Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Aetna vs Ottonova
What sets them apart
| Compare | Aetna ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | $17 | €284 |
| Excess from | $0 | €500 |
| Cover limit | Aetna Dental Direct PPO $1,000-$2,000 annual maximum; DMO no maximum | Up to 6 months worldwide coverage at no extra charge, unlimited within the European Economic Area |
| Claims channels | Online member account, Phone | App, Chat, Email, Phone, Post |
Same on both: Insurance types (Dental, Health), Provider type (Insurer), Monthly payments (Yes).
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Key differences
- Aetna scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.8.
- Founded is lower at Aetna: 1853 vs 2015.
- Claims channels: only Aetna offers Online member account.
- Claims channels: only Ottonova offers App, Chat, Email.
- Support channels: only Aetna offers Help centre.
- Support channels: only Ottonova offers Email.
Our verdict on each
Aetna
Aetna suits US households that want dental and health cover from a single insurer and pay monthly, with starting premiums of $17 and an excess of $0. The trade-off sits in the cover limit: the PPO plan has an annual maximum, the DMO has none.
Ottonova
Ottonova suits expats and employees in Germany who want health and dental cover handled in an app, with monthly premiums from €284. The premium sits above the site median of €8.37, so it is priced for people who value the digital servicing and the worldwide cover limit rather than the lowest price.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aetna | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Higher | 8.4Monthly premium of €284 sits well above the site median of €8.37, with an excess of €500 on top. |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 8.9 |
Which one suits you
Pick Aetna if cost and trust matter most.
Pick Ottonova if offer matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Aetna | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | 59 of 216 | 23 of 216 |
| Dental insurance | 19 of 50 | 10 of 50 |
Sources behind this comparison
Aetna
- aetna.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Ottonova
- ottonova.de: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aetna | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Not confirmed | Expats |
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Legal entity | Aetna Life Insurance Company | ottonova Krankenversicherung AG (Amtsgericht München, HRB 227378) |
| Headquarters | United States | Germany |
| Founded | 1853Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone |
Pros and cons
Aetna
Pros
- Starting premiums of $17 with an excess of $0, so a covered claim is not cut by a fixed amount you pay first.
- Dental and health from a single insurer, dental and health, which is narrower than Good Sam Insurance Agency at auto, home and renters yet covers what most households ask for.
- Monthly payments are available and the model is monthly, monthly, which suits readers who budget month by month rather than annually.
Cons
- Cover runs to dental and health only, dental and health, so a home or travel policy has to come from somewhere else.
- Support runs on phone, chat and help centre only, which keeps every question to remote channels.
- Claims go through online member account and phone only, with no in-person option offered.
Ottonova
Pros
- Health and dental cover in one place, listed under health and dental
- Monthly payments are available, with a monthly model
- Claims run through the app, chat, email, phone and post under app, chat and email
Cons
- The starting premium of €284 is far above the site median of €8.37
- An excess of €500 applies
- Support runs on email, chat and phone only, with no branch network listed
Who each suits
Aetna
Who it suits
- US households that want dental and health cover under one insurer, since dental and health covers both and US is where it sits.
- Anyone who prefers paying in instalments, because monthly payments are available and the model is monthly, monthly.
- Members who like handling a claim themselves by phone or in the online member account, online member account and phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- Oney Préstamos ES, listed at €1,000, prices a different kind of product, so anyone reading it against a dental cover limit gets no useful comparison.
- Good Sam Insurance Agency, which covers auto, home and renters with no dental line, cannot answer a question about the Aetna PPO annual maximum.
Ottonova
Who it suits
- Expats living in Germany who need treatment covered outside their home market
- Employees covered through a company plan with a monthly payment model
- Anyone who wants dental alongside health cover under health and dental
Who should look elsewhere
- Price-led buyers, since €284 is well above €8.37
- People who prefer a branch or in-person service, as support is limited to email, chat and phone
- Those wanting free policies, unlike bonus.ch at CHF 0
Current offers
Aetna
Current offer
Bonus
CVS ExtraCare Plus membership included in every Aetna Dental Direct plan: $10 monthly reward
Requires registration through the Aetna Health app or Aetna member website; membership ends if you leave an eligible dental plan; minimum $10 purchase on CVS.com; excluded states GA, MN, MO, NJ, NY, OK, TX, VA
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
20% off CVS Health brand products: 20%
In-store only; excludes sale and promo items, alcohol, prescriptions, copays, prepaid gift cards; not combinable with other offers; not valid on other CVS brands
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aetna | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Aetna
How much does dental cover cost at Aetna?+
Starting premiums run at $17 on the dental plans, and monthly payments are available, so the cost lands in instalments rather than a single bill. The payment model is monthly, monthly, so readers who prefer to settle cover once a year will not find that shape here. Read the annual maximum before comparing further.
Is there an excess to pay before a claim is paid?+
The excess starts at $0, so no fixed amount comes off a covered claim before the policy pays. That makes the annual maximum the real ceiling on a year of cover. On Aetna Dental Direct PPO the maximum applies, and the DMO plan has none, so members expecting a heavy year should weigh that ceiling against likely spend.
Ottonova
How much does Ottonova cost?+
Premiums start at €284 a month, with monthly payments available on a monthly basis. That starting figure sits above the site median of €8.37, so expect a higher bill than a typical comparison. The cover also carries an excess of €500.
Is Ottonova regulated?+
Ottonova is supervised in Germany by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin). It operates as an insurer rather than a broker, so it carries the risk on the policies it issues rather than placing it elsewhere.