When is it worth buying supplementary dental insurance in Germany?

Germany’s public health insurance system is pretty good. Sure, some will complain about looming price increases, or long wait times to see specialists, but generally speaking when you need treatment you’re covered.

However, that’s not always the case when it comes to seeing the dentist (der Zahnarzt).

Statutory health insurance will cover some basic dental care, like the occasional check-up or basic cavity fillings. But other procedures like having teeth pulled and replaced, or even just having your teeth professionally cleaned will cost you – and those costs are not cheap.

For that reason, many Germans pay for supplementary dental insurance, which can really pay off in some cases, depending on how much dental care you need.

So when is adding dental insurance (Zahnzusatzversicherung) worth it, and when is it better to just pay your dentist out of pocket?

What’s already covered?

Let’s start with the fact that the dental care you are afforded with simple statutory health insurance in Germany is still pretty decent.

Generally, you’ll be covered for a regular dental check-up or to receive a basic cavity filling. 

Put simply, your most basic dental needs are generally covered and for many more complex procedures your health insurance company (Krankenkasse) will contribute at least some of the cost.

That said, the catch here is that for many dental procedures you can be left with a hefty bill even after your health insurance coverage has been applied – and not only in extreme cases.

For example, while public health insurance will cover the most basic cavity fillings, your dentist will likely recommend using a more expensive filling material that lasts longer. If you opt for the better care, you’ll be left paying the difference, which can amount to hundreds of euros.

Even a professional cleaning at your dentist often needs to be paid out of pocket, and can cost around €80 to €150. However, some insurers will cover one professional cleaning per year, while others will contribute a portion of the costs. 

To avoid paying extra costs, around 19 million people in Germany pay for supplementary dental health insurance – putting it among the most popular private insurance policies in the country.

EXPLAINED: How dental care works in Germany

It's worth noting that in most cases supplementary insurance does not cover cosmetic treatments, limiting care to what's considered medically necessary. However, some insurance plans may offer a budget for basic cosmetic services like bleaching.

Costs with or without added dental coverage

Added private dental insurance really pays off if you need teeth pulled and replaced, or for dentures.

A recent report by Tagesschau puts the cost of a tooth implant at around €2,000 (with just under €1,000 for the implant and around €1,000 for the crown on top).

Dentures can be similarly expensive, and in many cases basic statutory insurance would contribute to this care up to a fixed amount. As a quick example, if the cost of dentures is €2,000 and your public health insurance covers a fixed subsidy of up to €500 when dentures are needed, then you’d be left paying €1,500 out of pocket.

But with supplementary dental insurance that covers 90 to 100 percent of the co-payment, your own costs would be reduced to €150 or even down to zero, depending on the rate of coverage.

Supplementary dental insurance, however, is not cheap: It commonly runs between €20 and €40 per month, with the price going up as you get older.

At that rate the price of the added insurance comes to around €240 to €480 per year. So whether or not the extra coverage is worth it for you depends on how much dental care you're likely to need. 

READ ALSO: What to know about the roll out of Germany's electronic patient file

Waiting times and maximum limits

Be aware that if your dentist has already recommended a pricey procedure, it’s probably too late to have that covered if you buy supplementary insurance now.

Insurers will not cover treatments that are foreseeable before a contract is made.

Also, supplementary dental insurance often comes with an initial waiting period (up to a few months) and in some cases also a maximum payout limit during the initial years of coverage.

It’s not uncommon for coverage to be capped at around €1,000 in the first year and €2,000 in the second year, for instance. 

What to watch out for when buying supplementary insurance

If you do plan to go ahead and take out supplementary dental insurance, double check on the aforementioned waiting times and initial spending caps.

You’ll also want to look at the proportion of costs that are covered for expensive procedures like dentures or tooth replacements. 

Of course high coverage rates often come with higher premiums, so ultimately you’ll want to weigh the costs of your foreseeable care needs against the monthly contribution you’ll owe.