Should you trust Ottonova? An objective review

Ottonova is an insurance company in Germany. They sell their own private health insurance and dental insurance.

This review explains why you should not choose Ottonova, and what you should do instead.

Summary

Ottonova is a very small insurer with great marketing.9 It’s okay, but it’s not special.2 You can find better, cheaper health insurance if you ask an expert.

If you need health insurance for a visa or residence permit application, there are other options.

Don’t trust the marketing

Bloggers recommend Ottonova because it pays well. If they convince you to choose Ottonova, they get €500.1 These articles are not written by customers or by insurance experts. They are ads.

If you want a honest health insurance recommendation, talk to an independent health insurance broker. It’s the best way to choose health insurance, and it’s free.

I also get paid to help you choose health insurance. I get paid no matter what you choose, so I want you to get the best possible option.

What you need to know

It’s private health insurance

Ottonova sells private health insurance and expat health insurance. It might not be the best option for you. Before you choose, understand your options and how health insurance works.

It’s valid for a visa application

When you apply for a German visa or residence permit, you need valid health insurance.

Ottonova’s health insurance works for this. You can use it to apply for a freelance visa, work visa or Blue Card, for example.

How to apply for a residence permit

Health insurance for a residence permit

It’s expensive

Ottonova is more expensive than comparable private health insurances. You can get a better deal if you ask an expert.2

Talk to a insurance broker to find a cheaper option. Be careful; choosing the cheapest option can be a serious mistake, and cost you a lot of money later.

They speak English

Ottonova has 24/7 English-speaking customer service. If you don’t speak German, this is very important.

Public health insurers like Techniker Krankenkasse, AOK and Barmer unofficially have English-speaking customer service. Their website is in German, but you can easily get help in English.

If you get health insurance from an English-speaking insurance broker, you can always get help from your broker. They can help you make insurance claims, and answer your insurance questions.

It’s a very small insurer

Ottonova is a very small health insurer, and it’s not profitable. They lost 2.3 million euros in 2024.8

They are in business since 2017.4 In 2023, they only had 5,470 clients with private health insurance.7 Other insurers have hundreds of thousands of customers.3 Their solvency rating is also below average.5

Small health insurers are riskier. In 2010, a private health insurer with 25,000 members almost went bankrupt because of two sick patients.10 City BKK’s bankruptcy shows what happens to you if your health insurer goes bankrupt.

If you plan to live in Germany for a long time, choose a stable health insurer.6

What experts say about Ottonova

This is what independent health insurance brokers think of Ottonova:

“It’s a decent provider, but there is no real reason to chose them over others. They don’t have the best terms and conditions. They don’t have the best price/value. They are not the only one that is super digital. So as a broker, even though they pay really good commissions, it would not be my first or second choice/recommendation.”
— Seamus Wolf, April 2025

“As a newer player, it lacks the long-term track record and product breadth of traditional insurers. Always get a comparison, you might find better offers that suit your needs more closely.”
— Emily Archer, April 2025

“Let’s put it this way: it’s an insurance company like any other (only smaller) that has very good marketing.”
— Mona Anbari, April 2025

Ottonova alternatives

There are hundreds of health insurance options. The best option depends on your situation, and your plans for the future.

You should…

  1. Understand how to choose health insurance, and which health insurance you need for your residence permit. Use my health insurance picker to know your options are.
  2. Talk to a health insurance broker, who will help you choose the best option for your situation. Their help is free. If Ottonova is the best insurance for you, they will tell you.
  3. If it still makes sense, get a quote from Ottonova, and decide if it works for you.

How to choose health insurance

You should never choose private health insurance yourself. It’s a complex decision, and you can make expensive mistakes.

Ask a health insurance broker to help you. It’s the best way to choose health insurance. If Ottonova is the best option, they will tell you.

How to choose health insurance

Sources and footnotes
  1. ui.awin.com 

  2. Seamus Wolf (March 2025), Dr. Schlemann (2023) 

  3. health-insurance.de (the numbers here are higher because they include all types of insured customers, not just those with private health insurance) 

  4. businessinsider.de, ottonova.de 

  5. Dr. Schlemann 

  6. Dr. Schlemann 

  7. online-pkv.de 

  8. handelsblatt.com (2025), ottonova.de (2024) 

  9. Dr. Schlemann (2023), Seamus Wolf (March 2025), Mona Anbari (April 2025) 

  10. Wikipedia