AXA Schengen vs DR-WALTER vs HanseMerkur

AXA Schengen vs DR-WALTER vs HanseMerkur

Product information checked on 3 October 2026.

AXA Schengen, DR-WALTER Provisit Visum and HanseMerkur Visum offer insurance designed for Schengen visa travel, but their medical limits, prices and eligibility rules differ. AXA Basic provides €30,000 medical cover, with higher limits on Essential and Premium. DR-WALTER advertises unlimited cover for eligible medical expenses. HanseMerkur Visum has a €50,000 total limit per insured person across the contract term.

This comparison looks at the named products and their published conditions. Other products from the same providers can have different benefits. See the official sources below.

SchengenSure does not sell AXA insurance. AXA is included for comparison using publicly available product information.

SchengenSure may receive a commission when you buy through its partner links. Our calculator compares available DR-WALTER and HanseMerkur plans; it does not provide an AXA quote.

The main differences at a glance

•       AXA offers a choice of medical limits. Compare the particular plan, rather than treating every AXA policy as Basic.
•       DR-WALTER offers a higher medical ceiling than the two entry-level policies. Its unlimited medical cover remains subject to exclusions and limits for individual services.
•       HanseMerkur can cost less for the examples below. Its lower premium comes with a €50,000 aggregate limit and an age eligibility cutoff.

The right choice depends on your age, trip length, medical needs and preferred claims process. The price alone does not tell you whether a policy suits your trip.

AXA Schengen vs DR-WALTER vs HanseMerkur comparison table

AXA figures refer to its current Basic, Essential and Premium single-trip plans. The DR-WALTER and HanseMerkur columns compare travel health cover; optional packages cost extra.

Sources: AXA product pages and 2026 policy documents; DR-WALTER product information, September 2026 premium sheet and conditions; HanseMerkur Visum product page, premium sheet and VB-KV 2023 terms. Details and links appear below. Insurance duration does not extend your permitted visa stay.

Compare available Schengen visa insurance plans

Enter your birth date and travel dates to compare estimated DR-WALTER and HanseMerkur costs. Check the final price and conditions with the provider before buying.

How the medical limits compare

For a standard short-stay Schengen visa application, Article 15 of the EU Visa Code requires at least €30,000 of adequate travel medical cover for the intended stay or transit and relevant territory. It must cover urgent medical attention, emergency hospital treatment, medical repatriation and death-related expenses. A compliant policy supports the insurance part of your application; the consulate assesses the full application.

AXA Basic Essential and Premium

AXA Basic starts with €30,000 medical cover and offers an optional increase to €50,000. Essential lists €100,000, with an optional increase to €250,000. Premium’s linked 2026 information document and policy benefit table specify up to €2 million.

Check the policy issued to you. At the review date, AXA’s Premium webpage also contained lower figures in parts of its table. We use the €2 million figure supported by the linked policy documents, but your quotation, certificate and applicable conditions must confirm the cover you purchase.

DR-WALTER Provisit Visum

DR-WALTER describes Provisit Visum as providing unlimited medical-cost cover. This means eligible treatment has no overall monetary ceiling; it does not mean every expense is covered. Separate service limits, exclusions and claims requirements still apply. DR-WALTER distributes and services the product, while the named insurer is Würzburger Versicherungs-AG.

HanseMerkur Visum

HanseMerkur’s €50,000 limit applies to the combined insured events during the contract term for each insured person. It is not a fresh €50,000 allowance for every illness. This figure is specific to the Visum product compared here.

Compare the total trip cost

A headline starting price can describe a different trip length or package. AXA’s advertised entry prices therefore cannot establish which provider is cheapest for your journey. Obtain its quote for the same dates, age and benefits.

For health-only cover, DR-WALTER publishes €1.10 per day through age 64 and €6.50 from age 65, with a €20 minimum premium and a €9.40 processing fee. HanseMerkur lists €1.20 per day through age 64 and €2.50 for ages 65–74, with a €10 minimum.

SchengenSure calculations from the published rates, including applicable minimum premiums and DR-WALTER’s processing fee. Travel days are inclusive. These estimates exclude optional packages and assume eligibility; the provider confirms the final price and age band. Sources [8] and [13].

For the first example, DR-WALTER’s daily premium totals €16.50, so the €20 minimum applies before the processing fee is added. Compare the resulting total with the medical limits and exclusions. For help choosing the insurance period, read how many days of Schengen travel insurance you need.

Direct hospital settlement and reimbursement

Direct settlement means the provider pays an eligible bill to the hospital or doctor. Reimbursement means you pay first and submit the bill for assessment. All three providers have arrangements that can support direct hospital payment, but none should be treated as guaranteeing cashless care at every hospital.

•       AXA: Its medical assistance guidance describes direct hospital billing, especially for larger inpatient costs. Ordinary outpatient treatment can require payment followed by a claim.
•       DR-WALTER: The medical information card offers doctors a direct billing process. The provider must accept it, and the treatment must fall within the cover.
•       HanseMerkur: Its Visum terms provide for a hospital cost guarantee through the emergency service where necessary. Contact that service immediately for inpatient treatment.

