limits: one year's difference
ASISA accepts new applicants up to age 70. Caser accepts up to age 69. The difference is one year — barely meaningful in practice. For the vast majority of applicants, both policies are either available or unavailable based on the same rough age range.
The specific exception: applicants who are exactly 70 years old at the time of application. For those individuals, ASISA is available and Caser is not. If you are 70, this single-year difference matters. For everyone under 70, both policies are available and the comparison is decided by the other factors — dental, price, network.
Aged 70? ASISA may be your option here — but compare DKV and Sanitas too
If you are 70, Caser is not available (max 69). ASISA accepts to 70. However, DKV (max 75) and Sanitas (max 75) also accept applicants at 70 and should be compared. DKV does not include dental; Sanitas does and provides a more comprehensive product overall.
Who should choose Caser?
- Anyone who wants dental included from day one — not available on ASISA
- Applicants relocating to regions not served by HLA hospitals (Barcelona, Costa Blanca, Canaries, Galicia)
- English-speaking applicants — 247 Expat Insurance provides full English support for Caser
- Applicants who want the clearest possible dental + repatriation combination confirmed in one policy
Who should choose ASISA?
- Applicants relocating to Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, or Zaragoza — HLA hospital access is a genuine advantage in these cities
- Applicants aged exactly 70 — Caser's maximum is 69, ASISA accepts to 70
- Applicants who are confident they will not need dental care and want the lowest possible headline price
- Applicants who specifically value owned hospital infrastructure and HLA's concentration in key cities
Our verdict
This is a closer comparison than most in this series. ASISA is a credible insurer with genuine owned hospital infrastructure through HLA, and its entry-level price is genuinely lower than Caser's. If you are relocating to Madrid, Sevilla, or one of the other HLA cities, ASISA's hospital access is a meaningful advantage that Caser cannot match.
However, Caser wins overall for most applicants, and the reason is dental. Dental care is a recurring cost for anyone living long-term in Spain. Having it built into the base policy — with no waiting period, from day one — is a material advantage. ASISA's lower headline price is effectively eroded once you account for dental separately.
The honest guidance: if you are moving to an HLA city and are confident about managing dental separately, ASISA is a fair choice. For everyone else, Caser's dental inclusion resolves the comparison. Both are 12-month contracts. Both include repatriation. Both have comparable certificate timelines. The dental point is the deciding factor.
Want to compare all insurers including Sanitas? Use our full comparison tool at /compare/get-a-quote/ — every major insurer matched to your age, visa type, and province.
Frequently asked questions
Caser is the stronger overall choice for most applicants — dental is included as standard (Sonrisa Esencial), which ASISA does not offer. ASISA has a genuine advantage through the HLA hospital network in Madrid, Sevilla, and other cities, and is slightly cheaper at entry level. If you are relocating to an HLA city and dental is not a priority, ASISA is a credible alternative. For everyone else, Caser's dental inclusion is decisive.
HLA hospitals and owned medical centres are primarily in Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, and Zaragoza. If you are relocating to one of these cities, ASISA's HLA access is a real advantage. If you are moving to Barcelona, the Canary Islands, the Balearics, or other regions, verify the HLA coverage for your specific province before treating this as a deciding factor.
ASISA's headline from-price (€42.88/month) is lower than Caser's (€46.95/month). But Caser includes dental as standard; ASISA does not. When you account for dental, the effective cost comparison favours Caser for most applicants. The ASISA price advantage only holds if you genuinely will not need dental care in Spain.
Yes. Both ASISA Health Residents and Caser Adapta include repatriation. Caser's inclusion is named in the policy title (Caser Adapta + Dental + Repatriation), making it unambiguous. Both policies therefore meet the repatriation requirement for Spanish visa applications.
ASISA accepts new applicants up to age 70. Caser's maximum is 69 — one year less. For applicants aged exactly 70, ASISA is available and Caser is not. For applicants aged 71 or over, neither insurer is available — DKV (max 75) and Sanitas (max 75) are the main options.
Caser is the stronger choice for couples — dental included for both partners at no extra cost, and the 12-month contract offers flexibility at each renewal. ASISA's HLA network advantage applies if both partners are relocating to a city with HLA coverage. For most couples, Caser's dental inclusion and lower effective cost are decisive.
Yes — both ASISA and Caser operate on 12-month contracts, so switching at renewal is straightforward. You will need to complete a new health declaration with Caser, and any new pre-existing conditions since your original policy will be declared. If your health has not changed since joining ASISA, switching to Caser is a simple process.
Get a Caser quote — dental included from day one
247 Expat Insurance are specialist English-language agents for Caser. Get a personalised quote or compare all insurers including Sanitas and ASISA.
Or get a full comparison including Sanitas at /compare/get-a-quote/
Pricing shown is sourced from each insurer's own published pages and is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Premiums are individually underwritten and confirmed at quote stage. Always verify current terms directly with the insurer or your specialist before purchasing.