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Does German health insurance cover dental in 2023? Yes. German health insurance provides coverage for dental procedures. There are mainly two types of insurance work in Germany: statutory and private.
Wide range: Dental procedures are covered to a limited extent through statutory insurance, but on the contrary, through private insurance. You get a chance to get coverage for a wide range of dental procedures.
Suitable: Through this article, you will know the limited dental services of statutory insurance and for whom these services are suitable.
Explained: You will also know how you can get coverage for maximum dental procedures through private insurance. It has been explained in detail.
Note: Equally, statutory and private insurance are mentioned in detail here so that after the readers know this subject, you can choose a suitable insurance plan without hesitation.
Note: Article Highlights
What happens if I don’t have dental insurance in Germany?
Can I choose my own dentist in Germany?
Do I need a referral from my general practitioner to see a dentist?
Is dental care covered under the German public health insurance for children?
How does statutory health insurance work for children in Germany?
What dental treatments is the out-of-pocket cost to get through public health insurance?
How can statutory health insurance in Germany be compared between different providers?
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You must know the essential keys: “Does German health insurance cover dental?”
Technical aspects: The most accurate way to get maximum reimbursement and coverage through insurance is by knowing the various technical aspects of dental insurance.
With precision: In this section, we will go through the various dimensions of statutory and private insurance in detail with precision.
What dental procedures does health insurance (statutory insurance) cover?
Primarily statutory insurance provides coverage for the following dental procedures as shown below:
1. Basic dental treatments such as root canals, fillings, and extractions.
2. Preventive care services such as dental X-rays, professional teeth cleaning, and regular dental check-ups.
3. Dental prostheses such as bridges and dentures are only for medically necessary cases.
4. Some periodontal treatments.
5. Orthodontic treatments such as aligners and braces for children and teenagers under 18. And for adults with severe dental problems.
Note: Health insurance does not cover cosmetic dental procedures like veneers and whitening.
What dental procedures does private health insurance cover?
Private health insurance provides more comprehensive coverage of dental procedures than statutory insurance. It is shown below:
1. Wider range of dental treatments.
2. Cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and veneers.
Note: You can get up to 100% coverage for dental procedures through private health insurance. This is determined by your insurance policy.
What are the eligibility criteria for statutory insurance?
You are automatically enrolled for statutory insurance if you work in Germany, and your annual income is less than 66.600 euros (In 2023).
Under what circumstances does health insurance cover the entire cost of all dental treatment in Germany?
Dental procedures that are medically necessary get full coverage through health insurance, regardless of the cost of the dental treatment.
Medically necessary:
Medically necessary is when a person has difficulty living his everyday life because of his dental disease or accidental teeth.
Then in this situation, that person needs dental treatment as soon as possible, after which he starts living his everyday life again.
In Germany, only a tiny part of dental treatment coverage is covered through health insurance. But if it is medically necessary, you are legally covered by health insurance for all your essential dental treatment.
Example:
For example, if your jaw is damaged in a car accident and in this situation, your wisdom teeth are also damaged,
In this situation, you need the installation of artificial wisdom teeth, which is medically necessary.
It is essential to mention here that you can get accident insurance through health insurance in Germany.
What treatment is covered by statutory health insurance?
Statutory health insurance in Germany providing comprehensive coverage to citizens is listed below:
1. Orthodontic treatment up to age 18
2. Dental check-ups
3. Dentures and crowns
4. Hospital treatment
5. Health checks from the age of 35
6. Visits to GPs and doctors
7. Medicines, therapies, dressings, and aids such as wheelchairs or hearing aids.
8. Cancer screening
9. Rehabilitation, such as physiotherapy or home care.
Is there free dental care in Germany?
About 90% of the German population has statutory health insurance. This shows that health insurance is valuable insurance.
No. Getting dental care through statutory health insurance is not free in Germany.
Contribute: It is mandatory for a person opting for statutory health insurance to contribute to the statutory health insurance scheme.
Your priority: The good thing is that you can choose the type of statutory health insurance you want. You can decide based on your preference.
Unemployment allowance: If you reside in Germany and receive an unemployment allowance, the contribution to the statutory health insurance is automatically deducted from your allowance.
Fixed percentage: In Germany, there is a fixed percentage of contribution to the statutory health insurance related to your annual income.
Additional treatments: The good news is that in return for this contribution, you are free to choose from over 110 providers who often charge varying amounts as an additional contribution for additional treatments.
In full: If you are self-employed, then in this scenario, you must contribute towards statutory health insurance in full.
Apply: Freelancers working in specific areas such as writing, PR, or arts can apply to get coverage through Künstlersozialkasse (KSK) up to 50% of their total contribution as well as student Künstlersozialkasse at specially discounted rates offers statutory health insurance.
Government subsidy: Sickness Funds charge your contribution at the rate of 14.6% of your annual salary, and this contribution is made equally to 7.3% between you and your employer, this contribution is also topped up with a government subsidy.
Must know the essential technical insurance factors:”Does German health insurance cover dental?”
How can statutory health insurance in Germany be compared between different providers?
Visiting: If you need clarification on choosing one of the 110 statutory health insurance providers, you can do this by visiting the website of Feather’s.
English medium: The good thing is that this website is person-friendly as you can do the comparison work in English medium.
