DKV vs ASISA: at a glance
| Feature | DKV | ASISA |
|---|---|---|
| Plan name | DKV Visado | ASISA Health Residents |
| From price | €57/month | €42.88/month ✓ |
| Contract length | 12 months, renewable | 12 months, renewable |
| Max joining age | 75 ✓ | 70 |
| No copayments | ✓ | ✓ |
| No waiting periods | ✓ | ✓ |
| Repatriation | Not clearly confirmed — verify | Included ✓ |
| Dental cover | Not included | Not included |
| Certificate | 48–72 hrs via agent | 48–72 hrs via agent |
| Advance contracting | ~90 days max | ~90 days max |
| Payment options | Full upfront only | Full upfront only |
| Digital health app | MyDKV app (primarily Spanish) | Limited |
| English support | Limited | Limited |
| Owned hospital network | 23 DKV Espacios de Salud (not hospitals) | 18 HLA hospitals + 20 centres ✓ |
| Network professionals | 51,000+ contracted | HLA network + national contracted |
| Financial backing | ERGO Group / Munich Re ✓ | Espriu Foundation cooperative |
| DGSFP authorised | ✓ | ✓ |
DKV repatriation: verify before you purchase
Repatriation cover is not clearly confirmed in DKV Visado's standard product documentation. If repatriation matters to you — and for most visa applicants it should — verify this directly with DKV or your specialist agent before purchasing. ASISA includes repatriation as a confirmed part of its visa-compliant policy.
Price: ASISA is meaningfully cheaper
ASISA Health Residents is publicly priced from €42.88/month, making it one of the most competitively priced visa-compliant policies among the major Spanish insurers. DKV Visado starts from €57/month — a difference of approximately €14/month, or around €168/year at entry-level premiums.
That gap is meaningful, particularly for applicants on fixed incomes or those who are price-sensitive and primarily need compliant cover to satisfy consulate requirements. Both policies have the same structural features — 12-month renewable contracts, no copayments, no waiting periods, and full annual upfront payment — so the price difference is not offset by any obvious contractual advantage on DKV's side.
Where DKV justifies a higher premium is less about product features and more about its preventive health focus (the Ecobono environmental programme, MyDKV app wellness tools) and the financial strength of its parent group. For most applicants comparing purely on value, ASISA's lower from-price combined with confirmed repatriation makes it the more competitive proposition at entry level.
| Insurer | From price / month | From price / year |
|---|---|---|
| ASISA | €42.88 | ~€514.56 |
| DKV | €57 | ~€684 |
From-prices confirmed at quote. Actual premiums depend on age, province, and underwriting outcome. Confirm your specific price before purchasing.
Repatriation: ASISA confirmed, DKV unconfirmed
Repatriation cover — the cost of returning your remains to your home country in the event of death abroad — is a component that Spanish consulates sometimes look for in visa health insurance policies. It is also a cover that genuinely matters for long-term residents living far from their country of origin.
ASISA includes repatriation as a confirmed element of its visa-compliant Health Residents policy. This is a genuine differentiator versus DKV. DKV's Visado product does not clearly confirm repatriation in its standard documentation. This does not necessarily mean DKV does not provide it — but it means applicants considering DKV should verify this point explicitly with DKV or their specialist agent before purchasing, rather than assuming it is included.
For applicants who specifically need or want repatriation cover confirmed in writing, ASISA is the safer choice of these two insurers.
Maximum joining age: DKV accepts to 75, ASISA to 70
This is the single clearest differentiator between the two policies — and for applicants in the 71–75 age band, it makes the decision straightforward. DKV Visado accepts applicants up to age 75. ASISA Health Residents has a maximum joining age of 70.
For applicants aged 70 and under, this is not a deciding factor — both insurers are accessible. For anyone aged 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75, DKV is the only option of these two. The higher age ceiling is backed by DKV's ERGO Group / Munich Re parentage, which gives it the financial capacity to underwrite older applicants across a broader range.
