Dental supplementary insurances: Good rates for all cases
At dental crowns or implants, patients and patientess usually count on it. The better the result looks, the more they count on it. To what extent can a dental supplementary insurance help and what does it cost?
Which dental prosthesis quality and which coverage does a insurance offer? This question is crucial in determining which dental supplementary insurance is the right one and how much it costs. The experts of the magazine "Finanztest" (issue 8/2024) examined a total of 287 tariffs.
For a better overview, they defined three customer types: there is the "Kassenstandard is enough" type, who only wants to cover his share of regular care. Then the "Good and affordable" type, who keeps insurance premiums within budget but wants a higher-quality dental prosthesis. Finally, the "Carefree all around" type, who is looking for the perfect solution in the mouth and a insurance that covers as much as possible.
Good tariffs for all cases
The general result of the test: for all customer types, there are some "good" or "very good" tariffs. Everyone can therefore make a wise choice - the key question is: which insurance can I afford?
The price ranges, calculated for a 43-year-old example customer: good or very good tariffs from the most affordable customer group cost on average 9 to 12 Euro per month (e.g. "Plan Z32" from Generali, 12 Euro), in the middle group 14 to 30 Euro (e.g. "EZ + EZT" from HanseMerkur, 28 Euro), in the highest group 40 to 77 Euro per month (e.g. "ZahnSchutz Premium" from the Württembergische, 42 Euro).
Calculate individual contribution
However, the individual case depends on many factors, such as age and what exactly is covered. Warentest offers a calculator for the specific search.
In general, a dental supplementary insurance is worthwhile for those for whom high-quality dental prostheses are important, according to "Finanztest". An implant, for example, costs more than the contributions for several years.
Three tips for targeted search:
- Pay attention to what percentage of a premium a insurer, for example, covers, as there are different calculation methods.
- It is good if the annual benefit amount and material and laboratory costs are not limited. Also check if the number of implants is limited and consider whether this protection is sufficient for you.
- The dentist's fee should be based on the 3.5-fold rate of the fee schedule for dentists, i.e. the maximum rate.
Changes possible with the same provider
Who already has a supplementary insurance and either wants to increase the benefits or, on the contrary, pay fewer contributions, should ask the same insurer for another tariff. If one switches to a new provider, one would have to wait several years for the full benefits again.
Finally, a tip for all, with or without supplementary insurance: take care of the dental bonus book. At each annual preventive dental check-up, there is a stamp. Without a stamp, the health insurance only pays 60% of the regular care for dental prostheses. Five years of regular dental check-ups at the dentist bring five percentage points more, ten years ten percentage points more.
A dental supplementary insurance can significantly impact the quality and coverage of denture services, such as dental implants. According to the "Finanztest" magazine, for individuals who prioritize high-quality dental prostheses, a supplementary insurance can be a worthwhile investment, as the costs of procedures like implants may exceed the accumulated contributions over several years. Dental supplementary insurance policies often have varying percentages covered, so it's crucial to pay attention to this detail. Additionally, the annual benefit amount and material and laboratory costs should ideally not have limits.
