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DKV Private Health Insurance
Written by
Janine El-Saghir
Janine El Saghir is an editor at How-to-Germany.com, where she specializes in the practical aspects of daily life and integration for expatriates. With years of...
Reviewed by
Erkan Boga
Erkan Boga is the founder and CEO of qmedia GmbH, the publishing house behind How-to-Germany.com. He established the platform with the clear vision of creating...
Edited by
Sadie Voss
Content Lead & Editor
Sadie Voss is the Lead Editor for How-to-Germany.com. As an expat who carved her own way into Berlin from the United States, Sadie is deeply...
- English Support: Available, but not consistently across all services
- Digital App / Claims Handling: App-based claims submission and health services available
- Best For: Expats and policyholders who prefer clearly structured tariff tiers with defined coverage levels
DKV Private Health Insurance Overview
DKV private health insurance is provided by DKV Deutsche Krankenversicherung, one of the largest private health insurers in Germany and part of the ERGO Group. The company offers comprehensive health insurance plans, as well as a wide range of supplementary products to meet different coverage needs.
DKV is also affected by ERGO’s wider brand strategy. The DKV brand is scheduled to be visually integrated into the core ERGO brand from 2027. Existing tariff terms, conditions, and insurance contracts are expected to remain unchanged, but users may increasingly see ERGO branding instead of the traditional DKV identity.
Unlike more individually configured systems, DKV structures its private German health insurance around clearly defined tariff tiers. These plans combine outpatient, inpatient, and dental care with varying levels of coverage, making them easier to compare across different price and benefit levels.
- DKV structures its private health insurance around clearly defined tariff tiers.
- These plans combine outpatient, inpatient, and dental care with varying levels of coverage.
- DKV has a strong presence in supplementary insurance.
- DKV is less focused on highly individualized or digital-first models.
- Entry-level plans apply more restrictions to specialist access, dental prosthetics, and international coverage outside Europe.
- Coverage outside Europe ranges from around 1 month to up to 6 months, depending on the tariff.
In addition to full private health insurance, DKV has a strong presence in supplementary insurance, particularly for those covered by statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung). This includes dental, hospital, and ambulatory add-ons, as well as broader package solutions.
Overall, DKV positions itself as a large, product-driven provider with a clear tariff structure and a broad portfolio, rather than focusing on highly individualized or digital-first models.
DKV Key Health Insurance Tariffs
DKV’s comprehensive private health insurance is structured into 3 main tiers: Basic, Comfort, and Premium, each with a clearly defined level of coverage.
Basic tariff: BestMed BME
The Basic tariff is DKV’s BestMed Eco line, usually shown with the internal tariff codes BME 1 and BME 2. This distinction matters because expats may see either the consumer-facing name BestMed Eco or the tariff code BME in broker quotes, application documents, or policy comparisons.
The Basic (BestMed Eco / BME) tariff focuses on core medical coverage, with cost-control elements such as higher deductibles and a primary care model in which initial treatment typically occurs through a general practitioner before referral to a specialist. For adult policyholders, BME 1 has a €680 annual deductible, while BME 2 has a €1,200 annual deductible.
It provides full reimbursement for many standard treatments but applies more restrictions to specialist access, dental prosthetics, and international coverage outside Europe. Under the BME primary care model, bypassing the general practitioner and going directly to a specialist can reduce reimbursement to 75% of eligible medical costs instead of 100%. This penalty generally does not apply to emergencies, pediatricians, gynecologists, or ophthalmologists.
The Basic tariff applies more restrictions to specialist access, dental prosthetics, and international coverage outside Europe. In the BME tariff, using a specialist directly without following the primary care route can reduce reimbursement to 75%, except in defined cases such as emergencies, pediatricians, gynecologists, or ophthalmologists.
Comfort tariff: BestMed BMK / BMKD
The Comfort (BestMed BMK) tariff expands benefits across all areas, including treatment beyond standard fee schedules, improved coverage for alternative practitioner treatments, and access to a 2-bed room with chief physician treatment in the hospital.
BMKD should not be treated as a separate primary tariff line. It is a dental add-on tariff designed to be combined with the BMK 0–3 lines. Its purpose is to improve dental reimbursement beyond the standard BMK dental limits, rather than replacing the main BestMed Komfort tariff.
