Dental Prosthetics — Crowns and Dentures (Insurance Coverage)

What is Zahnersatz?

Zahnersatz is dental prosthetics, crowns, bridges, and implants. Health insurance covers only part of the costs — you pay the rest yourself.

Types of Zahnersatz

What Does Insurance Cover?

Health insurance (GKV) pays Festzuschuss — a fixed subsidy:
- Basic: 60% of standard solution costs
- With Bonusheft (5 years): 70%
- With Bonusheft (10 years): 75%

Example crown:
- Cost: 500€
- Without bonus: insurance pays 300€, you pay 200€
- With 10-year bonus: insurance 375€, you 125€

Bonusheft — Loyalty Booklet

What is it?
A booklet where your dentist confirms annual check-up visits.

How it works?
- Annual visit = stamp
- 5 years of stamps = +10% subsidy
- 10 years of stamps = +15% subsidy

Where to get it?
- From your dentist (free)
- Or from your health insurance

Heil- und Kostenplan — Treatment Plan

Before treatment, your dentist prepares a treatment plan:
1. Dentist creates the plan
2. You send it to health insurance
3. Insurance approves and specifies subsidy
4. Only then treatment begins

IMPORTANT: Without approval, you may lose the subsidy!

Härtefallregelung — For Low-Income Individuals

If your income is low, you may receive 100% coverage of standard treatment costs.

Income limits (2024):
- 1 person: ~1,358€ net/month
- 2 people: ~1,867€
- With child: higher

Additional Insurance

Private Zahnzusatzversicherung covers:
- 70-100% of costs
- Also implants
- Cost: 10-50€/month

Popular providers:
- DFV-ZahnSchutz
- Ergo Direkt
- Allianz

Tips

1. Maintain your Bonusheft — you actually save money
2. Compare prices — differences between dentists are significant
3. Ask about alternatives — cheaper solutions exist
4. Consider treatment abroad — e.g., in Poland (but check if insurance will reimburse)

Editorial hamboorg.city · As of: April 2026 · Carefully prepared, regularly updated. Content is informational and does not replace legal advice.