DFV Private Supplementary Health Insurance Germany | 2026 Overview

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DFV Deutsche Familienversicherung Overview

DFV Deutsche Familienversicherung specializes in supplementary insurance products designed to complement Germany’s statutory health insurance and long-term care insurance systems. Rather than offering comprehensive private health insurance, the company focuses on individual insurance solutions for dental care, hospital treatment, outpatient benefits, travel health, daily sickness benefits, and long-term care.

In addition to its health and care portfolio, DFV also offers accident, liability, property, legal protection, and dog insurance products.

DFV places a strong emphasis on digital administration and customer self-service. Through the DFV app and customer portal, customers can submit claims, upload documents, manage contracts, update personal information, report claims, and access customer support and assistance services online. However, the digital environment and policy documents are primarily designed for German-speaking customers.

DFV Dental Insurance

DFV’s supplementary dental insurance is available in 4 tariff levels – ZahnSchutz 50, ZahnSchutz 70, ZahnSchutz 80, and ZahnSchutz 100. Depending on the selected plan, the insurance covers dental treatment, dentures, implants, orthodontics, and preventive dental care at different reimbursement levels. While reimbursement for dental treatment and dentures increases from one tariff level to the next, preventive dental care is covered at 100% across all plans. Additional benefits include professional teeth cleaning, teeth whitening every 3 years within defined limits, and orthodontic treatment for children and adolescents.

The insurance does not impose waiting periods and includes worldwide coverage. As with many German dental insurance products, reimbursement limits apply during the first years of the contract, with a benefit schedule that gradually increases the maximum amount available.

Several DFV dental tariffs have repeatedly received top ratings from Stiftung Warentest and are among the most recognized dental insurance products in Germany.

DFV Outpatient Insurance

Just like dental insurance, DFV’s supplementary outpatient insurance is available at 4 tariff levels: Basis, Komfort, Premium, and Exklusiv.

However, the product differs significantly from many traditional outpatient supplementary insurance plans. Rather than expanding reimbursement beyond the benefits provided by Germany’s statutory health insurance system, the insurance focuses on reimbursing selected statutory co-payments and providing financial support for certain serious illnesses.

All tariff levels cover preventive examinations at 100% up to €1,000 and vaccinations at 100% up to €200, provided these services are covered by statutory health insurance companies – each every 2 insurance years. In addition, the insurance reimburses statutory co-payments at 100% up to €100 per insurance year for medication, remedies, and medical aids (excluding visual aids), as well as transportation costs related to outpatient treatment. Treatment costs that fall outside the scope of statutory insurance, such as alternative medicine, are not covered.

The most distinctive feature is the additional protection for specified serious medical conditions. Depending on the selected tariff, policyholders may receive annual benefits of up to €3,000, €6,000, or €12,000 following the diagnosis of conditions such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, or certain benign brain tumors. Benefits for heart attacks and strokes are paid for up to 1 year, while benefits for cancer and benign brain tumors may continue for up to 5 years. The Basis tariff does not include benefits for serious illnesses.

DFV Daily Sickness Benefits Insurance

DFV’s daily sickness benefits insurance is designed exclusively for salaried employees with statutory health insurance. Self-employed people are not eligible for the current DFV-KrankenGeld policy. Customers can choose the amount of daily benefits when taking out the policy, although the insured amount may not exceed their net income. The insurance is intended to supplement statutory sickness benefits and provides additional financial support during longer periods of illness.

Benefits are generally paid from the 43rd day of incapacity for work and may continue during rehabilitation measures, hospital stays, and phased returns to work. The insurance can also provide benefits until a disability pension or a reduced-earning-capacity pension becomes payable. In addition, coverage is available when a child becomes ill and requires care.

Unlike many standalone daily sickness benefit products available in Germany, DFV’s policy does not offer flexible benefit start dates. This matters because benefits generally begin only after the statutory salary continuation period for employees. Self-employed individuals should look at other daily sickness benefit products because they are not insurable under the current DFV-KrankenGeld terms.

The insurance has a general waiting period of 3 months and an extended waiting period of 8 months for psychotherapy-related benefits. No waiting period applies in the event of an accident.

DFV Travel Health Insurance

DFV’s travel health insurance is available for individuals and families and provides worldwide protection for trips of up to 2 months. The insurance covers medically necessary outpatient and inpatient treatment, medication, medical aids, transportation costs, dental treatment, and emergency medical repatriation. Additional benefits include search, rescue, and recovery costs, as well as a 24-hour travel emergency hotline. Additional services include arrangements of doctor-to-doctor consultations and assistance with the return of minor children when necessary.