Applicants approaching age 70 who are planning a move to Spain may also want to consider the longevity of their cover. If you join ASISA at 69 and are healthy, you will likely be able to renew indefinitely once accepted. But joining above 70 is simply not possible with ASISA, making DKV the only viable path for older applicants.
Hospital network: ASISA has owned hospital infrastructure
Both DKV and ASISA have substantial provider networks, but their structures differ significantly. ASISA is linked to HLA Grupo Hospitalario — a network of 18 owned hospitals and 20 owned medical centres, concentrated in Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, and Zaragoza. For policyholders in or near these cities, HLA access means treatment in genuinely owned hospital infrastructure — consistent standards, integrated medical records, and hospital-level care without leaving the insurer's own network.
DKV has 51,000+ contracted professionals and over 1,000 centres nationally, making it one of the broader networks by professional count. DKV also operates 23 DKV Espacios de Salud health centres — these are owned DKV facilities, but they are medical centres rather than full hospitals. For inpatient surgical care or complex hospital-level procedures, DKV policyholders would use contracted hospital partners rather than DKV's own facilities.
For routine GP and specialist consultations, both networks cover the major cities and coastal areas adequately. For applicants who specifically want access to owned hospital infrastructure through their insurer, ASISA's HLA link is the stronger position of the two.
English support: limited on both sides
Neither DKV nor ASISA offers comprehensive English-language customer support as a standard feature. DKV has the MyDKV app, which provides digital health and wellness tools, but this is primarily a Spanish-language platform. ASISA's customer-facing infrastructure is also primarily in Spanish.
In expat-heavy coastal areas — Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Canary Islands — many doctors within both networks will speak English at the consultation level, but this depends entirely on the individual provider. For administrative matters such as authorisations, policy queries, and certificate requests, both insurers operate primarily in Spanish.
Applicants who need English-language customer service as a standard feature — app, support line, and administration — should look at ASSSA (multilingual expat specialist) or Sanitas (English digital health platform and support). For these two insurers specifically, limited English support is a shared limitation.
Financial strength: DKV backed by Munich Re
One aspect of DKV that sets it apart is its corporate parentage. DKV is part of ERGO Group, itself a subsidiary of Munich Re — one of the world's largest reinsurance groups and one of the most financially robust insurance organisations globally. For applicants who place significant weight on the long-term financial stability of their insurer, DKV's backing is a meaningful reassurance.
ASISA operates as part of the Espriu Foundation cooperative ecosystem — a longstanding, well-established Spanish healthcare cooperative group that has operated since 1957. It is a financially stable and credible organisation, but its scale and backing are not comparable to Munich Re's global financial strength.
For most visa applicants, insurer financial strength rarely determines day-to-day healthcare quality. But for applicants who are aware of the difference and find it relevant to their decision, DKV's Munich Re parentage is a genuine point in its favour.
DKV's preventive focus: Ecobono and MyDKV
DKV distinguishes itself from most Spanish health insurers through a genuine commitment to preventive medicine and environmental sustainability. The Ecobono programme rewards healthy behaviours and sustainable choices — a feature that has no direct equivalent at ASISA. DKV's MyDKV app includes health monitoring, wellness tracking, and preventive health features alongside clinical appointment booking.
For applicants who actively engage with digital health tools and wellbeing programmes, DKV offers a more developed ecosystem in this area. ASISA's digital offering is more limited. This is a lifestyle-orientated differentiator rather than a clinical one, but for applicants who value preventive health engagement as part of their insurance relationship, it is worth noting.
Who should choose DKV?
- Applicants aged 71–75 — DKV is the only option of these two for this age range
- Applicants who value the financial security of Munich Re / ERGO Group backing
- Applicants who engage with preventive health tools and wellness apps (MyDKV, Ecobono)
- Those relocating to areas where DKV's broader contracted network may have stronger local coverage than ASISA's HLA-anchored model
Who should choose ASISA?
