Dental Insurance (Zahnzusatzversicherung)
In Germany, dental treatment is only partially covered by standard health insurance. For example, in the case of a dental check-up or tooth extraction, the costs are covered by the Krankenkasse. However, when it comes to fillings, dentures, orthodontics, and other dental services, health insurance does not cover the treatment.
There are certain amounts paid by the statutory health insurance – Krankenversicherung – but these only cover part of the dental treatment costs. For example, for a white filling, the Krankenkasse covers part of the dentist’s and assistant’s work as well as part of the cost of the filling. The same applies to a dental crown. If cheaper materials are used, such as silver-coloured amalgam, the health insurance covers the costs in full. In general, dental treatment in Germany is very expensive.
An alternative is to have dental treatment in your home country, but you will need a good dentist and enough time, which is often limited for employees in Germany.
Another option is supplementary dental insurance – Zahnzusatzversicherung. Finding and taking out a Zahnzusatzversicherung can be quite complicated, as there are many offers on the market but also many pitfalls.
How to take out dental insurance in Germany
Private supplementary dental insurance in Germany can be taken out online or by contacting an insurance agent directly. The second option is usually better, as many contractual details remain unclear to migrants without detailed explanations. It is better to be able to ask questions and clarify all relevant points.
How to choose dental insurance – Zahnversicherung
Choosing dental insurance in Germany becomes easier once you know exactly what dental services you need. If, at the time of taking out the policy, you have no serious dental problems and only need annual whitening and high-quality modern filling materials, then an expensive policy is not necessary. For €10–15 per month, you can get private insurance that covers such services. However, if you know you will soon need a crown or an implant, you should carefully review the offers. The best approach is to discuss with your dentist what costs might be involved. The main thing is to understand when the Zahnzusatzversicherung will start paying and what percentage of the total amount will be covered.
How supplementary dental insurance works – Zahnzusatzversicherung
Insurance terms often state that during the first 8 months, no costs are covered. At the end of the first year, the Zahnzusatzversicherung covers a maximum of €1,500, in the second year €2,500, and so on. It is important to note:
– the insurance is not valid immediately,
– it covers only a predetermined annual amount,
– this amount increases over time.
This is an argument for taking out a Zahnzusatzversicherung when no urgent treatment is needed – monthly contributions will be lower, and the available treatment budget will be higher.
A more difficult aspect to understand is how much the insurance will reimburse after you submit the bill for treatment.
Most insurers work with a percentage of the difference between the standard amount (Festzuschuss) set for a procedure and the amount covered by statutory health insurance. For example, for a crown, the statutory health insurance reimburses between €273 and €355. Regular dental check-ups can increase this by 10–15%. If private dental insurance covers, for example, 50% of the Festzuschuss, then if the treatment costs €1,000, the statutory health insurance will pay €300, the private will pay €150, and the rest must be paid by the patient. This makes costs easier to manage but does not fully solve the problem.
On the market, there are offers where the insurer covers a percentage of the total bill or only of the part not covered by statutory insurance.
Another possible pitfall is the dependence of premiums on the client’s age. The policy may be affordable now, but in a few years, moving into a higher age category, you may have to pay more, making it unprofitable.
How to get money from the Zahnzusatzversicherung
After receiving the invoice for dental treatment, you must send it to the insurer. You can also ask your dentist in advance to prepare a treatment cost plan and send it to the insurer – this way, you will immediately know approximately how much will be reimbursed. This is especially advisable for expensive procedures, such as before a dental implant surgery.