Does German dental insurance pay for dental work abroad?
In short
Often yes: many German supplementary dental insurance policies pay for dental work abroad, but some only pay if your statutory insurer pays too. In the EU, EEA and Switzerland the statutory insurer reimburses at most the German fixed subsidy, minus up to 5 percent admin costs, under section 13 (4) SGB V, and only if it approved the foreign dentist's plan before treatment.
Statutory subsidy and prices compared, from the law, consumer protection and published price lists.
Example
Typical range
Fixed subsidy for a crown in 2026, depending on bonus booklet
about EUR 239 to 299, abroad in the EU minus up to 5 percent
Single implant at a private practice in Germany
about EUR 2,000 to 3,000
Single implant in Hungary
from about EUR 700 to 800
Saving on dentures in Eastern Europe according to the consumer advice centre
sometimes around 50 percent, before travel costs
As of November 2026.
The implant prices come from a dental tourism portal (as of April 2025) and are offer prices,
not an independent survey.
The bill in the example is a guide value from our quoting practice.
What your policy pays abroad is set out in its terms; we obtain the exact quote.
Worked example
Crown at a practice elsewhere in the EU, ten years of bonus booklet
How the statutory insurer, the supplementary policy and you share the bill if the plan was approved in advance and the policy refunds 90 percent including the statutory share.
Bill from the foreign practice (assumed)
EUR 1,200
Fixed subsidy 75 percent, minus 5 percent admin costs
about EUR 284
Supplementary insurance up to 90 percent of the bill
about EUR 796
Your share before travel
EUR 120
You pay about EUR 120 plus travel and hotel. Without an approved plan the fixed subsidy is lost, and depending on the policy so is the top-up payment.
What your statutory insurer pays for treatment elsewhere in the EU
If you are in German statutory health insurance, you may be treated in another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and claim the costs back. Section 13 (4) of Social Code V (SGB V) sets this out. You pay the bill first and then submit it to your insurer.
The insurer refunds at most what it would have paid for the same treatment in Germany. For crowns, bridges and dentures that is the fixed subsidy (Festzuschuss) for the standard treatment, for a crown in 2026 about EUR 239 to 299 depending on your bonus booklet. Your insurer may deduct admin costs of up to 5 percent under its statutes. A lower foreign bill does not raise the subsidy.
No approved plan, no subsidy
Most treatment elsewhere in the EU needs no prior approval, but dentures and crowns do. Your insurer must be able to check the treatment and cost plan (Heil- und Kostenplan) before treatment starts. The consumer advice centre recommends submitting it in German.
The plan must come from the practice that actually treats you. On 14 May 2019 the Lower Saxony and Bremen Higher Social Court ruled (L 4 KR 169/17) that a plan from the German dentist is not enough and that without approval there is no claim at all, even though the work itself was fine.
Where treated
Statutory subsidy
What you need first
Germany
fixed subsidy of 60 to 75 percent of the standard treatment
approved treatment and cost plan
EU, EEA, Switzerland
no more than in Germany, minus up to 5 percent
approved plan from the foreign practice
Other countries, such as Turkey
as a rule none
cost estimate for your supplementary insurer
What supplementary dental insurance then covers
Whether your supplementary dental insurance pays for work abroad depends on the area of cover in your policy. Many policies apply worldwide. Some, however, only refund if the statutory insurer has paid too. If the fixed subsidy is missing because the plan was not approved, the top-up policy pays nothing either.
The same limits apply as in Germany: waiting period, maximum amounts in the first years and the exclusion of treatment already recommended before the policy started. So send the foreign practice's cost estimate to your supplementary insurer in advance as well.
When going abroad does not pay off
The consumer advice centre mentions savings of sometimes around 50 percent, advertising promises 70 to 80 percent. On top come travel, hotel and, for implants, several appointments because of the healing time.
Warranty claims usually follow the law of the country and are made against the practice there. German dentists often only fix work done abroad as emergency treatment. For a single crown, travel often eats up the advantage. For extensive work it can pay off if aftercare and guarantee are agreed in writing.
Step by step
Read the area of cover in your policy: worldwide, Europe or Germany only.
Ask the foreign practice for a treatment and cost plan in German.
Submit the plan to your statutory insurer for approval before treatment starts.
Send the plan and the approval to your supplementary insurer and wait for its confirmation.
Agree aftercare, guarantee and corrections with the practice in writing.
Ask for an invoice in German and submit it with proof of payment to both insurers.
Checklist
Country of treatment in the EU, EEA or Switzerland
Treatment and cost plan from the practice that treats you
Statutory approval before the first appointment
Policy also pays abroad, not only in Germany
Waiting period over and first-year maximums checked
Travel, hotel and follow-up visits included in the calculation
Common mistakes
Submitting the German dentist's plan instead of the foreign practice's
Having the treatment first and asking the insurer afterwards
Assuming the statutory insurer pays outside the EU as it does inside
Expecting the subsidy to be based on the lower foreign bill
Not putting corrections and guarantee in writing
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does my statutory insurer pay for dentures in Poland, Hungary or the Czech Republic?
Yes, the fixed subsidy at German rates, minus up to 5 percent admin costs.
It must have approved the plan from the practice there in advance.
Does it pay for dental work in Turkey?
For planned dentures or crowns outside the EU,
EEA and Switzerland there is as a rule no right to reimbursement.
Whether your supplementary policy pays depends on its area of cover.
Is the plan from my dentist in Germany enough?
No.
The insurer must check the plan from the practice that actually treats you.
A court refused the subsidy completely in such a case.
Do I have to pay the foreign bill myself first?
Usually yes.
The statutory insurer refunds afterwards under section 13 (4) SGB V,
and the supplementary insurer pays once you submit the invoice.
Does supplementary dental insurance pay for travel and hotel?
As a rule no.
It refunds the dental bill within the policy terms, not the journey.
Who fixes a crown done abroad that does not fit?
The foreign practice is responsible, and claims usually follow the law there.
German dentists often only help with emergency treatment.
