Important: ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud hospitals
ASSSA's network no longer includes Quirónsalud. This is a significant change affecting hospital access in several expat areas in SE Spain — including Alicante, Torrevieja, Valencia, Málaga, and Benalmádena, which all have Quirónsalud facilities. Verify ASSSA's full current network for your specific location before purchasing. Do not assume any particular hospital is covered.
DKV repatriation: verify before you purchase
DKV's repatriation cover is not clearly confirmed in its standard Visado product documentation. If repatriation matters to you, verify this directly with DKV before purchasing. ASSSA includes repatriation as confirmed standard cover.
ASSSA vs DKV: at a glance
| Feature | ASSSA | DKV |
|---|---|---|
| Plan name | ASSSA Standard / Plus | DKV Visado |
| From price | ~€53/mo benchmark (quote required) | €57/month |
| Contract length | 12 months, renewable | 12 months, renewable |
| Max joining age | 74 | 75 ✓ |
| Age-based increases | No age-based increases ✓ | Yes — typical for insurers |
| No copayments | ✓ | ✓ |
| No waiting periods | ✓ | ✓ |
| Repatriation | Included ✓ | Not clearly confirmed — verify |
| Dental cover | Not included | Not included |
| Certificate | 48–72 hrs via agent | 48–72 hrs via agent |
| English support | Multilingual ✓ (English, German, French+) | Limited |
| Network geography | Primarily SE Spain | National — all Spain ✓ |
| Quirónsalud access | No longer included ⚠️ | Via contracted network |
| Insurer type | Mutual (founded 1975) | ERGO Group / Munich Re ✓ |
| DGSFP authorised | ✓ | ✓ |
ASSSA's strengths: multilingual, stable premiums, expat heritage
ASSSA was founded in 1975 as a mutual insurer specifically to serve international residents in Spain — primarily in the south-east. That focus has not changed in 50 years. The multilingual service model (English, German, French, and more), the no-age-increase premium structure, and the network positioning in the Costa Blanca, Valencia, Murcia, and Costa del Sol all reflect a deliberate expat-specialist strategy that no other insurer in this comparison can match.
Multilingual support is not a peripheral feature — it is the operational norm at ASSSA. From initial enquiry through to claims handling, authorisations, and billing, ASSSA policyholders deal with a service team that speaks their language. DKV's customer service and MyDKV app are primarily in Spanish. For a new arrival who does not yet speak Spanish, or who is managing a health issue in a country where everything else is already unfamiliar, the value of full English-language service from your insurer is real and practical.
No age-based premium increases is ASSSA's other standout feature. Once you join, your premium does not increase purely because you are getting older. DKV applies age-based increases at renewal — standard practice for most insurers. For a 57-year-old planning 20 years of Spanish residency, the long-term difference in total premiums paid between a no-increase insurer and one that adjusts annually for age can be substantial. ASSSA's model is particularly compelling for this profile.
DKV's strengths: national coverage, Munich Re backing, age ceiling
DKV's most practical advantage is straightforward: it covers all of Spain. Its contracted network of 51,000+ professionals and 1,000+ centres spans every region — Madrid, Barcelona, the Basque Country, Galicia, Andalucía, the Balearics, and the Canaries. Wherever you are moving in Spain, DKV's provider network will be active.
ASSSA's network is primarily concentrated in SE Spain. Outside Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, and Málaga, ASSSA's coverage becomes significantly thinner. If you are relocating to anywhere other than SE Spain, DKV is the more appropriate choice of these two on network grounds alone.
DKV is backed by ERGO Group, a subsidiary of Munich Re — one of the world's largest reinsurance companies. For applicants who consider the long-term financial stability of their insurer an important factor, DKV's parentage is a genuine advantage. ASSSA is a credible mutual insurer with a long track record, but its scale and financial backing are not comparable to Munich Re's.
On maximum joining age, DKV (75) and ASSSA (74) are almost identical. Only applicants aged exactly 75 would find the one-year gap relevant — DKV is the only accessible insurer for this narrow group.
ASSSA and Quirónsalud: the network change that matters
The single most important recent development affecting this comparison is ASSSA's loss of Quirónsalud from its network. ASSSA no longer includes Quirónsalud hospitals. This is not a minor change: Quirónsalud is Spain's largest private hospital group, with a significant presence in exactly the expat areas where ASSSA is primarily focused. Alicante, Torrevieja, Valencia, Málaga, and Benalmádena all have Quirónsalud facilities that many ASSSA policyholders previously relied upon.
DKV's contracted network continues to include Quirónsalud in relevant areas, giving DKV policyholders access to these hospitals where they exist.
For applicants considering ASSSA, this is not a reason to automatically dismiss it — but it is a reason to be thorough before purchasing. Check the current ASSSA network for your specific location. Identify the hospitals you are most likely to need and confirm they are still included. If your nearest viable hospital is a Quirónsalud facility, ASSSA may not currently be a suitable choice. If the hospitals in your area are still in ASSSA's network, the expat-specialist model remains compelling.
