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For whom it is worth itAdditional dental insurance in check! You have to pay attention to this
Good teeth, a radiant smile – that's what we all want!
But unfortunately this can cost a lot of money. Statutory health insurance companies pay less and less when it comes to dental bills. A current survey shows that almost every second person would like to take out additional dental insurance. But who is it really worth it for? And at what age does insurance become too expensive? We did the test.
Better protected with additional dental insurance
For many people, going to the dentist is often associated with sweaty hands, as high costs can quickly arise. Professional teeth cleaning, which usually costs over 100 euros, is only partially covered by statutory health insurance companies. And things get really expensive when teeth are damaged: Implants, inlays, root and periodontal treatments receive little or no subsidy.
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An implant costs around 3,500 euros. The health insurance fund only pays a subsidy of around 600 to 700 euros. Patients pay the majority themselves, usually over 2,000 euros. Statutory health insurance companies only make exceptions in cases of hardship for patients with very low incomes of less than 1,498 euros.
According to a current Verivox study, around 36 percent choose additional dental insurance. And that can be worth it if your teeth are still healthy. Otherwise it quickly becomes expensive or a deal is no longer possible, for example if many teeth are missing, explains Dr. Philipp Lepki. According to the dentist, good supplementary dental insurance includes at best “Prophylaxis, i.e. teeth cleaning, if possible implants in a high percentage, dentures, high-quality fillings and root canals”.
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What you should consider when taking out additional insurance
You can get solid basic protection for around six euros a month. Although it only covers simple treatments and small subsidies for dentures, it can be worth it. Important: Read the small print and see whether there is a price tier.
You should also know: It often takes three to seven years for full insurance coverage to take effect. Until then, all-round carefree packages only cover partial payments: for example, 1,000 euros in the first year, gradually increasing, up to around 4,000 euros after four years. Only then will insurance companies reimburse the entire benefit, except in the case of accidents.
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Another tip: If you are already insured and want to change your tariff, you should stick with your current provider if possible, otherwise the season often starts again from the beginning. And: “If a treatment is already underway and you have insurance during that time, it’s not possible,” says dentist Lepki. In the end: It's better to take precautions early than to grit your teeth later. Especially when the bill comes from the dentist!
Sources used: RTL
