Read this before booking dental insurance in Germany

Avatar Image of Bastien - Settle in Berlin Bastien - Settle in Berlin

Access to good dental insurance in Germany is relatively cheap & simple. It’s a supplementary insurance for more extensive treatments than just routine checks. Zahnzusatzversicherung helps cover the high costs of crowns, implants, and other treatments that standard health insurance only partly covers.

In this guide, you’ll learn who should consider dental insurance in Germany, what it really covers, typical costs, and the best providers for expats.

dental insurance in Germany guide updated

And if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. I answer each one personally.

Avatar

Bastien – Settle in Berlin

What does statutory insurance cover?

If you are with a public Krankenkasse, all regular appointments will be covered by default. This includes normal things like periodical checkups, descaling/cleansing, hygiene work, wisdom teeth removal and simple standard fillings.

However, any major dental work, such as bridges, dentures and crown, is only partially covered to 60% of costs since 2020 (Terminservice- und Versorgungsgesetz (TSVG)) .  With time, this can increase to 65% (after 5 years) or even 70% (after 10 years), if you go regularly and make sure you do all prevention work with your dentist. This is part of an effort from German healthcare to promote prevention instead of treatment, as it is cheaper in the longer run for the system.

What does private insurance cover?

As you may read in our private vs public Krankenkasse guide, coverage with a private health insurance is a lot more flexible. You can effectively chose a more extensive coverage for dental healthcare, without the need for a supplementary insurance. In this case, it’s probably best to discuss this with your private Krankenkasse directly.

Who needs complimentary dental insurance in Germany?

The latest reports state that about 18 million German people have Zahnzusatzverischerung

Graphs on how many Germans have supplemental dental insurance
We don’t have more recent numbers than this, but you see the trend. (source)

While it’s important to some, not everybody needs it, especially if they follow a reasonable hygiene habit (good diet, no smoking, not too much drinking, brushing etc). For most people, it’s a lot more vital to sign up for a good liability insurance, which covers a lot more risks for a lot less money.

However you should probably consider a good dental insurance in Germany if:

  • A long history of past periodontology treatments, or if you have had crowns/dentures setup back home and planning on adjusting and continuing the treatment in Germany.
  • You plan or expect implants, tooth replacements in the next few years. Those things quickly amount to thousands of euros or more, when multiple family members accumulate issues.
  • You are not satisfied with the standard reimbursement rates (or lack thereof) on premium materials: composite fillings for inlays, onlays and overlays, higher quality alloys made of rare metals, for example gold or titanium for tooth replacements, full bridges made of resin or ceramic.
  • You current lifestyle might lead to serious dental issues in a couple of years.

Things and tips to know before booking a dental insurance policy

Cost estimates

Before any dental work is carried out, you will get a detailed cost estimated from your dentist. This is known as a “Heil- und Kostenplan” in Germany. This quote is then transmitted to your Krankenkasse (public or private) before being approved. Only then will the dentist will proceed. Average prices, depending on materials:

  • Root canal treatment: 700 €
  • Bridges: 700 to 1600 €
  • Composite fillings: 200 €
  • Ceramic crowns: 600 €
  • Implants with ceramic crown = 2000 to 4000 €

Those figures are purely indicative and may change depending on location and expert.

Waiting period and restrictions may apply on signup

There is waiting period for dental insurance in Germany with some suppliers of a few months before reimbursements are carried out, to avoid opportunistic signups. On top of that, some providers also cap their coverage to a fixed amount the first year or more, between 500€ and 5000€.

You should also know that any condition already detected or any treatment already recommended by your dentist prior to the signup date will not be covered in the policy, unless stated otherwise by the provider.

Don’t go for the wrong contracts

Make sure that you don’t sign up for a so called “Risikovertrag“, which only covers damages in case of accidents. Those German dental insurance policies don’t cover normal treatments and surgery.

Regular visits may be a pre-requisite for bigger treatments

In some cases, your insurance will agree to cover a bigger treatment only if you have been going to your dentist on a regular basis, for normal maintenance and checks. The idea behind this is you limit the range of the intervention and decreases the costs of a treatment if you take care of yourself on a regular basis.

If you don’t earn so much, you can get 100% coverage with your Krankenkasse

In case you earn less than 1 498€ gross per month, you then fall under the so-called “Härtefallregelung“. This means that your Krankenkasse will pay for 100% of the treatment you need. In case there there is another family member in the household, this number goes up to 2.059,75€, and by another 374,5€ for every additional member. 

If you don’t exactly earn that little but rather close, your Krankenkasse may still decide to cover more. You will need to get in touch with them to be sure. In any case, a formal application needs to be sent to take advantage of this scheme.

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

How much does dental insurance in Germany cost?

Zahnzusatzversicherung offers a broad range of policies costing anywhere between 5€ to 50€ per month. The rate is generally impacted by current dental health and sometimes by your age too, depending on your provider.

Finanztip has assessed the market and quoted that a 45-year-old could expect a price between 20€ and 30€ with good providers.

Which dental insurance providers cater to expats in Germany specifically?

Over the years, newcomers on the market have started to cater to expats, providing a fully English speaking experience for dental insurance in Germany. From sign-up to claims and customer supporter, the whole customer experience is tailored for expats in Germany.