Unlike long-term international health insurance, the policy is intended for temporary trips abroad and is not suitable for extended stays, work assignments, study programs, or long-term residence outside Germany.

The DFV Travel Health Insurance has received top ratings from Stiftung Warentest and is one of the best-rated travel health insurance products in Germany.

DFV Long-Term Care Insurance

DFV’s long-term care insurance is available in 3 tariff levels – Komfort, Premium, and Exklusiv. Depending on the selected plan, policyholders receive monthly benefits based on DFV’s own tariff structure. The Premium and Exklusiv tariffs increase the monthly benefit compared with the Komfort tariff, rather than scaling directly from the statutory state care allowance. Benefits can be used for care at home or in residential care facilities and are intended to supplement Germany’s statutory long-term care insurance system.

A notable feature of the product is its worldwide coverage. Benefits are not restricted to Germany and may continue regardless of where the insured person lives or receives care. This can be particularly relevant for internationally mobile individuals and retirees who plan to spend part of their later years abroad.

In addition to monthly care benefits, the insurance includes various assistance services for care recipients and their families. Policyholders are exempt from future premiums once they reach care grade 5.

The policy also includes a benefit for professional end-of-life and palliative companion care. From care grade 3 onwards, insured individuals may receive a one-time payment equal to 10 times the most recent monthly care benefit, up to a maximum of €7,000, when using eligible professional dying accompaniment, palliative support, or hospice-related services. This should not be confused with assisted suicide or euthanasia. This benefit is subject to a 5-year waiting period.

DFV also offers simplified health underwriting and a guaranteed option to increase benefits in certain situations without a new health assessment. Unlike many long-term care insurance products, no general waiting period applies.

Alternatives to DFV Supplementary Private Health Insurance

Supplementary health insurance products are offered by many traditional and digital insurance providers in Germany. While traditional insurers typically combine comprehensive private health insurance with a broad range of supplementary products, digital providers often focus on simplified administration, multilingual support, and a smaller selection of supplementary health insurance solutions.

Traditional Insurers

Traditional insurers generally offer comprehensive private health insurance, along with supplementary products such as dental, hospital, long-term care, travel health, and daily sickness benefit insurance. These providers primarily serve the German market but are also suitable for many expats.

• Allianz: One of Germany’s largest insurers, offering a wide selection of supplementary health insurance products
• HanseMerkur: Known for its strong presence in supplementary health insurance and travel insurance, with products covering a wide range of healthcare and protection needs
• DA Direkt: Does not offer comprehensive private health insurance and focuses on a small portfolio of supplementary insurance products, including dental insurance and a health insurance plan combining an outpatient health budget with selected hospital benefits.

Digital Insurers and Platforms

Digital providers typically focus on app-based administration, streamlined application processes, and English-language or multilingual support. They are often particularly popular among expats. However, compared with traditional insurers, their supplementary health insurance portfolios are typically more limited.

• ottonova: Digital health insurer focused primarily on comprehensive private health insurance and expat health insurance, complemented by dental and hospital supplementary insurance products
• Feather: Expat-focused insurance provider offering private health insurance, expat insurance solutions, and supplementary dental insurance. Additionally, Feather offers insurance solutions in other categories, including liability, home contents, legal protection, and pet insurance
• Getsafe: Digital insurance platform and independent insurance broker offering access to private health insurance, supplementary dental insurance, and travel health insurance. The company also offers various other types of personal insurance, including liability and legal protection insurance, as well as pet insurance

DFV differs from these alternatives by focusing exclusively on supplementary insurance products within its health and care portfolio rather than offering comprehensive private health insurance. Several DFV health insurance products stand out within the German market. The outpatient insurance combines reimbursement of statutory co-payments with benefits for serious illnesses, while the long-term care insurance includes worldwide coverage and additional benefits beyond those of many standard long-term care insurance products.

Conclusion

DFV follows a different approach from many traditional and digital insurers in Germany. Instead of offering comprehensive private health insurance, the company focuses on supplementary health insurance products while also providing supplemental long-term care insurance solutions. Several products stand out from typical market offerings.

In my view, DFV is particularly interesting for people who are satisfied with their existing public health insurance but want to address individual coverage gaps through specialized supplementary insurance products. The company has built its health and care portfolio around this idea, offering a range of solutions tailored to personal needs and coverage priorities.

For expats and international residents, the main strengths are DFV’s digital claims handling, recognizable dental tariffs, and worldwide long-term care coverage. The main limitation is that customer support, app content, and insurance documents are primarily provided in German, so the products are best suited to customers who are comfortable managing insurance in a German-language environment.

Frequently Asked Questions