- Price-conscious applicants under 70 — €42.88/month is among the lowest from-prices of the major insurers
- Applicants who need confirmed repatriation cover in their policy documentation
- Applicants relocating to Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, or Zaragoza — HLA hospital access is strongest in these areas
- NLV or retiree visa applicants on a fixed budget where the ~€14/month saving is meaningful over a year
- Applicants who want owned hospital infrastructure through their insurer group
The honest comparison
DKV and ASISA are genuinely comparable mid-market options — neither is a clear winner for all applicants. The right choice depends on two key variables: your age and your priorities.
If you are aged 71–75, the decision is made for you: DKV is the only option of these two. ASISA's 70-year ceiling closes it off entirely for this age group. DKV's higher age ceiling, combined with Munich Re's financial backing, makes it the better-positioned insurer for older applicants who need certainty of acceptance.
For applicants aged 70 and under, ASISA presents a compelling case on value. At €42.88/month — approximately €14/month less than DKV — it is meaningfully cheaper. It includes confirmed repatriation, which DKV does not clearly confirm. It is backed by the HLA hospital group, which provides 18 owned hospitals. The structure is otherwise essentially equivalent: same 12-month contract, same no-copayment model, same 90-day advance contracting, same certificate timeline.
Neither insurer includes dental cover, neither offers strong English-language support, and neither allows particularly early advance contracting. If these are priorities, consider Sanitas (dental, English app, 6-month advance) or ASSSA (multilingual expat support).
Not sure which suits your situation? Get a personalised quote across DKV, ASISA, and all other visa-compliant insurers — your actual premium depends on your age, province, and specific circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your age and priorities. For applicants aged 71–75, DKV is the only viable option — ASISA's maximum joining age is 70. For applicants under 70, ASISA offers better value: lower from-price (€42.88/month vs €57), confirmed repatriation, and access to 18 HLA-owned hospitals. Both are DGSFP-authorised on 12-month contracts with no copayments or waiting periods.
At entry level, approximately €14/month or around €168/year — ASISA from €42.88/month versus DKV from €57/month. Both figures are from-prices; your actual premium depends on your age, province, and underwriting outcome. Confirm via personalised quote before deciding.
DKV's repatriation cover is not clearly confirmed in its standard Visado product documentation. If repatriation is important to you, verify this directly with DKV or your specialist agent before purchasing. ASISA confirms repatriation as a standard part of its visa-compliant policy.
DKV Visado accepts applicants up to age 75. ASISA Health Residents accepts applicants up to age 70. For applicants aged 71–75, DKV is the only option of these two insurers. Both are straightforward to enrol for applicants below their respective age ceilings.
ASISA is linked to HLA Grupo Hospitalario — 18 owned hospitals and 20 owned medical centres in Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, and Zaragoza, plus a broader national contracted network. DKV has 51,000+ contracted professionals and 1,000+ centres nationally, plus 23 DKV Espacios de Salud health centres (not major hospitals). For owned hospital infrastructure, ASISA has the stronger position. For total professional count, DKV's contracted network is broader.
Neither DKV Visado nor ASISA Health Residents includes dental cover as standard. If dental is a priority from day one, look at Sanitas, which includes dental as standard with no waiting periods.
Both DKV and ASISA issue the visa certificate within 48–72 hours via your agent after acceptance and payment are confirmed. Neither offers automatic certificate delivery. Plan your consulate appointment timing accordingly.
Both insurers have limited English support as a standard feature. DKV's MyDKV app is primarily Spanish-language. ASISA's customer service is also primarily in Spanish. In expat-heavy areas, many individual doctors within both networks will speak English, but administrative support is primarily in Spanish. For full English-language service, ASSSA (multilingual specialist) or Sanitas (BLUA English app) are the stronger options.
Get an accurate quote for your age and situation
From-prices are a starting point. Your actual premium depends on your age, province, and underwriting outcome. Get a personalised comparison across DKV, ASISA, and all other insurers.
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.