Comparison Table: Dalma vs. HanseMerkur at a Glance
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
Dalma and HanseMerkur in Direct Comparison
HanseMerkur is an established, award-winning pet insurer. Dalma is a fully digital provider with a different approach. On closer inspection, six important differences emerge – for dog owners just as much as for cat owners.
1. Dental Cover: Automatically Included or Paid Add-on?
This is one of the central differences between the two providers. With Dalma, medically necessary dental treatments such as FORL, gingivitis, and periodontitis are automatically included in the health cover after a 12-month waiting period. You don't need to book an add-on and pay no surcharge.
With HanseMerkur, dental cover is an optional add-on that must be booked separately. The surcharge is approx. €2 to €3 per month depending on the tariff. In return, the HanseMerkur dental add-on has been significantly more comprehensive since 2026 and covers not only extractions but also fillings and dental prostheses – benefits not included in Dalma's standard scope.
Why this matters: FORL is one of the most common and most expensive conditions in cats. If you don't actively add the dental add-on with HanseMerkur, you are not covered for dental conditions. With Dalma, this cover is automatically included.
2. Developmental Disorders: Full Benefit vs. €5,000 Cap
With Dalma, diagnoses such as hip dysplasia (HD) or elbow dysplasia (ED) fall under regular cover after a 12-month waiting period: Dalma pays within the full scope of the chosen annual maximum benefit – up to unlimited.
HanseMerkur offers up to €5,000 for developmental disorders in the Premium Plus tariff – with a special waiting period of only 6 months. This is the shortest waiting period on the market for these diagnoses and a clear advantage of HanseMerkur. In the Comfort tariff, however, special conditions are not insured.
Concrete example: Your dog needs a hip operation costing €6,000.
- With Dalma: After a 12-month waiting period, the full annual maximum benefit is available (up to unlimited). The €6,000 would be covered.
- With HanseMerkur (Premium Plus): After only 6 months' waiting period, HanseMerkur reimburses up to €5,000. You bear the remaining €1,000 yourself.
Depending on your priority (shorter waiting period vs. higher benefit), one provider or the other may be a better fit here.
3. Simplicity: One Clear Package vs. Modular Add-ons
HanseMerkur offers a very extensive, modular system: three tariff variants, three excess models, and several optional add-ons (dental, pet assistance, preventive care plus). This gives you a lot of control – but can also become complex.
Dalma is deliberately simpler. You choose between surgical insurance and health insurance, adjust the reimbursement rate (80% or 100%) and annual maximum benefit (€1,500 to unlimited) – and automatically have dental cover, behavioural therapy, telemedicine, and a preventive care budget in the package. No add-ons you could forget.
4. Telemedicine and Reimbursement Speed
With Dalma, every package includes unlimited access to video consultations via FirstVet. Your reimbursement rate remains unaffected. In addition, Dalma has the operational target of reimbursing approved invoices within 48 hours. Submission is fully digital via the Dalma app.
HanseMerkur does not highlight a dedicated telemedicine partnership on the currently reviewed product pages. Invoices can be submitted via the ServiceApp, online, or by post. In Trustpilot reviews, some customers report fast reimbursement, others report longer processing times.
5. Preventive Care Budget: Dalma from Day 1, HanseMerkur with Upgrade Option
Dalma offers a preventive care budget of €70 or €100 per year in the health cover, available without a waiting period from day 1. It can be used for vaccinations, deworming, descaling, and castration, among other things.
HanseMerkur also offers up to €100 preventive care. In addition, the Premium Plus tariff offers the optional Preventive Care Plus add-on with €250 per year (for €11.90 extra per month). Those willing to book the add-on receive a significantly higher preventive care budget than with Dalma.
6. Cancellation Protection and Long-term Security
Both providers communicate a waiver of cancellation following a claim – an important criterion for many pet owners. However, there are differences in the detail. Dalma waives the extraordinary right to cancel clearly and without restriction from the 2nd contract year onwards.
