DKV vs Caser: at a glance
| Feature | DKV | Caser |
|---|---|---|
| Plan name | DKV Visado | Caser Adapta + Dental + Repatriation |
| From price | €57/month | €46.95/month ✓ |
| Contract length | 12 months | 12 months |
| Max joining age | 75 ✓ | 69 |
| Dental cover | Not included | INCLUDED (Sonrisa Esencial) ✓ |
| Repatriation | Not clearly confirmed — verify | CONFIRMED (named in plan) ✓ |
| No copayments | ✓ | ✓ |
| No waiting periods | ✓ | ✓ |
| Certificate | 48–72 hrs via agent | 48–72 hrs via agent |
| Network | 51,000+ pros + 23 DKV centres ✓ | 45,000+ professionals |
| English support | Limited | Via 247 Expat Insurance ✓ |
| Insurer ownership | ERGO Group / Munich Re | Caser Seguros |
| DGSFP authorised | ✓ | ✓ |
DKV repatriation cover: verify before purchasing
Repatriation cover for DKV Visado is not clearly confirmed in standard publicly available policy documentation. Since repatriation is a requirement on most Spanish visa applications, you must verify with DKV or your agent that the specific policy you are purchasing includes repatriation before committing. Caser's repatriation inclusion is explicitly confirmed and named in the plan title.
Price: Caser is significantly cheaper
The price gap between DKV and Caser is meaningful. DKV Visado is publicly priced from €57/month. Caser Adapta from €46.95/month — a difference of approximately €10.05/month or around €120.60/year at entry level. Over a typical three-year residency period, that is a saving of over €360 on entry-level premiums alone.
The gap is even more significant when you factor in dental. DKV does not include dental. Caser includes dental (Sonrisa Esencial) as standard. If you are comparing total out-of-pocket healthcare costs in Spain, Caser's combined medical-plus-dental policy is substantially better value than DKV's medical-only policy at a higher starting price.
Dental: Caser includes it, DKV does not
Among all non-Sanitas visa-compliant insurers, Caser is the only one that includes dental as standard. The Sonrisa Esencial benefit covers routine dental care from day one of the policy — no waiting period, no separate arrangement required. DKV Visado does not include dental cover.
In Spain, dental treatment is not covered by the public health system (seguridad social) for adults. Routine private dental care — check-ups, scale and polish, basic fillings — is a recurring cost that most expats will face. Having dental included in the base health insurance policy, as Caser does, removes this as an additional budget item. For DKV policyholders, dental is a separate cost on top of the higher monthly premium.
Age limits: DKV's biggest advantage
DKV accepts new applicants up to age 75. Caser's maximum joining age is 69. This six-year difference is DKV's most significant advantage over Caser in this comparison, and it is a decisive one for applicants in that age bracket.
If you are aged 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75, Caser is simply not available to you. DKV is one of the two main options for this age group (Sanitas being the other, also accepting to age 75). For anyone under 70, Caser is available and is the stronger policy on price and dental. The age split here is clean:
- Under 70: Caser is cheaper, includes dental, repatriation confirmed. Choose Caser.
- 70–75: Caser is not available. DKV or Sanitas are your main options.
- Over 75: Neither insurer is available. No standard visa-compliant policy covers applicants above 75.
Aged 70 or over? Caser cannot help.
Caser Adapta has a maximum joining age of 69. If you are 70 or above, compare DKV (max 75) and Sanitas (max 75) — both accept applicants in this age group without requiring a medical review at standard enrolment.
Repatriation: confirmed with Caser, uncertain with DKV
Repatriation cover is a requirement in most Spanish visa health insurance policies — Spanish consulates typically require the policy to include it. Caser Adapta's repatriation cover is explicitly confirmed — it is named in the full policy title (Caser Adapta + Dental + Repatriation). There is no ambiguity.
DKV Visado's repatriation cover is not clearly confirmed in standard publicly available policy documentation. This does not necessarily mean it is absent — but it means you need to specifically verify with DKV or your agent that the policy you are purchasing includes repatriation before using it as documentation for your visa application. If your consulate rejects the certificate because repatriation cannot be confirmed from the policy wording, you will face delays and potentially a new application.