Does the statutory health insurance in Germany have a waiting period for dental treatment?
Statutory health insurance in Germany enshrines a waiting period for specific dental treatments.
For example, statutory health insurance may typically have a waiting period of 6 months for bridges or crowns dental treatment.
Entire cost: The statutory health insurance waiting period is when you take any dental treatment for a certain period to take the insurance, then you will have to spend the entire cost of it out of your pocket.
As per the policy: The cost of dental treatment beyond the waiting period is covered by statutory health insurance as per the policy.
Depend on: The length of your statutory health insurance waiting period for dental treatment depends on your insurance provider.
Are co-payments required for dental treatment through statutory health insurance in Germany?
Co-pay: The policyholder may be required to pay a co-pay for certain specific dental treatments through statutory health insurance.
Type of policy: The co-pay amount is decided based on the specific treatment and the patient’s insurance policy.
For example, For specified dental procedures like dentures, root canals, or fillings, policyholders may be required to pay a portion of the cost out of cash.
What dental treatments is the out-of-pocket cost to get through public health insurance?
Public health insurance only covers routine dental care, but you must spend more for specific dental procedures. The list of different dental procedures is shown below:
1. Crowns: from €150
2. Biannual cleaning: from €80
3. Bridges: from €340
4. Teeth bleaching: €30–70 per tooth
5. Root canals: €200–1,000
6. Adult braces: €1,800–2,500
Note: Source of information shown above.
What should a policy holder do if coverage for specific dental treatment is not available through statutory health insurance?
If you have statutory health insurance and it is not providing coverage for the specific dental treatment you need.
Consider taking out a supplementary insurance policy that may provide coverage for the dental treatment you need specifically.
What is supplementary insurance and how can it be used in conjunction with statutory insurance?
Not covered: Supplementary insurance is a type of insurance policy that covers extra medical treatment expenses. Not covered by statutory insurance.
Additional coverage: Supplementary insurance can be used with statutory insurance to obtain additional coverage for all medical expenses.
Issues: Below are the major point related to supplementary insurance, which explain various issues of its cause and effect?
Cause: A supplementary health insurance plan known as an alternative to statutory insurance is mandated by law in several nations. Prescription medications and common medical services like doctor visits and hospital stays are covered.
Effect: However, statutory insurance may not always pay for all medical costs. This is where supplementary insurance is useful.
How does statutory health insurance work for children in Germany?
Germany’s statutory health insurance system is designed to provide affordable dental services to children and citizens.
Below are key points of how statutory health insurance works for children in Germany.
1. Legally insured: Children in Germany are legally insured by their parent’s health insurance until they are 18. The parents’ insurance will cover the children if they do not begin working at 25.
2. Free: Statutory health insurance for children is generally free, mainly because the insurance system is contributed by their parents, and through this contribution, the children get insurance coverage.
3. Comprehensive: Children’s coverage through their parents’ statutory health insurance is comprehensive. And includes majorly rehabilitative services, dental care, preventive care, and vaccinations.
4. Own pocket: When the child needs medical treatment. They do not need to pay for dental treatment from their own pocket, when they visit a specialist or a general practitioner.
5. Hospitalization: f the youngster needs hospitalization for treatment, their parents’ statutory health insurance will provide coverage in this case.
6. Additional coverage: If children need specific dental treatment not covered through statutory health insurance. Parents should consider taking out insurance with additional coverage for specific dental treatment.
7. Standardized: Parents can choose a range of health insurance providers for their children in Germany. But the benefits offered under the basic insurance package are standardized across providers.
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Frequently Ask Questions about “Does German health insurance cover dental?” are commonly asked by people.
Can statutory health insurance refuse to provide a minimum level of dental care?
No. Statutory health insurance is mandated to provide the same minimum level of care and does not have the right to refuse membership.
Is dental care covered under the German public health insurance for children?
Children receive coverage for dental care and treatment through German statutory health insurance. Which includes dental treatment and regular check-ups.
Do I need a referral from my general practitioner to see a dentist?
No. In Germany, in terms of statutory health insurance, you do not need any kind of referral to see a dentist.
Can I choose my own dentist in Germany?
Yes. In Germany, you are free to choose the dentist of your choice through statutory health insurance. But here, it should be kept in mind that the dentist you choose must be in ensuring.
That’s why ensure the dentist accepts your health insurance before you schedule an appointment with your dentist.
How often should I have a dental check-up in Germany?
You receive a yearly dental check-up through statutory health insurance for good oral health.
What happens if I don’t have dental insurance in Germany?
German residency is contingent upon having health insurance. You will not be granted a residence permit in Germany. If you are a foreign national without health insurance.
You cannot enrol at any university in Germany. If you are an international student without health insurance.
It is required by law for residents of Germany to select between statutory health insurance or private health insurance for their medical coverage.
Conclusion:
Statutory health insurance in Germany covers approximately 90% of Germany’s population. But surprisingly, citizens of Germany can only get basic dental procedures through statutory health insurance.
For more complex dental procedures, they have to hold expensive insurance, while citizens of Germany contribute to statutory health insurance.
Every citizen can’t take expensive insurance programs for more complex procedures.
From my point of view, the German government should make some positive changes in statutory health insurance. So that common citizens can get complex dental treatment at a subsidized cost.