The Bavarian supplementary dental insurance: Comprehensive protection for your smile
19.04.25
3
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
High dental costs can quickly become a financial burden. Dental supplementary insurance from Bayerische offers you protection against unexpected expenses and ensures you receive high-quality dental care. Discover how you can optimally safeguard your dental health with the right plans.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The Bavarian dental supplementary insurance offers plans (Smart, Komfort, Prestige) with up to 100% cost coverage for dental treatment and dental prosthetics, often with no waiting periods.
The ZAHN Sofort add-on also enables benefits for treatments that have already been recommended, for a monthly surcharge of €29.90.
Stiftung Warentest rated the ZAHN Prestige tariff multiple times as a test winner with the grade “very good” (0.5).
Understanding the range of benefits of Bayerische supplementary dental insurance
The dental supplementary insurance policies from Bayerische offer a wide range of benefits depending on the scope of cover. These include reimbursements for dental treatments such as composite fillings, root canal or periodontal treatment. High-quality dental prostheses such as inlays, crowns, bridges and implants are also covered in most plans for up to 100 per cent of the costs. Professional dental cleaning is usually also a standard part of the plans. Some plans, such as ZAHN Prestige, even cover the costs of bleaching or orthodontic treatment for adults up to EUR 2,000.
A particularly noteworthy point is that many Bayerische plans can be taken out with no waiting periods, so you can make use of benefits directly after the policy begins. For treatments that have already been recommended or started, there is also the optional ZAHN Sofort module, which can be added for an extra EUR 29.90 per month and provides benefits of up to EUR 1,500 over 24 months. The ZAHN Komfort and ZAHN Prestige plans also cover orthodontic benefits for children and adults. Find out about the details of the dental supplementary insurance to find the right cover.
The tariff options from Die Bayerische in detail: Smart, Comfort and Prestige
Die Bayerische offers three main tariffs in the field of dental supplementary insurance: ZAHN Smart, ZAHN Komfort and ZAHN Prestige. The ZAHN Smart tariff is designed as an entry-level plan and covers dental treatment and dental prosthetics at 75 per cent; professional dental cleaning is subsidised up to €80 per year. Under the ZAHN Komfort tariff, reimbursement for dental treatment rises to 100 per cent, for dental prosthetics to 80 to 90 per cent (100 per cent for standard care), and for professional dental cleaning to up to €150 per year. The premium tariff ZAHN Prestige reimburses both dental treatment and dental prosthetics at 100 per cent and offers up to €200 per year for professional dental cleaning and whitening. All tariffs come with no waiting periods. The ZAHN Komfort tariff also makes it possible to increase the reimbursement rate for dental prosthetics from 80 to 90 per cent through a bonus booklet kept for over five years. A comparison of the dental supplementary insurance policies helps with the selection.
Here is an overview of the key benefits:
ZAHN Smart: 75 per cent for dental treatment and dental prosthetics, €80 for dental cleaning.
ZAHN Komfort: 100 per cent for dental treatment, 80-90 per cent for dental prosthetics (standard care 100 per cent), €150 for dental cleaning.
ZAHN Prestige: 100 per cent for dental treatment and dental prosthetics, €200 for dental cleaning/whitening.
ZAHN Prestige Plus: In addition to Prestige, up to €250 for preventive care and whitening, as well as further extras.
Choosing the right tariff depends heavily on your individual needs and the level of cover you want.
Costs and premium structure of Bavarian supplementary dental insurance
The monthly premiums for dental supplementary insurance with die Bayerische vary depending on the chosen plan and the insured person’s age at entry. The entry-level ZAHN Smart plan is available from as little as EUR 4.80 per month. For the ZAHN Komfort plan, premiums start at around EUR 16.50 per month, while the high-performance ZAHN Prestige plan is available from EUR 17.50 per month. It is important to note that premiums may increase with age, as the risk of dental treatment tends to rise. die Bayerische also takes place of residence into account when calculating premiums, which can lead to regionally different costs. An exact calculation is possible via die Bayerische’s online calculator. The minimum contract term is generally two years. Consider how much a dental supplementary insurance policy should cost so you can plan your budget.
