The Definitive Guide to Dental Insurance in Germany

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on dental insurance in Germany for 2024.

In this article, you’ll learn the ins and outs of this policy, including:

• Why 17.8 million Germans choose to get supplemental dental insurance
• What it covers,
• What it doesn’t
• How it compares to your current coverage
• How much it costs
• And most importantly, how to know if dental insurance is for you

Be sure to read to the end because we’ll share best practices for finding a great dental insurance plan to protect yourself (and your wallet) from those hefty dentist bills.

Let’s get started.

Additional dental insurance: What’s the point?

Private additional dental insurance is designed to protect you from the costs of treatments like:

• Professional dental cleanings (ranging anywhere from €85 to €200)
• Preventative treatments like fluoride for strengthening enamel
• High-quality tooth fillings
• And even the expensive operations like implants, which €3000 or more (for just one)!

With prices starting at €10.90 monthly, dental insurance gives you the luxury of opting for quality services beyond “standard care” (more on that soon).

The policy pays for itself with two yearly dental cleanings, which typically cost €120 each.

Before you sign up for dental insurance, it’s worth reading through this article because while most insurance companies will tell you they have the best plan, accessible services can vary drastically, even if the costs are similar.

Why would you need supplemental dental insurance?

Public health insurance gives you minimal coverage when it comes to dentistry. It’s limited to what the industry calls “standard care”:

• Also called basic care or Regelversorgung in German. 
• It focuses on providing the right level of treatment without going beyond what is necessary. 
• It includes the essential procedures but doesn’t always involve the most advanced options. 
• In other words, public health insurance covers dental treatments that help keep teeth healthy but are not visually pleasing (e.g., crowns made of concrete). 

If you want better than this, you should choose additional dental insurance.

Let’s take a look at some examples to drive this home:

Coverage & Services	With supplemental dental insurance	With public health insurance
Basic coverage	Yes ✅	Yes ✅
Flexible coverage	Yes ✅	No ❌
High-quality treatments & materials	Yes ✅	No ❌
Option for deductible limits	Yes ✅	No ❌
Option for 100% coverage	Yes ✅	No ❌
100% coverage for denture	Yes ✅	No ❌
Cosmetic treatments	Yes ✅	No ❌

Dental insurance costs compared to public insurance

Let’s examine how much you’d pay for popular treatments with and without health insurance.

	Professional Teeth Cleaning	Tooth Implant	Mouth guard
Typical cost of the procedure in Germany.	€140	€3000	€790
Public health insurance reimbursement (this can change between companies and over time)	€40	€609	€345
Out-of-pocket payment without dental insurance	€100	€2,391	€445
Dental insurance reimbursement	€100	€2,152	€435
Out-of-pocket payment with dental insurance	€0	€239	€10

These examples are just averages; the specific costs and reimbursement amounts may vary depending on circumstances and your insurance company. However, it should be clear that dental insurance can result in significant savings for most.

What does additional dental insurance cover?

Professional dental cleaning

Professional teeth cleaning is essential for reducing the risk of caries and tooth decay. Most dental insurance plans will cover a yearly cleaning. 

Here is how Feather’s coverage compares to the public system:

Feather’s basic plan	Feather’s advanced plan	Public health insurance (can vary between providers)
€150 per year	Unlimited	Maximum €50 per year

Dental treatments

Most dental plans will insure treatments not or partly covered by public health insurance.

This should include:

• High-quality fillings
• Root canal treatments
• Mouth guards
• Pain relief treatments

On the other hand, public health insurance would only provide basic care-level (Grundvorsorge) treatments:

• Fillings: Covers only amalgam fillings (metallic silver color). 
• Root canal treatments: Covered only if it can preserve the tooth.
• Pain relief treatments: Covered only when deemed medically necessary.

Tooth replacement

This is one of the most important benefits of additional dental insurance, as it can be pretty expensive, ranging from €1,000 for a crown to €3,000 for an implant. 

The most common reason for tooth replacement is significant damage or loss of one or more teeth, which fillings can’t treat. This can result from decay, gum disease, trauma, or injury.

