Is it reasonable to pay 30 to 50 euros per month for supplementary dental insurance—especially if, over the course of a year, only a single filling is needed, costing around 150 to 180 euros? For many families who are integrating into everyday life in Germany and have to calculate every euro carefully, this is a legitimate question.
The first visit to the dentist in Germany often comes as a surprise. Even a seemingly simple treatment for a child or an adult can result in a bill that is significantly higher than expected. It is precisely after such experiences that many people begin to look more closely at the topic of supplementary dental insurance.
What statutory health insurance covers – and what it doesn’t
Statutory health insurance covers basic dental services such as check-ups, standard fillings and medically necessary treatments. For dentures, the principle of a fixed subsidy applies: the health insurance fund pays a fixed amount, regardless of the type of treatment chosen.
However, high-quality materials, aesthetic fillings, bridges or complex root canal treatment are often only partially reimbursed. This means that even relatively simple dental treatments can quickly cost several hundred pounds.
Why supplementary dental insurance exists
Supplementary dental insurance is designed to cover precisely those costs that are not covered or only partially covered by statutory health insurance. Depending on the tariff, high-quality fillings, bridges, implants, root canal treatments or professional teeth cleaning, among other things, can be reimbursed.
It is important to note that supplementary dental insurance is not compulsory, but rather a financial precautionary measure. For some people, it is not necessarily advisable. For others, it can provide noticeable relief in certain situations.
A practical calculation example
Concrete examples help illustrate when supplementary dental insurance can actually be worthwhile. In one family, a dental treatment included, among other things, a root canal cleaning and the placement of a bridge. The total cost amounted to 1,026 euros. The supplementary dental insurance reimbursed 828 euros, which corresponds to about 81% of the total costs. According to the contract, the maximum reimbursement was up to 85%; however, not all services were fully covered.
In this case, the monthly premium for the supplementary dental insurance for two adults was 48 euros. This example shows that supplementary insurance can significantly reduce the financial burden when extensive and costly treatments are required.
The situation is different if, over the course of a year, only a standard filling is needed. In such cases, the annual insurance premiums may be higher than the actual treatment costs. Therefore, it is important to realistically assess one’s own situation before signing a contract.
Individual or family costs
The cost of supplementary dental insurance depends on several factors. One of the most important is the age of the insured person: premiums are generally lower for younger people, but increase with age.
For families, it may also be worth looking into family rates. In some cases, joint insurance is cheaper than individual policies for each family member. It is therefore always worth comparing different offers.
Good to know: these are typical pitfalls
Before taking out supplementary dental insurance, you should pay particular attention to the following points:
– Waiting period – a period during which insurance cover is limited or does not yet apply;
– Annual and biennial reimbursement limits, especially in the first years of the contract;
– Exclusions for pre-existing dental problems – treatment for teeth that are already damaged is often not covered;
– Phrases such as ‘up to’ (‘up to 85%’) do not automatically mean maximum reimbursement in every case.
What families with children should pay attention to
Families with children should carefully check the following before taking out supplementary dental insurance:
– the exact terms and conditions of the contract;
– which services are covered and to what extent;
– waiting periods and reimbursement limits;
– whether the monthly premiums are in line with the family’s actual needs.
Specialised comparison portals such as Check24 can be helpful for an initial overview and comparison of different offers:
https://www.check24.de/zahnzusatzversicherung/
They allow you to compare benefits, prices and reimbursement models for different tariffs.
Where to find further information
As insurance terms and conditions are subject to change, it is advisable to consult official and independent sources of information. These include, among others:
– What the health insurance fund pays at the dentist
https://tuenews.de/was-die-kasse-beim-zahnarzt-zahlt/
– Supplementary dental insurance: is it worth taking out?
https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/wissen/geld-versicherungen/weitere-versicherungen/zahnzusatzversicherungen-lohnt-sich-ein-abschluss-12943
– Supplementary dental insurance – risks and benefits
https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/wissen/gesundheit-pflege/krankenversicherung/zahnzusatzversicherung-risiken-und-vorteile-41293
– 10 tips: How to save money on dental prostheses
https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/wissen/gesundheit-pflege/aerzte-und-kliniken/10-tipps-so-sparen-sie-geld-beim-zahnersatz-12910
By Oleksandr Maishev
tun26012008