Price: comparable at entry, but the long-term trajectory differs
DKV Visado starts from €57/month — a published benchmark. ASSSA does not publish a fixed from-price; a personalised quote is required. A commonly cited benchmark for ASSSA Standard is approximately €53/month, which would make ASSSA modestly cheaper at entry level — though this varies by age and location.
The more meaningful price comparison is over time. DKV's premiums increase with age at renewal. ASSSA's do not. A 55-year-old DKV policyholder will see their premium rise each year, while an ASSSA policyholder at the same age locks in a premium that will not increase for age reasons. Over a 15-year period, the cumulative premium difference can far exceed any initial year-one gap between the two. This makes the price comparison between ASSSA and DKV genuinely nuanced — it depends entirely on your age and how long you plan to remain in Spain.
Repatriation: ASSSA confirmed, DKV needs checking
ASSSA includes repatriation as a confirmed element of its visa-compliant policy. DKV's standard Visado documentation does not clearly confirm repatriation cover. This does not necessarily mean DKV excludes it — but applicants considering DKV should verify this point explicitly with DKV or their specialist agent before purchasing, especially if they or their consulate regard repatriation as a required policy component.
Who should choose ASSSA?
- Applicants moving to Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, or Málaga — ASSSA's core expat territory
- Applicants who need English, German, or French language service as standard from their insurer
- Mid-50s+ applicants planning long-term residency who value no age-based premium increases
- Applicants who have verified ASSSA's current network covers their preferred providers (and do not need Quirónsalud)
- Applicants who want a mutual insurer with a specific expat-resident focus and long track record
Who should choose DKV?
- Applicants moving anywhere in Spain outside SE Spain — DKV's national network covers all regions
- Applicants in SE Spain who specifically need Quirónsalud hospital access
- Applicants aged 75 — only DKV of these two accepts at this age
- Applicants who value Munich Re / ERGO Group financial security
- Applicants who engage with preventive wellness tools (MyDKV app, Ecobono programme)
The honest comparison
ASSSA and DKV serve clearly different applicant profiles — and the right choice is determined primarily by where you are moving, what language support you need, and how long you plan to stay.
If you are moving to SE Spain and you want English-language service, and you are planning a long-term stay of 10 years or more, ASSSA's multilingual model and no-age-increase premium structure make it a genuinely strong option. The caveats are real: verify the Quirónsalud network gap for your specific location, and check that the hospitals you are most likely to need are still included. If they are, ASSSA's expat-specialist positioning is a meaningful advantage over DKV in this context.
If you are moving anywhere outside SE Spain, or if you specifically need Quirónsalud access, or if you are aged exactly 75, DKV is the more practical choice. Its national coverage is the most direct practical advantage, and Munich Re's financial backing adds a layer of long-term reassurance that ASSSA cannot match at scale.
Neither policy is better in an absolute sense — this is genuinely a case where the right answer depends on your specific situation. The questions to ask yourself: Where am I moving? Do I need English service? Do I need Quirónsalud? How long will I be staying? The answers to those four questions will resolve this comparison for the vast majority of applicants.
Frequently asked questions
ASSSA is better for SE Spain expats who need multilingual service and want no age-based increases — provided they do not need Quirónsalud access. DKV is better for applicants moving outside SE Spain, those who need Quirónsalud, and anyone aged 75. Both are DGSFP-authorised with 12-month contracts and no copayments or waiting periods.
No. ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud. This is a significant change. Verify ASSSA's full current network for your specific location before purchasing. DKV continues to include Quirónsalud in relevant areas of its contracted network.
No. ASSSA does not increase premiums based on age once you have joined. DKV typically increases premiums at renewal as the policyholder gets older. For long-term residents, ASSSA's stable premium model can result in meaningfully lower total premiums over a decade or more.
Yes — multilingual support (English, German, French, and others) is one of ASSSA's defining strengths. DKV operates primarily in Spanish, with limited English support. For applicants who want full English-language service from their insurer, ASSSA has a clear advantage.
DKV's repatriation cover is not clearly confirmed in standard Visado documentation. Verify with DKV directly before purchasing. ASSSA includes repatriation as confirmed standard cover.
ASSSA accepts applicants up to age 74. DKV accepts applicants up to age 75. The difference is one year — only relevant for applicants aged exactly 75.
DKV has significantly stronger national coverage — 51,000+ professionals across all Spain. ASSSA's network is primarily in SE Spain and significantly thinner outside Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, and Málaga. For applicants moving outside SE Spain, DKV is the more practical choice.
Get an accurate quote for your age and location
ASSSA requires a personalised quote. DKV's from-price is an entry benchmark. Compare both alongside all other visa-compliant insurers for your specific age and province.
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.