Network: DKV has a slight infrastructure edge
DKV has a network of 51,000+ healthcare professionals across Spain, plus 23 DKV-owned medical centres. The owned centres give DKV a modest infrastructure element — not on the scale of Sanitas's owned hospitals, but a genuine differentiator compared to Caser, which has a purely contracted network of 45,000+ professionals.
For most day-to-day GP and specialist use, the practical difference between 51,000 and 45,000 contracted professionals is minimal — both networks provide adequate coverage in major Spanish cities and coastal areas. In specific provinces, it is worth checking both cuadros médicos against your intended location before committing.
Who should choose Caser?
- Applicants aged under 70 — Caser is cheaper and includes dental
- Anyone who wants dental included from day one — not available on DKV
- Cost-conscious applicants — €46.95/month versus DKV's €57/month
- Applicants who need repatriation clearly confirmed in the policy wording
- English-speaking applicants — 247 Expat Insurance provides full English support for Caser
Who should choose DKV?
- Applicants aged 70–75 — Caser's maximum is 69, DKV accepts to 75
- Applicants who specifically want access to DKV's 23 owned medical centres
- Applicants in specific areas where DKV's network is demonstrably stronger locally — verify both cuadros
Our verdict
For applicants aged under 70, Caser is the stronger choice. It is approximately €10/month cheaper, includes dental as standard (the only non-Sanitas insurer to do so), and has repatriation explicitly confirmed in the policy name. Both run 12-month contracts — so that is a tie.
DKV's genuine advantage is its higher maximum joining age of 75. If you are 70 or above, Caser is not available to you and DKV is the main non-Sanitas option. Also worth comparing: Sanitas accepts to 75 and, while more expensive, includes dental and an English-language digital platform (BLUA) — for older applicants willing to pay more for a higher-quality product, Sanitas should be in the comparison.
The DKV repatriation uncertainty is a material concern. If your consulate requires evidence of repatriation cover (most do), you need that explicitly confirmed in your policy documentation before submitting your visa application. Do not assume it is included — verify with DKV before purchasing.
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
For applicants under 70, Caser is better — cheaper (€46.95/month vs €57/month), includes dental as standard, and has confirmed repatriation. For applicants aged 70–75, DKV is the main option as Caser does not accept over-69 applicants. Both run 12-month contracts.
DKV Visado's repatriation cover is not clearly confirmed in standard publicly available documentation. You must verify this directly with DKV or your agent before purchasing, since repatriation is required for most Spanish visa applications. Caser explicitly includes repatriation — it is named in the policy title.
DKV Visado accepts new applicants up to age 75. Caser Adapta has a maximum joining age of 69. For applicants aged 70–75, DKV is the primary non-Sanitas option — Sanitas also accepts to 75 and should be compared alongside DKV for this age group.
Yes. DKV Spain is owned by the ERGO Group, a subsidiary of Munich Re — one of the world's largest reinsurance groups. DKV is DGSFP-authorised and has operated in Spain for many years. In Spain it operates 23 of its own medical centres in addition to a contracted network of 51,000+ professionals.
Neither DKV nor Caser provides English-language corporate customer service equivalent to Sanitas's BLUA platform. For Caser, the specialist broker 247 Expat Insurance provides English-language support throughout the application and policy management process. DKV's support is primarily Spanish-language.
DKV is the clear choice for applicants aged 70–75 — Caser does not accept new applicants over 69. At this age the relevant comparison is DKV (max 75) vs Sanitas (also max 75). Sanitas offers a stronger English-language experience and wider network; DKV is worth comparing on price and local network coverage for your specific region.
DKV has a stronger focus on preventive healthcare and wellness tools than Caser — their app includes health monitoring and preventive check-up features. This is a genuine differentiator for health-conscious applicants. For most applicants focused on compliant insurance at good value, Caser's dental inclusion and lower premium outweigh DKV's preventive-care tools in this comparison.
Get a Caser quote — dental included, from €46.95/month
247 Expat Insurance are specialist English-language agents for Caser. Get a personalised quote or compare all insurers including Sanitas and DKV at our full quote tool.
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.