A radiant smile is your calling card, both in your personal life and your international career. However, high-end dentistry in Germany can be expensive. Public health insurance (GKV) often only covers basic "standard care". If you want modern implants, high-quality crowns, or regular professional cleanings, you'll face big out-of-pocket costs. Dental Insurance protects you from these often four-digit bills.
Key Facts at a Glance
| What is covered | Subsidies for dentures such as crowns, bridges and implants, and depending on the tariff also dental treatment, orthodontics and professional cleaning. |
|---|---|
| What is not covered | Ongoing or recommended treatment, teeth missing when the policy starts and benefits above the limits in the first years. Details |
| Who needs it | For people with public health insurance, because the fund only pays a fixed subsidy for dentures. |
| What does it cost | Good tariffs with comprehensive cover usually cost 40-year-olds €20 to €45 per month. (source: Finanztip) Non-binding guide value (as of 2026); your premium depends on your situation. You can calculate your exact premium in the comparison calculator on this page. |
| What to look out for | A high reimbursement rate including the fund's share, as few initial limits as possible and waived waiting periods. |
Elena's Story: A Hearty Laugh with Costly Consequences
Fictional example for illustration; all persons and events are invented.
Let me tell you Elena's story. Elena is 35, works in an office in Hamburg, and takes great care of her appearance. A well-groomed image is important to her. Two years ago, it happened: while biting into an olive, a part of her molar broke off.
Her dentist explained the options. The public fund would subsidize a simple metal crown, functional, but not visually appealing. Elena, however, wanted a high-quality ceramic implant that would blend in perfectly and feel like a real tooth. The estimate: nearly 2,800 Euros. The share from her public health insurance? Just 450 Euros.
Elena was shocked. "Over 2,000 Euros out-of-pocket for a single tooth?" she asked herself. Fortunately, a year earlier, on my advice, she had taken out a Dental Insurance policy with 100% reimbursement. The insurance covered the entire remaining balance. Elena didn't have to worry about the financing and could choose the high-end medical solution. Today, she says: "The monthly 20 Euro premium paid for itself for the next 10 years with this one claim. I laugh completely uninhibitedly again today."
Why the Public Fund is Not Enough for Expats in Germany
The GKV follows the principle of "economic efficiency." This means: only the essentials are covered. If you want more, you pay yourself. It becomes especially expensive for:
- Tooth Replacement: Implants, bridges, and crowns can quickly cost several thousand Euros.
- Inlays: High-quality gold or ceramic fillings.
- Periodontal Treatment: Modern methods are often not fully covered by the fund.
- Orthodontics: Especially for children and teenagers, high additional costs arise if you want modern brackets or invisible aligners.
What You Should Look for When Comparing Tariffs
There are hundreds of tariffs available. As your insurance broker, I filter out first-class offers for you. Beyond the reimbursement rate (ideally 90% to 100%), we look closely at the fine print:
- Waiting Periods: Does the insurance pay immediately or only after 6-8 months? (There are great tariffs today with no waiting period!)
- Benefit Scales: How much does the insurance pay at most in the first 4 years? There are enormous differences here.
- Professional Teeth Cleaning (PZR): A good tariff should fully cover the costs for at least two cleanings per year.
- Missing Teeth: Can already missing teeth be co-insured?
Prevention is Everything: The Importance of Teeth Cleaning
Many underestimate professional teeth cleaning. Yet it is the highest quality protection against cavities and periodontal disease. Good dental supplementary insurances see it the same way and heavily promote prevention. If your tariff subsidizes the PZR twice a year with 100 Euros each, you already have a large part of your annual premium back through prevention alone. It's a real win-win for your health and your wallet.
Requirements for Expats
- Valid German Address (Anmeldung)
- German Bank Account (IBAN)
- Proof of Income (for some plans)
- Medical History (Check for missing teeth or existing treatments)
What Is Not Covered
Dental insurance only pays off if it is taken out in time. Typical limits:
- Ongoing treatment: Anything the dentist recommended before the policy started is not covered.
- Missing teeth: Teeth already missing are usually excluded or only covered with a surcharge.
- Initial limits: In the first years, many tariffs limit reimbursement to fixed maximum amounts.
- Purely cosmetic treatment: Most tariffs do not pay for whitening or veneers without a medical reason.
How I Help You When You Need to Claim Benefits
Here you deal with the insurer directly for everyday matters, which is usually the fastest way. As your broker, I am legally on your side, not the insurer's, and I step in as soon as something gets stuck:
-
1. Contact the insurer directly
Dental bills and treatment plans go directly to the insurer, via app, upload or post. The contact details are in your policy document.
-
2. Keep your records
Keep invoices, letters and decisions until the money has arrived. If there are queries or a dispute, they are your proof.
-
3. Submit the treatment plan
Before dentures, submit your dentist's treatment and cost plan. Then you know in advance how much will be reimbursed.
-
4. I help when it gets stuck
If the insurer refuses, cuts benefits or takes too long, contact me. I check the settlement and the policy conditions and follow up with the insurer.
Compare Rates Yourself
Use our comparison tool to calculate premiums and find the best rates for your situation. You can sign up directly online.
Tip: Tick 'Zahnbehandlung Plus' (dental treatment plus), and for children also 'Kieferorthopädie-Premium' (orthodontics premium) in the calculator. Also make sure when comparing tariffs that they include: a high reimbursement rate for dentures and as few limits as possible in the first years. Please answer the health questions about ongoing treatment and periodontitis truthfully, otherwise the insurer can withdraw from the contract later. I am happy to check the tariffs with you.
Comparison calculator by blau direkt GmbH (maklerinfo.biz)
To protect your data, the calculator only loads after you click. Your IP address is then transmitted to blau direkt GmbH (maklerinfo.biz), which may also set cookies. Details in the Privacy Policy.
Please note: this calculator is provided by a German platform and is only available in German. If you need help filling it in, I am happy to go through it with you in English.