DKV Health Insurance Spain: An Honest Review for Expats
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Having lived in Spain for over six years, I’ve gained firsthand experience with both the public and private healthcare systems, giving me unique insights into the benefits and challenges of each. Securing private health insurance is not only a legal requirement for obtaining Spanish residency but also essential for accessing faster and more efficient healthcare services.
In this review of DKV Health Insurance Spain, I’ll share insights from my experience to help you evaluate the best healthcare providers, focusing on the pros and cons of DKV, one of the most prominent options for expats in Spain. This guide will help you decide if DKV aligns with your specific healthcare needs as an expat.
Key Points
DKV offers a wide range of plan and pricing options to fit different needs
DKV prices can be slightly higher than average for the industry
We rated DKV Best Provider Network for giving access to over 51,000 professionals
Table of Contents
About DKV Health Insurance
What DKV Covers
DKV Health Insurance Pricing
DKV Health Insurance Spain Reviews
How DKV Compares to Other Options
DKV Review: Overall Score
About DKV Health Insurance
DKV is a leading health insurance provider in Spain. It has a large network of more than 51,000 medical professionals and offers savings for family plans. You can get everything from primary care to dental services and psychotherapy. DKV offers no-copay plans, though you can choose to make a copay to get a lower monthly premium.
What DKV Covers
DKV offers four main health insurance plans that work for different situations:
DKV Famedic Plus: Basic coverage for families which doesn’t cover some services like mental health or surgery
DKV Professional: Mix-and-match plan that balances coverage and cost.
Personal Doctor: Comprehensive insurance that includes communication with a personal doctor, pedeatrician, and health assistant
DKV Integral: Comprehensive insurance without the personal doctor/health assistant communication
Besides these, DKV also offers a reimbursement insurance plan called Residentes. This means you pay for the services upfront and get reimbursed up to 80% for out-of-network facilities and 100% for in-network facilities. The plan reimburses €3,000 per year.
DKV Integral is a popular choice. Here are a few of the main services DKV Integral covers:
Primary care and 24-hour emergencies
Medical specialists
Hospitalisation and surgery
Diagnostic tests
Therapy
Dental service
Medical care in the event of a work-related or traffic accident.
DKV's insurance product also provides specialized offerings, enhancing the overall coverage:
Proactive Health Programs: Including early detection and prevention programs for various health conditions.
Enhanced Psychotherapy Coverage: Offering up to 40 sessions per year for specific cases.
Occupational Teletherapy Coverage: Virtual sessions for neurological disorders, with up to 12 assured sessions per year.
Extensive Prosthetic Coverage: Comprehensive coverage for surgical prostheses.
Diagnostic Genetic Testing: For conditions like celiac disease.
Post-surgical Breast Reconstruction: Emphasizing holistic care and recovery.
DKV Limitations
Waiting periods apply to some services with DKV. A 6-month waiting period applies to:
Non-urgent hospitalization and surgical procedures
Biomechanical gait anlysis
Childbirth appointments are subject to a waiting period of 8 months and transplants have a waiting period of 12 months.
DKV also excludes certain things from coverage:
Issues that already existed when you bought the plan
Consequences of violent acts, epidemics, catastrophes, and nuclear or radioactive reactions
Injuries from professional sports or high-risk activities
Treatment for aesthetic or cosmetic purposes
Facilities that are not listed in the DKV Seguros network (unless covered with Residentes)
DKV Health Insurance Pricing
DKV health insurance pricing ranges based on how many people you want to cover and their ages. You can get a fast quote on the DKV website, but be aware that you’ll need a Spanish zip code. If you haven’t moved yet, use one in the city where you’ll be located.
We received a quick quote for a single male born in 1990. The price for an Integral plan was €79.39 per month for a plan with no copay, €72.17 for a low copay, and €36.08 for a high copay. Overall, we’ve found prices from DKV are a bit higher than pricing from some competitors like Adeslas and Feather.
DKV Health Insurance Spain Reviews
DKV has mixed reviews on Trustpilot, where it has a 2.5-star rating overall. However, the company responds to its negative reviews, which is good to see.
Positive DKV reviews recount stories about reliable customer service agents who take the time to resolve issues. People say the coverage they got matched what was written in the contract.
Negative DKV reviews often cite issues with not having pre-existing conditions covered or long wait times. Some customers disagreed when DKV said an issue was pre-existing and denied coverage.
DKV Health Insurance Spain Reviews
Pros of DKV Health Insurance
Compliance with Legal Requirements ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
DKV’s expat insurance meets the health insurance requirements for various Spanish visas including the Spain Digital Nomad Expat Visa, Golden Visa, Non-Lucrative Visa, and Entrepreneur Visa, making it an ideal choice for expats needing to fulfill legal obligations.
Comprehensive Coverage ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
DKV Health Insurance policy offers extensive coverage, similar to Spain's public health system, encompassing emergencies, consultations, diagnostic tests, surgeries, hospitalizations, and more.
With features like unlimited coverage within Spain, no copayments or deductibles, and immediate policy effect, DKV provides a robust safety net.
Inclusive Repatriation Coverage ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
The inclusion of repatriation of remains makes it a thoughtful choice, especially for expats living far from their home countries.
Extensive Network and Global Assistance ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Access to over 51,000 doctors and a wide medical network, coupled with global emergency coverage, is a boon for expats.
Cons of DKV Health Insurance
Cost Consideration ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Depending on the plan, DKV's premiums might be higher than some local providers, potentially affecting budget-conscious expats.
Complexity of Plans ⭐⭐ (2/5)
With a wide array of options and specialized services, choosing the right plan might be overwhelming for some expats.
Limited Global Coverage Duration ⭐⭐ (2/5)
Although global emergency coverage is included, it’s capped at 180 days, which might not suffice for expats who travel extensively.
How DKV Compares to Other Options
DKV Review: Overall score (7,5/10)
DKV offers comprehensive coverage, including access to over 51,000 medical professionals, making it an ideal option for expats looking for wide-reaching healthcare services. Its plans cover a broad range of medical needs, from primary care to psychotherapy and even specialized programs.
However, DKV's pricing can be slightly higher than some competitors, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious expats. The complexity of its plan options may also be overwhelming for some, and global coverage is limited to 180 days. While DKV has a strong reputation and network, areas like cost and plan complexity could be improved.
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