Updated September 29, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Barmenia vs HanseMerkur
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Barmenia |  HanseMerkur |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | €2.40Lower | €3.36 |
| Insurance types | Auto, Home, Renters, Life, Health, Travel, Pet, Motorcycle, Dental, Critical illness, Income protection, Home emergencyCovers more | Auto, Dental, Health, Pet, Travel |
| Excess from | €250 | €150Lower |
| Claims channels | Online claims form, Phone, Email, Customer portal | Online |
| Cover limit | Unlimited annual maximum benefit (pet surgery cover) | Not confirmed |
| Age range | Any age (dog surgery cover) | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Provider type (Insurer), Monthly payments (Yes).
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Key differences
- Barmenia scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Founded is lower at HanseMerkur: 1875 vs 1904.
- Premium from is lower at Barmenia: €2.40 vs €3.36.
- Excess from is lower at HanseMerkur: €150 vs €250.
- Insurance types: only Barmenia offers Home, Renters, Life.
- Claims channels: only Barmenia offers Online claims form, Phone, Email.
- Claims channels: only HanseMerkur offers Online.
Our verdict on each
Barmenia
Barmenia is a direct insurer founded in 1904, and it suits people who want motor, home, health and pet cover held on a single monthly policy rather than split across separate insurers. Claims can start by online claims form, phone and email, and pet surgery cover is open to Any age (dog surgery cover).
HanseMerkur
HanseMerkur suits households seeking cover for auto, dental, health, pet and travel under direct insurer management with monthly payments available, while listed premiums sit at €3.36 with excess at €150. Support spans email, help centre and phone and claims run through online for straightforward administration.
Score breakdown
| Area | Barmenia | HanseMerkur |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Premium starts at €2.40 against a site median of €8.37, ranking 55 of 252. | 9.0Listed premium sits at €3.36 with monthly payments available. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 8.8Cover spans auto, dental and health with claims through online. |
| Trust | 9.7 | 9.8HigherDirect placement as insurer with support through email, help centre and phone. |
Feature by feature
| Insurance types | Barmenia | HanseMerkur |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Yes | Yes |
| Home | Yes | No |
| Renters | Yes | No |
| Life | Yes | No |
| Health | Yes | Yes |
| Travel | Yes | Yes |
| Pet | Yes | Yes |
| Motorcycle | Yes | No |
| Dental | Yes | Yes |
| Critical illness | Yes | No |
| Income protection | Yes | No |
| Home emergency | Yes | No |
Choosing between them
Pick Barmenia if offer, premium from, and insurance types matter most.
Pick HanseMerkur if excess from matter most.
A third option
KS/AUXILIA has excess from at €0, against €250 for Barmenia and €150 for HanseMerkur.
KS/AUXILIA reviewWhere these facts come from
Barmenia
- barmenia.de: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
HanseMerkur
- hansemerkur.de: 11 facts, checked September 28, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Barmenia | HanseMerkur |
|---|---|---|
| Car insurance | 69 of 375 | 1 of 375 |
| Health insurance | 43 of 216 | 2 of 216 |
| Travel insurance | 83 of 295 | 3 of 295 |
| Pet insurance | 40 of 167 | 2 of 167 |
| Business insurance | 40 of 147 | 3 of 147 |
| Dental insurance | 16 of 50 | 1 of 50 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Barmenia | HanseMerkur |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Legal entity | Barmenia Versicherungen a. G. | HanseMerkur Krankenversicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit |
| Headquarters | Germany | Germany |
| Founded | 1904 | 1875Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Help centre | Email, Help centre, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Barmenia | HanseMerkur | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium from | €2.40lowest quarter | €3.36below the median | €6.02 |
| Excess from | €250highest quarter | €150above the median | €50 |
Median across 116 listed insurance providers.
Pros and cons
Barmenia
Pros
- A single insurer holds auto, home and renters plus home emergency cover, so several personal lines sit with one provider.
- Monthly payments are available and monthly is the listed payment model, which spreads the cost across the year.
- Claims can be started by online claims form, phone and email, so a customer portal sits alongside phone and email.
Cons
- The pet surgery excess starts at €250, so part of a claim bill still comes out of the household's pocket.
- Gadget, landlord and breakdown cover are not among its insurance types (auto, home and renters), so those risks sit with another provider.
- General queries run on phone, email and help centre, and live chat is not among them.
HanseMerkur
Pros
- Operates as insurer, so cover, servicing and claims sit under direct management.
- Lists cover across auto, dental and health, including auto, health, travel, pet and dental in a single portfolio.
- Monthly payments are available, with billing model shown as monthly for budgeting flexibility.
Cons
- Excess sits at €150, which adds upfront cost on eligible claims.
- Claims run through online only, which limits how claims can be started.
- Support runs through email, help centre and phone only, without live chat for urgent queries.
Who each suits
Barmenia
Who it suits
- Households wanting motor, home, health and pet cover arranged by a single direct insurer.
- Owners of older dogs, since Any age (dog surgery cover) applies to the surgery cover.
- People who prefer monthly payments over settling a premium in one go.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers after a narrow line rather than a bundle: Good Sam Insurance Agency lists auto, home and renters and leaves out dental, critical illness and income protection.
- Anyone quoting in a different market: Euroasia Insurance starts at UZS 60,000, priced in another currency from Barmenia's home market of DE.
- Customers wanting a mobile banking account instead of general insurance: bunq quotes €0 for an account, not for auto, home and renters cover.
HanseMerkur
Who it suits
- Households seeking several personal lines together, with cover across auto, dental and health.
- Readers who value direct insurer management, as HanseMerkur operates as insurer.
- Budget planners wanting instalments, since monthly payments are available under monthly.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers wanting live chat support may prefer checking andsafe, since HanseMerkur support runs through email, help centre and phone only.
- Readers seeking cover outside auto, dental, health, pet and travel may look at Hiscox, as HanseMerkur lists auto, dental and health.
Country by country
| Country | Barmenia | HanseMerkur |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Barmenia
How much does cover cost?+
The starting premium is €2.40, which sits below the €8.37 median across the site and places Barmenia at 55 of 252 on that measure. Pet surgery cover also carries an excess starting at €250.
Is there an excess to pay on pet cover?+
On pet surgery cover the excess starts at €250, so at least that much comes off a claim before the balance is paid. Owners with frequent small veterinary bills will feel that contribution more than those making a single large claim.
HanseMerkur
What is the starting premium at HanseMerkur?+
Listed premium for HanseMerkur sits at €3.36. Actual pricing varies by cover type, excess selected, personal details and underwriting terms, so readers should obtain a tailored quote for auto, health, travel, pet or dental cover before comparing.
What excess applies to HanseMerkur cover?+
Excess at HanseMerkur sits at €150. The excess shapes claim costs because policyholders meet that share before insurer payment applies. Readers should check which claims carry excess, whether options differ by product and how excess affects renewal pricing.
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