Dental benefits and international coverage are also extended compared to the Basic tier.
The Comfort tariff expands benefits across all areas, including treatment beyond standard fee schedules, improved coverage for alternative practitioner treatments, and stronger hospital benefits. BMKD is a dental add-on module for BMK, not a separate primary Comfort tariff.
Premium tariff: PremiumMed PMN
The Premium (PremiumMed PMN) tariff offers the highest level of coverage, with very comprehensive reimbursement for outpatient, inpatient, and dental services.
This includes high allowances for vision care, strong coverage for alternative treatments, and up to 90% reimbursement for dental prosthetics, with no staged benefit limits. Hospital coverage includes single- or double-room accommodation.
The Premium tariff offers the highest level of coverage, with very comprehensive reimbursement for outpatient, inpatient, and dental services.
DKV tariffs also differ by deductible structure, hospital benefits, dental reimbursement, international coverage, and premium refund potential. The exact premium depends on age, health status, deductible choice, and underwriting, so broker quotes should be checked carefully before comparing DKV with other private insurers.
| Tariff line | Consumer-facing name | Typical deductible setup | Key positioning | Coverage outside Europe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BME | BestMed Eco | BME 1: €680/year for adults; BME 2: €1,200/year for adults. | Entry-level private health insurance with stronger cost-control elements and more restrictions. | Up to around 1 month; in medical emergencies, this may be extended up to around 3 months if repatriation is not possible. |
| BMK | BestMed Komfort | Deductible options vary by BMK version and should be checked in the quote. | Comfort-level coverage with stronger outpatient, hospital, dental, and alternative-practitioner benefits. | Up to around 6 months; if travel is medically impossible due to illness or injury, coverage may be extended for up to around 2 additional months. |
| BMKD | BestMed Komfort Dental | Optional dental add-on for BMK 0–3, not a standalone primary tariff. | Dental top-up module for improving dental reimbursement beyond standard BMK limits. | Follows the main BMK tariff context; it should not be assessed as a separate full health insurance tariff. |
| PMN | PremiumMed | PremiumMed is designed as a high-benefit tariff; deductible and contribution details should be confirmed in the individual offer. | High-tier coverage with very comprehensive outpatient, inpatient, and dental reimbursement. | Up to around 6 months. The 12-month limit belongs to separate travel-insurance contexts, not the native PMN full-health tariff. |
DKV may also offer premium refunds (Beitragsrückerstattung) if no reimbursable claims are submitted during a qualifying period. This can reduce the effective annual cost for healthy policyholders, but it should not be treated as guaranteed income. Expats should compare the possible refund against the risk of paying smaller medical bills themselves just to preserve the refund.
International coverage
Across all tariffs, coverage within Europe generally applies to temporary stays without a fixed time limit. In contrast, worldwide coverage outside Europe depends on the selected full private health insurance tariff. Entry-level BestMed Eco (BME) generally covers stays outside Europe for up to around 1 month. If a medical emergency prevents repatriation, this may be extended up to around 3 months. The BestMed Komfort (BMK) tariff generally covers temporary stays outside Europe for up to around 6 months, with a possible extension of up to around 2 additional months if travel is medically impossible due to illness or injury. The PremiumMed (PMN) tariff also generally covers temporary stays outside Europe for up to around 6 months; it should not be described as having 12 months of built-in worldwide coverage.
Across all tariffs, coverage within Europe generally applies to temporary stays without a fixed time limit. Outside Europe, BestMed Eco (BME) is much more limited than BestMed Komfort (BMK) and PremiumMed (PMN). BMK and PMN generally provide up to around 6 months of temporary coverage outside Europe, while BME is generally limited to around 1 month.