Ottonova: a digital player that started a private Krankenkasse and branched out to different policies. You don’t need to be a member to signup for their dental insurance. Their dental insurance was rated “very good” by the very German official testing organization TÜV. The monthly cost for their plans starts from 8.80 euros and increases depending on age and the chosen level of coverage.

Getsafe: the well-known company among expats also offer dental insurance. Your can book different modules depending on your profile. Some people will appreciate that flexibility. Their dental replacement and dental treatment plans are worth a look. The dental care doesn’t provide much added value. Their basic dental plan starts from 9.38 euros per month, with costs depending on age.

Feather Insurance: Another offer geared towards expats, their dental care plan does provide a lot of value, with a choice between basic and advanced cover for crowns or teeth whitening. . Their basic plan starts from 10.90 euros per month and the advanced plan starts at 16 euros, with prices varying based on age.

What does the process of signing up look like?

As with any other private insurance, you will need to fill in a questionnaire about your current situation. It’s usually a bit long but not very complex. You will need to be truthful because in case you hide things like pre-existing conditions, it might be cause to invalidate your policy and not be covered anymore. Simply put, that would be breach of contract, thus forfeiting your right to be covered, and to be refunded.

Note that if you current situation is very dire (eg: many missing teeth or many implants), it might sometimes lead to the provider not taking on a contract with you.

What does the reimbursement process look like?

Dental insurance in Germany works the same as any other insurance policy, you first need to pay from your own pocket and send the invoice to your policy provider. As this is Germany, some providers may not accept receipts digitally. Processing times my also vary. Both those things may impact your selection criteria in the end.

In any case, you will need to send the bill together with the Heil- und Kostenplan, as well as the confirmation from your Krankenkasse to get your money back.

About pre-existing conditions & dental insurance

Pre-existing conditions are not covered by private dental insurance in Germany. Here is why:

Private dental insurance is designed to cover future, unforeseen dental issues. If pre-existing conditions were covered, individuals could simply purchase insurance after being diagnosed with an expensive problem, essentially exploiting the system & put a big burden on insurance companies.

The system encourages individuals to seek preventative care and address dental issues promptly, rather than waiting until a problem becomes severe and costly, at which point they would try to rely on insurance

State of dental care in Germany

If you needed further reassurance that Germany offer high standards in dental care, then be reassured. A combination of great training, large availability of high tech equipments, broad spectrum of specialists makes Germany a great country to take care of your teeth.

It also doesn’t experience a shortage of trained professionals like it might be the case in some other European countries, even outside of cities.

There might be 2 causes for concerns:

  1. Waiting times: as with any related to health care in Germany: it’s high quality but you do have to wait for it a lot. It’s fine for regular checkups, for more serious treatments, you may experience serious delay. That is of course mostly applicable to public Krankenkasse members. Privately insured patients can enjoy the fast lane.
  2. Language barriers: if most dentists will probably speak some English, it might be hard for them to get into technical jargon as well. That might be jarring when considering a sensitive and completely surgery.

FAQ – Zahnzusatzversicherung in Germany

Do I need to speak German to use dental insurance in Germany?

Not necessarily. Many dentists in larger cities (Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg) speak English, and some clinics even advertise as “expat-friendly.” However, insurance paperwork (contracts, estimates, invoices) is usually in German. Some insurers now provide English summaries or customer support, but it’s safer to assume you’ll need at least some translation help for official documents. If you don’t speak German, look for insurers and practices that offer English-language services.

Can I change my dental insurance plan later (upgrade/downgrade)?

Yes, but it depends on the provider. Upgrading often requires a new application, fresh health questionnaire, and possibly a new waiting period. Downgrading or cancelling is usually easier, but you may be locked into a minimum contract period (often 12-24 months). Always check the cancellation deadlines (“Kündigungsfrist”), as missing them could tie you to a policy for another year.

What happens if I move between public and private health insurance-how does that affect my dental coverage?

If you’re on public health insurance (GKV), basic dental care (checkups, fillings, simple crowns) is covered, and you can add supplementary dental insurance (“Zahnzusatzversicherung”). If you later switch to private health insurance (PKV), your PKV usually includes dental coverage, so supplementary insurance becomes unnecessary (and sometimes incompatible). If moving the other way (PKV back to GKV) it’s harder: you may lose the ability to buy supplementary dental coverage if you’re older or already have extensive dental history.

Are there German dental insurance options for students / low-income expats?

Yes. Students and people on a tight budget often rely on public insurance, which covers essential treatments. Supplementary dental insurance can be added, and some insurers offer cheaper “starter” tariffs with lower premiums but limited coverage (e.g. for preventive care, checkups, and basic fillings). For very low-income patients, Germany has a “Härtefallregelung” (hardship regulation) where the public insurer covers the full cost of standard treatments. To qualify, you must prove low income with official documentation.

Does insurance from another EU country help if I’m living in Germany (cross-border)?

Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers only emergency treatment while temporarily in Germany, not planned dental care. Once you live here, you must register with the German system (public or private insurance). Some private insurers from abroad may reimburse you if your plan is international, but most expats take out German coverage to avoid reimbursement issues and guarantee acceptance by local dentists.

Do I need German health insurance first before getting a supplementary dental plan?

Not exactly. Supplementary dental insurance is designed to “top up” what German public health insurance already provides. If you’re in private health insurance (PKV), supplementary dental plans are usually not available or necessary, since dental coverage is part of the PKV package.

Sources & references

5 1 vote
Was this guide useful?