Ask the assistance team to confirm the arrangement for your hospital and treatment. Keep the case number, medical reports and receipts if reimbursement is needed. In an emergency, seek urgent care and contact assistance as soon as you can.

Visa refusal refunds and fees

AXA publishes a premium refund process for official visa refusal. Its guidance requires proof and a request before cover begins. Transaction, money-transfer and exchange costs are excluded under its refund conditions.

DR-WALTER advertises a premium refund when the traveller does not enter because of visa refusal. Ask specifically whether the separately charged processing fee is refundable; a premium refund statement alone does not settle that question.

HanseMerkur states that cover ends if the authority refuses the visa. That clause does not specify an unconditional full premium refund. Confirm the amount, required documents and any charges directly before purchasing.

Keep the policy number and official refusal notice. An insurance premium refund should not be confused with reimbursement of visa fees, flights or hotel bookings.

Age limits trip length and existing medical conditions

AXA advertises no upper age limit for the plans discussed. Provisit Visum also has no upper age limit, with a higher daily premium from 65. HanseMerkur’s linked legal terms require the insured person not to have reached 75; its public FAQ uses “75 or under.” Travellers aged 75 should get written confirmation before buying. The published rate sheet lists bands only through age 74.

Maximum policy periods are 180 days for the AXA single-trip plans and Provisit Visum, and 365 days for HanseMerkur Visum. A longer insurance period does not grant a longer authorised stay. Use insurance suitable for your actual visa or residence purpose.

Age eligibility also does not establish cover for an existing illness. Ask the insurer about known conditions, recent treatment and planned care. For example, DR-WALTER’s conditions contain an exception for acute, unforeseen deterioration of a pre-existing condition; HanseMerkur excludes known complaints and foreseeable consequences under its conditions. The exact wording and your circumstances matter.

Which plan deserves a closer look

If you want a choice of medical limits and broader packaged benefits, compare AXA’s higher plans as well as Basic. If your priority is avoiding a fixed overall medical ceiling, examine Provisit Visum’s conditions. If total premium is your first concern and you qualify, HanseMerkur is worth checking against the examples above.

For parents visiting family, check age eligibility and existing medical conditions before making the price comparison. For a longer visit, check the maximum duration and whether the product suits your legal stay. These are starting points for your comparison, not a universal ranking of the providers.

Check the certificate before your visa appointment

Check your name and identification details, the cover dates, the relevant Schengen territory, the medical limit and the required emergency and repatriation benefits. Follow your consulate’s local insurance guidance. Article 15 also addresses where insurance is normally obtained and whether claims can be recovered in a Member State; the provider’s country alone does not determine acceptance.

Frequently asked questions

Is AXA Schengen better than DR-WALTER

The relevant AXA plan matters. Basic has a €30,000 medical limit; Essential and Premium have higher limits. Provisit Visum advertises unlimited eligible medical cover. Compare the total premium, exclusions and assistance process for your circumstances.

What is the HanseMerkur Visum medical limit

The Visum product reviewed here lists €50,000 per insured person for all insured events during the contract term. A figure from another HanseMerkur product should not be used for this comparison. Check the product name and benefit schedule.

Which provider is cheapest for a 15 day trip

For the age-30 health-only example, the calculated totals are €18.00 for HanseMerkur and €29.40 for DR-WALTER, including its minimum and processing fee. AXA needs a quote for the same trip. Different ages, durations and options can change the comparison.

Does unlimited medical cover include every treatment

No. An unlimited overall ceiling still leaves exclusions, eligibility requirements and limits for particular services. Check whether the treatment itself is covered and whether approval is required. Provisit Visum’s medical limit is not a promise to pay every medical expense.

Can a European hospital bill these providers directly

Direct hospital payment can be arranged, subject to the provider’s assistance process and covered treatment. Ask for confirmation for your case. You may still need to pay some expenses and seek reimbursement.

Can I buy AXA insurance through SchengenSure

No. SchengenSure does not sell AXA insurance. We include AXA’s publicly available information to help readers compare products. Our calculator estimates available DR-WALTER and HanseMerkur plans; obtain an AXA quote directly from AXA.

Compare available cover for your trip

Use your travel dates and age to compare the available plans, then review the provider’s final quotation and conditions. Choose cover that matches both your visa documentation and your medical protection needs.

Compare available Schengen visa insurance plans

The calculator provides estimates for available DR-WALTER and HanseMerkur plans. AXA is included in this article for information only. Product availability, prices and conditions can change.

Official sources and comparison method

SchengenSure compared the public product pages, premium schedules and linked policy documents below on 3 October 2026. Prices in the examples are our calculations from those schedules, rather than live quotes. We did not conduct a claims-service test or assign customer ratings. Your issued policy and applicable conditions govern cover.