Important: ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud hospitals
ASSSA's network no longer includes Quirónsalud — one of Spain's largest private hospital groups with a strong presence across expat areas in south-east Spain. If access to a Quirónsalud hospital near your location matters to you, verify ASSSA's current network carefully before purchasing. This is a significant change that affects ASSSA's coverage in several key expat areas.
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 or your specialist agent before purchasing. ASSSA includes repatriation as confirmed standard cover.
DKV vs ASSSA: at a glance
| Feature | DKV | ASSSA |
|---|---|---|
| Plan name | DKV Visado | ASSSA Standard / Plus |
| From price | €57/month | ~€53/mo benchmark (quote required) |
| Contract length | 12 months, renewable | 12 months, renewable |
| Max joining age | 75 ✓ | 74 |
| Age-based increases | Yes — typical for insurers | No age-based increases ✓ |
| 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 |
| English support | Limited | Multilingual ✓ (English, German, French+) |
| Network geography | National — all Spain ✓ | Primarily SE Spain |
| Quirónsalud access | Via contracted network | No longer included ⚠️ |
| Insurer type | ERGO Group / Munich Re | Mutual (founded 1975) |
| DGSFP authorised | ✓ | ✓ |
Geography: DKV covers all Spain, ASSSA is concentrated in the south-east
This is the most significant practical difference between the two policies for most applicants. DKV has national coverage across Spain — 51,000+ contracted professionals and 1,000+ centres spread across all regions, from Madrid and Barcelona to the Basque Country, Galicia, Andalucía, and the Balearic and Canary Islands. Wherever you are moving in Spain, DKV's contracted network will be active.
ASSSA's network is primarily concentrated in south-east Spain — specifically in Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, and Málaga provinces. These are exactly the areas where a large proportion of British and Northern European expats choose to live, and in these areas ASSSA's expat-specialist positioning is strongest. Outside these provinces, ASSSA's network becomes noticeably thinner, and for applicants moving to other parts of Spain, this is a genuine practical limitation.
The implication is straightforward: if you are moving to the Costa Blanca, Valencia, Murcia, or the Costa del Sol, ASSSA's network geography aligns well with your location. If you are moving to Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Seville, Mallorca, or anywhere outside SE Spain, DKV's national coverage is the more appropriate choice.
English support: ASSSA is the multilingual specialist
This is where ASSSA has a genuinely significant advantage over DKV. ASSSA provides multilingual customer service as a core feature — English, German, French, and other languages are all supported. This is not an occasional bilingual staff member; it is a deliberate positioning as a specialist insurer for international residents in Spain, backed by decades of serving expat communities in SE Spain since 1975.
DKV offers the MyDKV app for digital health access, but it is primarily a Spanish-language platform. DKV's main customer service operations are also primarily in Spanish. For administrative matters — authorisations, policy queries, certificate requests, billing questions — an English-speaking DKV policyholder will typically need to navigate in Spanish or rely on a bilingual intermediary.
For applicants who are not yet confident in Spanish, who anticipate needing support in English on a day-to-day basis, or who simply want the reassurance of a full English-language service relationship with their insurer, ASSSA has a clear and substantial advantage over DKV in this comparison. It is worth noting that this advantage is most relevant for those living within ASSSA's SE Spain coverage footprint — strong language support combined with a limited regional network is less useful if you are not in the region.
Age ceiling and premium increases: ASSSA's long-term advantage
On maximum joining age, the difference between DKV (75) and ASSSA (74) is minimal — only applicants aged exactly 75 would find this relevant. Both are accessible for the vast majority of applicants.
The more meaningful age-related difference is in premium increases. ASSSA does not apply age-based premium increases once you have joined. This is a genuine and significant long-term financial advantage. Most Spanish health insurers — including DKV — apply age-related increases at renewal, meaning your premium typically rises as you get older. Over a ten or fifteen year period of Spanish residency, the cumulative effect of these increases can be substantial.
For applicants in their mid-50s or older who are planning to stay in Spain indefinitely, ASSSA's no-age-increase model can represent meaningful savings over the long term compared to DKV. The caveat is ASSSA's geographic limitation: this long-term financial advantage is only accessible if you are living within ASSSA's SE Spain network footprint and the policy continues to meet your medical access needs.
ASSSA and Quirónsalud: what has changed
One critical development affects ASSSA specifically: ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud hospitals. Quirónsalud is Spain's largest private hospital group, with a significant presence across expat areas in SE Spain — including hospitals in Alicante, Torrevieja, Benalmádena, Málaga, and Valencia. For applicants who assumed ASSSA would give them access to their nearest Quirónsalud facility, this is a material change.