Expat Reality Check
- Clear Tariff Structure: Distinct plan tiers (Basic, Comfort, Premium) make it easier to compare coverage levels
- Broad Coverage Options: Comprehensive benefits across outpatient, inpatient, and dental care
- Strong Supplementary Portfolio: Wide range of add-ons for those with statutory health insurance
- Established Provider: One of Germany’s largest private health insurers with a long track record
- International Coverage: Protection within Europe is unlimited; coverage outside Europe depends on the tariff
- Complexity: Multiple tariff levels and options can require a detailed comparison
- Limited Expat Focus: No dedicated expat tariffs or simplified onboarding
- Less Flexible Than Modular Systems: Fixed tariff tiers allow less customization than fully configurable models
- International Limits: Coverage outside Europe is time-limited and varies by plan
- Traditional Setup: Digital services exist but are not as central as with digital-first providers
Dental and Vision Coverage
Private dentist German insurance in DKV varies by tariff level. The Basic tariff typically covers preventive and conservative treatments in full, while reimbursement for dental prosthetics is lower and subject to benefit limits in the initial years. Higher-tier tariffs increase reimbursement levels, with the Premium tariff offering up to 90% for prosthetics and removing staged limits.
For those with statutory health insurance, DKV offers a broad range of dental supplementary plans. These include comprehensive KombiMed tariffs covering treatment, prosthetics, implants, and orthodontics. The KombiMed Zahn Z80, Z90, and Z100 tariffs are not simple subsidy top-up models. They are percentage-based dental cost-reimbursement plans that can cover 80%, 90%, or 100% of the actual dental invoice, depending on the selected plan and treatment conditions. This can include higher-cost dental care such as implants and inlays. DKV’s separate KombiMed Zahn KDT tariff is the more traditional top-up model that increases the statutory fixed subsidy for dental prosthetics. The modern percentage-based KombiMed Zahn Z80, Z90, and Z100 tariffs do not apply waiting periods, but benefit limits apply during the first years. By contrast, the KombiMed Zahn KDT tariff applies an 8-month waiting period before benefits can be claimed, except in cases of accidental injury. Dental supplementary insurance is valid within the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland but does not extend to other countries.
Vision coverage is included within DKV private health insurance, with reimbursement levels depending on the selected tariff and typically defined through fixed allowances for glasses and contact lenses.
Additional coverage is available for those with statutory health insurance through ambulatory supplementary insurance, which is structured in tiers and expands benefits to include higher allowances for visual aids and refractive procedures, such as laser eye surgery. More comprehensive plans also include benefits for hearing aids, medications, preventive care, and alternative practitioner treatments, usually within defined limits.
Alternatives to DKV Private Health Insurance
Traditional private health insurers differ in how they structure their tariff lines and the extent to which coverage can be adjusted within or across plans.
- Allianz: Modular system with extensive customization options across individual benefit areas
- AXA: Structured tariff model with predefined coverage levels and integrated benefits
- Barmenia: Flexible provider combining modular elements with individually configurable tariff components
Digital providers emphasize usability, English-language support, and fully digital processes across application and policy management.
- ottonova: Fully digital private health insurer combining comprehensive coverage with integrated telemedicine and app-based contract administration
- Feather: Digital provider focusing on transparent insurance structures, simplified application processes, and straightforward policy management
- Gothaer: Mobile-friendly provider offering multiple different types of insurance plans for expats with a variety of different needs
DKV is characterized by clearly separated tariff lines, where coverage is primarily defined by the selected plan rather than detailed customization within it.
Conclusion
DKV private health insurance is built around distinct tariff tiers, with coverage levels largely determined by the selected plan rather than by detailed customization within it. Core benefits include outpatient, inpatient, and dental care.
In practice, this structure makes plan differences more transparent and emphasizes selecting the right tariff from the outset. Compared to more individually configured models, adjustments within a plan are more limited.
DKV is therefore particularly suitable for expats abiding by German visa requirements, as they may need clearly structured plan options. However, expats should check tariff-specific limits carefully, especially for primary-care rules, international coverage outside Europe, dental waiting periods, and the upcoming ERGO brand transition. On the other hand, those seeking more flexible or highly tailored coverage may find other providers a better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
DKV can be suitable for expats who prefer clearly structured plan options and transparent differences between tariffs. However, the system requires some familiarity with private health insurance in Germany and does not specifically target expats.
Sick pay (Krankentagegeld) is not part of the core health insurance benefits and is typically arranged separately or added depending on the selected tariff. It is particularly relevant for self-employed individuals and freelancers who do not receive statutory sick pay.
Dental benefits vary by tariff level. Preventive and conservative treatments are typically covered in full, while reimbursement for prosthetics increases in higher tiers, reaching up to 90% in Premium tariffs and with fewer or no benefit limits.