How we earn our money
We finance our services on how-to-germany.com through affiliate programs.
When a user orders a financial product through our site and their application is approved, we may receive a commission from some providers. It’s important to note that this does not in any way influence our independent ratings and recommendations.
All the products we present on how-to-germany.com are selected for their quality, range of services, and excellent value for money.
DKV Private Health Insurance
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.
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 (BestMed 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.
It provides full reimbursement for many standard treatments but applies more restrictions to specialist access, dental prosthetics, and international coverage outside Europe.
The Basic tariff applies more restrictions to specialist access, dental prosthetics, and international coverage outside Europe.
Comfort tariff: BestMed BMK / BMKD
The Comfort (BestMed BMK / BMKD) 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.
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.
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.
International coverage
Across all tariffs, coverage within Europe generally applies to temporary stays without a fixed time limit. In contrast, German international health insurance ranges from around 1 month in entry-level plans to up to 6 months in more comprehensive tariffs.
Across all tariffs, coverage within Europe generally applies to temporary stays without a fixed time limit. In contrast, coverage outside Europe depends on the selected tariff.
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, as well as simpler top-up models such as Z80, Z90, and Z100, which increase the statutory reimbursement level rather than covering full costs. KombiMed plans do not apply waiting periods, but benefit limits apply during the first years. 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 insurer with app-based management and a comprehensive private health insurance model
- Feather: Expat-oriented provider with simplified onboarding and clear, English-language plan structures
- Getsafe: App-based platform offering streamlined products and a focus on quick and accessible setup
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. 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.