The treatments included in the best dental plans are:

• Crowns
• Implants
• Dental bridges
• Inlays and onlays

The best dental plans typically cover at least 90% of the costs. Feather’s advanced dental plan offers flexible coverage. With this plan, you can cover anywhere from 80% to 100% of these expenses.

Tooth & jaw alignment

Dental insurance can help you cover up to €2000 for braces and aligners. However, there is a crucial detail to remember: you must begin the treatment before you turn 21. If you require braces or aligners due to an accident, this age limit does not apply.

Orthodontists estimate that around 45 percent of children need braces, meaning dental insurance can save most families a lot of money.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a process that uses chemicals to make teeth look whiter and brighter. In 2024, it was the most popular procedure people requested when visiting the dentist. 

Since teeth whitening is considered cosmetic and not essential for medical health, it’s not included in public health insurance coverage.

However, some insurance plans provide financial support to help with teeth whitening costs. The treatment needs to be done again every one to two years to keep teeth consistently white. 

Feather’s advanced insurance plan includes a benefit of €200 every two years for whitening. 

What does additional dental insurance not cover?

Supplementary dental insurance provides more benefits than public insurance. However, it has specific rules about what it covers:

1. This insurance doesn’t cover treatments recommended or started before buying the policy. If a dentist suggests a treatment, getting this insurance later won’t cover it.
2. During the application, you must tell the insurer about any treatments you plan to have so the company can decide your coverage.
3. Most insurance plans limit benefits in the first three years, which may reduce coverage or set limits on dental payments.
4. Some plans have a waiting period when you sign up, and you won’t get reimbursed for dental costs during this time. The length of this period can vary, so check your plan details. (Feather’s plan has no waiting period).
5. Certain conditions can stop you from getting supplementary dental insurance. Having gum disease, missing many teeth, or using a night guard can keep you from qualifying for some insurance plans.

TL;DR: Get insurance before you need it. If you wait until your dentist suggests treatment, you won’t be able to get insurance for it.

How much does dental insurance cost?

The cost of dental insurance depends on your plan type and age at enrollment. Here’s what you should consider when evaluating prices from different providers:

1. Plan types and age: Plans vary in cost. Older individuals might pay more because the risk of needing dental work increases with age.
2. Replacing lost teeth: Your monthly premium will increase if your plan covers replacements like implants or dentures.
3. Aging provisions: Some plans have “aging provisions,” which start with higher costs but keep rates stable as you age, protecting you from sudden cost increases.
4. Plans without aging provisions: They will usually increase costs every 5 or 10 years to match rising healthcare costs.
5. Treatment costs and premiums: Rising treatment costs from inflation or new technology may lead to higher premiums over time.
6. Payment options: Paying premiums annually instead of monthly might offer discounts, saving you money if you can pay upfront.
7. Evaluating plans: Look at benefits and cost changes over time to choose a plan that suits your dental care needs now and in the future.

Dental insurance premiums: Breakdown by age

At Feather, we have a transparent pricing policy. Here’s exactly how much you’ll pay depending on your age:

Age	Basic	Advanced, with 80% tooth replacement coverage	Advanced, with 90% tooth replacement coverage	Advanced, with 100% tooth replacement coverage
0-20	€15.90	€15.70	€16.00	€17.50
21-30	€10.90	€16.35	€18.85	€23.60
31-40	€10.90	€22.35	€28.55	€36.60
41-50	€10.90	€27.65	€36.85	€47.80
51-60	€10.90	€35.65	€49.25	€64.50
61+	€10.90	€40.95	€57.45	€75.50

Is supplemental dental insurance worth it?

Supplemental dental insurance is usually worth it, but a definite answer requires you to consider a few factors. Here’s a simplified guide to determine if this insurance is for you.

1. Do you have your bases covered?

Supplemental dental insurance costs about €30 monthly, but liability insurance costs less than €5. 

At best, dental insurance can protect you for a few thousand euros, while liability insurance up to 50 million euros. Take care of must-have insurance, then consider dental insurance.