With HanseMerkur, the new 2026 tariffs state: if the contract is ordinarily cancelled after the end of the 3rd insurance year, HanseMerkur commits to submitting a new offer with adjusted conditions. That is good protection, but not identical to a complete waiver.
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
Who Does Each Provider Suit?
Dalma may be particularly well-suited to you if you:
- Want dental cover automatically in the package (without an add-on)
- Value fast, fully digital reimbursement (target: 48 hours)
- Appreciate telemedicine as a fixed component (FirstVet unlimited)
- Prefer a simple, transparent package (no add-ons)
- Expect full benefits for developmental disorders (up to unlimited after 12 months)
- Want to insure multiple animals (15% multi-pet discount)
- Value cancellation protection without restriction from the 2nd contract year
HanseMerkur may be right for you if you:
- Prefer an established, award-winning insurer
- Value modularly assembled tariffs with add-ons
- Need shorter waiting periods for developmental disorders (6 months in Premium Plus)
- Want an extended preventive care budget (up to €250 with Preventive Care Plus)
- Desire comprehensive dental cover incl. fillings and prostheses (dental add-on)
- Prefer personal advice by telephone and traditional communication channels
If simplicity, automatic dental cover, fast digital reimbursement, and telemedicine matter more to you than modular add-on options, Dalma can be the more coherent choice.
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
Quick Test: Dalma or HanseMerkur?
If the following points matter to you:
This decision aid does not replace individual advice, but gives you quick orientation.
What Makes Dalma Special?
Dalma is a fully digital pet insurer with over 60,000 insured animals in Europe:
✓ Dental cover included: FORL, gingivitis, periodontitis automatically in health cover after 12 months. No add-on required.
✓ 48h reimbursement: Operational target: reimburse approved invoices within 48 hours.
✓ Telemedicine in every package: Unlimited video consultations via FirstVet – voluntary and free of charge.
✓ Flexible package design: Reimbursement rate (80%/100%) and annual maximum benefit (€1,500 to unlimited) individually selectable.
✓ Preventive care budget from day 1: Up to €100/year for vaccinations, deworming, descaling, castration.
✓ Cancellation waiver: From the 2nd contract year, no cancellation right following a claim.
✓ Full benefit for developmental disorders: After 12-month waiting period within the annual maximum benefit (up to unlimited).
✓ Behavioural therapy: Up to 5h/year, vet-prescribed (health cover).
✓ Alternative therapies: Physiotherapy, osteopathy, acupuncture, homeopathy.
✓ Free choice of vet worldwide.
✓ 15% multi-pet discount for multiple animals.
✓ 100% digital, app-first – no paperwork.
✓ Approx. 4.6 stars on Trustpilot (3,800+ reviews).
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
Conclusion: Dalma or HanseMerkur?
HanseMerkur is an established, award-winning pet insurer with a comprehensive, modular tariff offering. The new 2026 tariffs bring significant improvements – particularly the Premium Plus tariff with unlimited reimbursement and only 6 months' waiting period for developmental disorders. The extended dental add-on with fillings and prostheses is also a strength. At the same time, HanseMerkur relies on a modular system with add-ons that requires more configuration.
Dalma is the more suitable choice for many pet owners when simplicity, automatic dental cover, and digital speed are the priority. With Dalma, you get a clearly configured package with dental cover, telemedicine, and preventive care included – without needing to book additional add-ons. Added to this are cancellation protection without restriction and the 48-hour reimbursement target. Whether for a dog, a cat, or both.
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dalma vs. HanseMerkur
Is dental cover included with Dalma?
Yes. FORL, gingivitis, and periodontitis are automatically included in the health cover after a 12-month waiting period. Prophylactic descaling is covered via the preventive care budget. With HanseMerkur, dental cover is a paid add-on (approx. €2–3/month), which in return also covers fillings and dental prostheses.
Is Dalma or HanseMerkur more affordable?