If a specific Quirónsalud hospital near your intended location is important to you, ASSSA cannot currently provide that access. DKV, by contrast, includes Quirónsalud in its contracted network in relevant areas.
Before purchasing ASSSA, verify the current network for your specific location — check that the hospitals and specialists you are most likely to need are still included. Do not assume any particular hospital group is covered without confirming it directly with ASSSA or your specialist agent.
Price: comparable at entry level, but ASSSA requires a quote
DKV Visado starts from €57/month — a published from-price that gives applicants a clear entry-level benchmark. ASSSA does not publish a fixed from-price; a personalised quote is required. A common working benchmark for ASSSA Standard is approximately €53/month, though this varies by age, location, and individual circumstances.
At similar age and location benchmarks, the two insurers are broadly comparable in entry-level cost — ASSSA may be slightly cheaper at entry but this is not guaranteed without a quote. The more meaningful price comparison is over time: DKV's age-based increases mean the gap between the two can widen considerably over years of residency in Spain, potentially making ASSSA the better long-term value proposition for applicants within its geographic footprint.
Who should choose DKV?
- Applicants moving anywhere in Spain outside SE Spain — DKV's national coverage is the practical choice
- Applicants aged 75 — DKV's higher ceiling makes it the only option at this age
- Applicants in SE Spain who specifically need Quirónsalud hospital access
- Those who value the financial security of Munich Re / ERGO Group backing
- Applicants who engage with preventive wellness tools (MyDKV, Ecobono)
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 support from their insurer
- Mid-50s or older applicants who value no age-based premium increases over the long term
- Applicants who have confirmed ASSSA's current network covers their preferred local providers (and do not require Quirónsalud)
- Applicants who want a mutual insurer with a long expat-specialist track record
The honest comparison
DKV and ASSSA serve genuinely different applicant profiles. The right choice is primarily determined by where you are moving and what you need from your insurer day-to-day.
If you are moving outside south-east Spain, or if you need Quirónsalud hospital access in SE Spain, DKV is the more practical choice. Its national coverage means it works wherever you are located. It has a slightly higher age ceiling (75 vs 74). And it does not have the Quirónsalud network gap that affects ASSSA.
If you are moving to Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, or Málaga, and you want English or multilingual customer support, and you are planning to stay in Spain for many years, ASSSA deserves serious consideration — particularly for mid-50s and older applicants who will benefit from the no-age-increase model over time. The one non-negotiable is that you verify ASSSA's current network for your specific location, given the Quirónsalud change. If the hospitals and specialists near you are still in the ASSSA network, and you are not relying on Quirónsalud, ASSSA's multilingual service and stable premiums make it a compelling option.
Both are on 12-month contracts with no copayments. Neither includes dental. Both issue certificates in 48–72 hours. The decision is really about geography, language, and long-term premium stability.
Frequently asked questions
DKV is better for applicants moving anywhere in Spain outside SE Spain — its national network covers all regions. ASSSA is better for applicants in SE Spain (Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, Málaga) who want multilingual support and no age-based premium increases — provided they do not need Quirónsalud hospital access, which ASSSA no longer provides.
No. ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud. This is an important change that affects network coverage in several expat areas in SE Spain. Verify ASSSA's current network for your specific location before purchasing.
Yes — multilingual support (English, German, French, and others) is one of ASSSA's defining strengths as an expat specialist. DKV's customer service and app are primarily in Spanish, with limited English support.
No. ASSSA does not apply age-based premium increases once you have joined. DKV's premiums are age-based and typically increase at renewal as you get older. For long-term residents in SE Spain, ASSSA's stable premium model can represent meaningful savings over a decade or more.
DKV accepts applicants up to age 75. ASSSA accepts applicants up to age 74. The difference is minimal — only an applicant aged exactly 75 would find it relevant. Both are accessible for the vast majority of applicants.
DKV's repatriation cover is not clearly confirmed in its standard Visado documentation. Verify this directly with DKV before purchasing. ASSSA includes repatriation as confirmed standard cover.
DKV has significantly stronger national coverage — 51,000+ contracted professionals across all of Spain. ASSSA's network is primarily concentrated in SE Spain (Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, Málaga). Outside these areas, ASSSA's coverage becomes noticeably thinner.
Get an accurate quote for your age and location
ASSSA requires a personalised quote. DKV's from-price is a starting point. Your actual premium depends on your age, province, and circumstances. Compare both alongside all other visa-compliant 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.