2. How is your oral health?

This question should be the main factor when deciding if dental insurance is worth it.

If you have a history of dental treatments, it’s definitely worth your while.

If you have impeccable teeth and never need work done, then it’s probably not. You’d be better off saving money every month (for example, using pension insurance), and if public health insurance does not reimburse all the costs, you can cover them yourself.

3. Do you care about aesthetics? 

If you want realistic (and thus expensive) dentures or materials, you must be ready to double (or even triple) your dentist’s bill. In these cases, dental insurance is worth it. It’s also worth it if you commit to using your allowance for yearly cleanings.

How to choose the best dental insurance plan

Here is a simple guide to choosing the best dental insurance in Germany:

Prioritise benefits, not price

Look beyond the monthly premium and focus on the benefits. Cheap plans may have hidden limitations that could cost more in the long run.

A good plan should cover a range of services, including professional teeth cleaning, preventative care, and major treatments like implants, crowns, and bridges, which are typically the most expensive.

The best benefits cover major treatments

Since dentures, implants, and crowns often incur the highest costs, prioritize plans offering substantial coverage in these areas. Aim for a plan that reimburses at least 75-90% of costs.

High-quality inlays made of materials like ceramic or gold can be costly, so choose a plan that covers these costs beyond what public health insurance offers.

Check reimbursement rates and limits

Plans with 100% coverage for dental prostheses tend to be more expensive. Consider plans that cover 90% of costs and manage the remainder through premium savings.

Be aware of reimbursement caps, especially in the policy’s early years. The best plans offer at least €1,000 in annual reimbursement during the initial years and eventually remove these caps.

Look out for waiting periods

Most plans have waiting periods (often eight months) before coverage begins to prevent immediate claims on pre-existing conditions. However, some plans waive this if you can prove good dental health with a recent examination.

Certain insurers like Feather offer plans without waiting periods, which can be beneficial if you need immediate coverage.

Determine if you want professional teeth cleaning

Some plans reimburse the total cost of professional teeth cleaning, which can effectively cover the annual premium. Check the reimbursement rates for these services to maximize your benefits.

Consider your age

Orthodontics might be essential for children, whereas adults should focus on prostheses and preventative care. Young adults should ensure the plan offers long-lasting and high-quality prosthetic options.

Protect yourself from price increases.

There are two kinds of plans when it comes to cost changes:

1. Plans without age provisions: they are cheaper initially and offer more flexibility to switch or cancel, but they may become costlier over time.
2. Plans with age provisions: these ensure your costs remain stable over time but are rarely worth it if you plan on canceling the policy.

Important things to know before buying dental insurance

We don’t want you to get caught off guard when it comes to dental insurance, so here are a few rules to keep in mind:

1. Dental insurance does not cover treatments that are already needed. If you plan to get insurance because your dentist has recommended a procedure, it won’t be covered immediately. You need to have the insurance in place before any problems are identified.
2. Coverage is limited, with a payment cap in your insurance’s first three to five years. Check your policy terms before relying on it for major dental work right after signing up.
3. You may need to pay part of your dental bills even with insurance. Most plans require a co-payment of 10% to 20% of the total bill, especially in the early years when caps are in place.
4. Full-coverage plans that pay the entire bill are significantly more expensive. If you’re considering this type of plan, weigh the costs against the benefits to see if it’s worth it (it rarely is).
5. Most dental plans have a waiting period before benefits can be claimed (eight months ≈). Feather’s supplementary dental insurance, however, does not have a waiting period.
6. If your dental health is poor, such as having many missing teeth, you might have trouble getting insurance coverage. This is especially true for severe cases where the insurer’s risk is high.

Conclusion

With this comprehensive overview of supplemental dental insurance in Germany, you now know everything you might need to make an informed, rational decision about your healthcare coverage.

We’re interested in what you think:

• Is dental insurance worth it?

Let us know by booking a call with our experts, or better yet, in the comments below!

Do you still have any questions?

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