Caser vs ASISA: at a glance
| Feature | Caser | ASISA |
|---|---|---|
| Plan name | Caser Adapta + Dental + Repatriation | ASISA Health Residents |
| From price | €46.95/month (incl. dental) | €42.88/month ✓ (headline only) |
| Contract length | 12 months | 12 months |
| Max joining age | 69 | 70 ✓ |
| Dental cover | INCLUDED (Sonrisa Esencial) ✓ | Not included |
| Repatriation | ✓ (named in plan) | ✓ |
| Hospital network | 45,000+ contracted professionals | HLA: 18 hospitals + 20 owned centres ✓ |
| HLA cities | N/A | Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, Zaragoza |
| Certificate | 48–72 hrs via agent | 48–72 hrs via agent |
| English support | Via 247 Expat Insurance ✓ | Limited |
| DGSFP authorised | ✓ | ✓ |
Dental: why it resolves the comparison for most applicants
Caser Adapta includes dental as standard. The Sonrisa Esencial benefit is built into the policy — routine dental care from day one, no waiting period, no separate arrangement required. ASISA Health Residents does not include dental.
ASISA's headline from-price is lower — €42.88/month versus Caser's €46.95/month. That is approximately €4.07/month less at entry level. But ASISA's price does not include dental. Anyone planning to live long-term in Spain will need dental care at some point. Adult dentistry is not covered by the Spanish public health system. The cost of a basic private dental plan in Spain is typically £15–25/month equivalent or more. Add that to the ASISA premium and the effective comparison flips — Caser's combined medical-plus-dental package is better value than ASISA's medical-only policy at a lower headline price.
Among all non-Sanitas visa-compliant insurers, Caser is the only one that includes dental as standard. That is a unique position in this market segment, and it is the primary reason Caser is the recommended choice for most applicants in this comparison.
Price: headline vs effective cost
| Scenario | Caser /month | ASISA /month |
|---|---|---|
| Medical only (headline) | €46.95 (incl. dental) | €42.88 ✓ |
| Medical + dental (effective) | €46.95 (dental included) ✓ | €42.88 + dental plan separately |
| Annual (medical only) | €563.40 (incl. dental) | €514.56 (excl. dental) |
The effective price comparison depends on your actual dental usage. For applicants who genuinely will not use dental care in Spain, ASISA's lower headline price is real. For everyone else, Caser's combined package represents better value.
Hospital network: ASISA's genuine advantage in key cities
ASISA's link to the HLA (Hospitales de Levante Asociados) network is a real infrastructure advantage that must be acknowledged honestly. HLA operates 18 hospitals and 20 owned medical centres — these are owned facilities, not contracted arrangements. In Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, and Zaragoza, HLA provides access to integrated hospital infrastructure similar in nature (though smaller in scale) to what Sanitas offers nationally.
Caser has no owned hospitals. Its network of 45,000+ professionals is contracted. This means care quality depends on individual contracted providers rather than a managed infrastructure. For routine GP and specialist access, Caser's network is adequate across most of Spain. But for inpatient care, complex procedures, or any situation where integrated owned-hospital management matters, ASISA/HLA has an advantage in the cities it serves.
The key qualification: HLA's footprint is specific. If you are moving to Barcelona, the Costa Blanca, the Canary Islands, Galicia, the Basque Country, or other areas outside the HLA cities, this advantage does not apply in the same way. Check whether HLA has a hospital within reasonable distance of your intended location before weighting this factor.
Age limits: one year's difference
ASISA accepts new applicants up to age 70. Caser's maximum is 69. The one-year difference matters only for applicants who are exactly 70 years old. For everyone else, both policies are either available or unavailable based on the same rough age range.
If you are exactly 70: ASISA is available, Caser is not. For anyone aged 71 or over, neither policy is available — DKV (max 75) and Sanitas (max 75) are the main options.
Who should choose Caser?
- Anyone who wants dental included from day one — no other non-Sanitas insurer provides this
- Applicants relocating outside HLA cities — Caser's contracted national network is broader
- English-speaking applicants — 247 Expat Insurance provides full English support for Caser
- Applicants who want the dental and repatriation combination confirmed in one policy with no ambiguity
Who should choose ASISA?
- Applicants relocating to Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, or Zaragoza — HLA hospital access is a real advantage in these cities
- Applicants aged exactly 70 — Caser's maximum is 69, ASISA accepts to 70
- Applicants who genuinely will not need dental care and want the lowest possible headline premium
Our verdict
This is a competitive comparison — ASISA is not a poor policy and the HLA hospital access is a genuine differentiator. But Caser wins overall for most applicants because of dental. Dental care is not optional for anyone making a long-term move to Spain; it is a recurring cost that the Spanish public health system does not cover. Caser's inclusion of dental within the base premium resolves the comparison in favour of Caser for the majority of applicants.
The honest exception: if you are moving to Madrid, Sevilla, or another HLA city and you specifically want access to owned hospital infrastructure, ASISA is a legitimate choice. The HLA hospitals are real facilities with real owned infrastructure — that matters for complex or inpatient care in a way that Caser's contracted network cannot replicate.
For all other applicants — relocating to Barcelona, the Costa Blanca, the Canaries, Galicia, or anywhere outside the HLA footprint — the dental inclusion tips the comparison to Caser clearly.
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 headline level. If you are relocating to an HLA city and dental is not a priority, ASISA is a credible alternative.
Yes. Caser Adapta includes the Sonrisa Esencial dental benefit as standard — it is part of the policy from day one, with no waiting period and no separate arrangement required. ASISA Health Residents does not include dental.
HLA hospitals and owned medical centres are primarily in Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, and Zaragoza. If you are relocating to one of these cities, HLA access is a genuine advantage. Outside these cities, verify the ASISA cuadro médico for your specific province to assess the network strength.
At headline level yes — ASISA from €42.88/month versus Caser from €46.95/month. But Caser includes dental and ASISA does not. Once dental is factored in, the effective cost comparison typically favours Caser.
Caser Adapta has a maximum joining age of 69. ASISA accepts to 70. For applicants aged 71 or over, neither is available — DKV (max 75) and Sanitas (max 75) are the main options.
Caser is the stronger choice for families — dental is included as standard (Sonrisa Esencial), which matters for both adults and children, and the 12-month contract allows flexibility if family needs change. ASISA's HLA hospital network is a genuine advantage in Madrid, Sevilla, and other HLA cities, but Caser's dental inclusion outweighs this for most family situations.
ASISA's key differentiator is the HLA owned hospital network — 18 hospitals and 20 owned centres in specific cities. Caser operates through a contracted network. Outside the HLA cities (Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, Zaragoza), network breadth is broadly comparable. Always check the cuadro médico for your specific province before making a final decision.
ASISA from €42.88/month vs Caser from €46.95/month — about €4/month less at entry level. But Caser includes dental (Sonrisa Esencial) and ASISA does not. When dental is factored in, the effective comparison typically favours Caser. ASISA only has a clear price advantage for applicants who genuinely have no dental needs.
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.