Updated September 29, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
HanseMerkur vs Ottonova
HanseMerkur vs Ottonova: the differences
| Compare |  HanseMerkur |  Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | €3.36Lower | €284 |
| Insurance types | Auto, Dental, Health, Pet, TravelCovers more | Health, Dental |
| Excess from | €150Lower | €500 |
| Claims channels | Online | App, Chat, Email, Phone, Post |
| Cover limit | Not confirmed | Up to 6 months worldwide coverage at no extra charge, unlimited within the European Economic Area |
Same on both: Provider type (Insurer), Monthly payments (Yes).
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Key differences
- HanseMerkur scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.8.
- Founded is lower at HanseMerkur: 1875 vs 2015.
- Premium from is lower at HanseMerkur: €3.36 vs €284.
- Excess from is lower at HanseMerkur: €150 vs €500.
- Insurance types: only HanseMerkur offers Auto, Pet, Travel.
- Claims channels: only HanseMerkur offers Online.
- Claims channels: only Ottonova offers App, Chat, Email.
- Support channels: only HanseMerkur offers Help centre.
- Support channels: only Ottonova offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
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.
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 | HanseMerkur | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0HigherListed premium sits at €3.36 with monthly payments available. | 8.4Monthly premium of €284 sits well above the site median of €8.37, with an excess of €500 on top. |
| Offer | 8.8Cover spans auto, dental and health with claims through online. | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 9.8HigherDirect placement as insurer with support through email, help centre and phone. | 8.9 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | HanseMerkur | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | 2 of 215 | 21 of 215 |
| Dental insurance | 1 of 50 | 9 of 50 |
If neither fits
HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AT has premium from at €1.50, against €3.36 for HanseMerkur and €284 for Ottonova.
HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AT reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | HanseMerkur | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Not confirmed | Expats |
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Legal entity | HanseMerkur Krankenversicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit | ottonova Krankenversicherung AG (Amtsgericht München, HRB 227378) |
| Headquarters | Germany | Germany |
| Founded | 1875Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Phone | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | HanseMerkur | Ottonova | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium from | €3.36below the median | €284highest quarter | €5.97 |
| Excess from | €150above the median | €500highest quarter | €70 |
Median across 109 listed insurance providers.
Pros and cons
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.
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
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.
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
Country by country
| Country | HanseMerkur | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
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.