That depends strongly on the type of animal, breed, age, and chosen tariff. Dalma starts from approx. €4.99 (surgery) and €15.99 (health cover). HanseMerkur is approx. €28 (Comfort) to €42 (Premium Plus with dental) for a Jack Russell (1st year of life, €500 excess). A fair comparison should take into account not only the entry price but also dental cover, preventive care, waiting periods, and reimbursement speed.
How do the waiting periods differ?
Dalma: 14 days (surgery), 30 days (illness), 2 days (accident), 12 months (HD/ED/FORL), 18 months (patellar luxation). HanseMerkur: 1 month general, no waiting period for accidents, 6 months for special conditions in Premium Plus (12 months in Premium). Preventive care usable from day 1 with both providers.
How are developmental disorders handled?
Dalma covers these after a 12-month waiting period within the full annual maximum benefit (up to unlimited). HanseMerkur offers up to €5,000 in Premium Plus after only 6 months' waiting period. Those who prefer a shorter waiting period have the advantage with HanseMerkur. Those who need higher benefits without a cap are better served by Dalma.
Is telemedicine available with Dalma?
Yes. Every package includes unlimited access to video consultations via FirstVet – voluntary, free of charge, and with no impact on the reimbursement rate. HanseMerkur does not highlight a comparable telemedicine partnership on its current product pages.
How quickly does Dalma reimburse?
Dalma's operational commitment is reimbursement within 48 hours after approval of all documents. Submission is fully digital via the Dalma app.
Is there cancellation protection with HanseMerkur?
Yes, HanseMerkur waives cancellation following a claim. However, in the new 2026 tariffs: if the contract is ordinarily cancelled after the 3rd insurance year, HanseMerkur must submit a new offer with adjusted conditions. With Dalma, the waiver from the 2nd contract year is formulated without restriction.
Do I need add-ons with HanseMerkur?
That depends on your needs. Dental cover, pet assistance (pet boarding during hospital stay), and Preventive Care Plus are each paid additional options. With Dalma, dental cover, behavioural therapy, telemedicine, and the preventive care budget are automatically included in the health cover.
Can I only take out surgical insurance with Dalma?
No, Dalma offers a pure surgical insurance, comprehensive health cover, and the option of liability insurance – for dogs and cats.
Is there a multi-pet discount?
With Dalma, you receive a 15% discount on the cheapest contract for multiple animals. HanseMerkur enables simultaneous insurance of multiple animals but does not communicate an explicit discount.
Who insures the animal into old age?
Both providers accept enrolment up to the 8th year of life (Dalma: up to before the 9th birthday). Animals once insured with both providers retain lifelong cover. With Dalma, the coverage rate for illness decreases by 5% per year from the 10th year of life. Accident cover remains unchanged.
What awards does HanseMerkur have?
HanseMerkur was awarded by Focus Money as "Fairest Pet Insurer" with "Very Good" for the second time in a row (issue 13/2025). At AssCompact Trends 2/2025, HanseMerkur took 1st place in the pet health insurance category. These are strong trust signals for an established provider.
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
Sources and Further Links
Dalma
- dalma.co/en-de – Calculate your quote
- dalma.co/en-de/blog/dog-health-insurance-comparison
- dalma.co/en-de/blog/cat-health-insurance-comparison
- de.trustpilot.com/review/dalma.co
HanseMerkur
- hansemerkur.de/tierversicherung – Pet insurance overview
- hansemerkur.de/hundekrankenversicherung – Dog health insurance tariffs
- hansemerkur.de/tierkrankenversicherung – Pet health insurance general
- hansemerkur.de/faq/tier-krankenversicherung – FAQ
- hm-tierversicherung.de/faq – Frequently asked questions (pet insurance)
- de.trustpilot.com/review/www.hansemerkur.de – Trustpilot (all divisions)
- dogvers.de/hansemerkur-tierkrankenversicherung-tarifanpassungen-2026 – Tariff changes 2026
Note: This comparison refers to publicly communicated product information and documents from HanseMerkur and Dalma. Contributions and benefits may vary depending on age, breed, health status, and package choice. As of: 11 March 2026.
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
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