Immediate protection and arrangements when treatment is already required
A major advantage of many plans from Bayerische dental supplementary insurance is the waiver of general waiting periods. This means that you can claim benefits for dental cleaning, dental treatment and dental prosthetics immediately after concluding the contract. This is particularly relevant if unforeseen dental problems arise. In cases where treatment was already recommended, or even already started, before the contract was concluded, Bayerische offers the additional ZAHN Sofort module. This module can be added to any main tariff for a monthly contribution of 29.90 euros and provides benefits of up to 1,500 euros spread over two years (maximum 750 euros per calendar year). The term of the ZAHN Sofort module ends automatically after two years, while the chosen main tariff continues unchanged. This option offers valuable protection, even if the dental appointment has already been scheduled. A comparison of dental supplementary insurance without a waiting period can provide clarity here.
Importance of the bonus booklet and GKV advance benefits
The bonus booklet also plays a role in the Bayerische's dental supplementary insurance, particularly in the ZAHN Komfort tariff. Through regular dental check-ups, which are documented in the bonus booklet, the reimbursement rate for dentures can increase from eighty per cent to ninety per cent after five years. The benefits already paid by statutory health insurance (GKV) are taken into account when calculating the reimbursement benefit from the dental supplementary insurance. The Bayerische's tariffs top up the GKV fixed subsidy, so depending on the tariff, up to one hundred per cent of the total costs can be covered. For example, the GKV often covers only around 255 euros for an implant with a ceramic crown, which costs about 2,300 euros. The dental supplementary insurance significantly reduces the remaining out-of-pocket costs. It is advisable to submit treatment and cost plans to the insurer before treatment begins; although this has no effect on benefits with the Bayerische, it helps provide transparency about the reimbursement to be expected. Tax deductibility can be another aspect.
Expert opinions and test results on Bayerische supplementary dental insurance
The plans of Bayerische dental supplementary insurance are regularly assessed by independent testers. Stiftung Warentest, for example, has awarded the ZAHN Prestige plan the top rating of “very good” (0.5 in issue 08/2024) on several occasions and named it test winner. Such assessments can provide guidance when choosing a plan. In the 2024 test, a total of 287 plans were examined. However, it is important not only to pay attention to test results, but also to take into account individual needs and the desired scope of benefits. Bayerische itself emphasises that, in the event of a claim, the money is often in the insured person’s account within ten days. When selecting a dental supplementary insurance policy for braces for adults, specific plan details need to be considered.
Important criteria in tests often include:
Level of reimbursement for dental prosthetics (e.g. implants, crowns).
Benefits for dental treatments (e.g. fillings, root canal treatments).
Costs for professional teeth cleaning.
Rules on waiting periods and benefit limits in the first few years.
These aspects help to assess the quality and suitability of a plan.
In addition to the standard benefits for dental treatment and dentures, some of Bayerische’s tariffs also cover orthodontic treatment costs. The ZAHN Komfort and ZAHN Prestige tariffs provide benefits for children and adults. Under the ZAHN Prestige tariff, for example, if treatment is medically necessary, up to 1,500 euros is reimbursed with prior payment by statutory health insurance (GKV), or up to 2,000 euros without prior GKV payment, over the full term of the contract. This also applies to modern methods such as invisible braces (Invisalign) or lingual techniques. Under the ZAHN Prestige Plus tariff, orthodontic measures are even reimbursed irrespective of age at eighty to one hundred per cent, with a budget of up to 2,000 euros. Depending on the tariff, further extras may include cover for an electric toothbrush in the first insurance year (e.g. in the Prestige tariff) or a voucher. Special pain-relief measures such as acupuncture, hypnosis or anaesthesia can also be reimbursed up to an amount of 200 euros per calendar year under the ZAHN Prestige tariff. For families, insurance for children’s braces is an important point. Anyone wondering whether you are allowed to have two dental supplementary insurance policies should check the policy conditions carefully; Bayerische excludes this in the conditions for the ZAHN Prestige tariff.
Important contractual aspects and application process
Before taking out supplementary dental insurance with Die Bayerische, you need to answer a few health questions. As a rule, there are four questions. Insurable are people with a permanent residence in Germany who are insured under statutory health insurance (GKV) or receive free medical care. There are restrictions regarding the number of missing teeth (maximum three) and certain pre-existing conditions such as periodontal disease or enamel defects in the three years prior to conclusion of the contract. The minimum contract term is usually two years. The benefit limits in the first policy years must also be observed: in the ZAHN Prestige tariff, for example, these amount to a maximum of 1,250 euros in the first calendar year, rising to 5,000 euros in the first four calendar years if no teeth or only one tooth is missing when the contract is concluded. If two or three teeth are missing, the initial maximum limits are lower. Submitting a cost estimate for supplementary dental insurance is always advisable before major treatment.
In summary, the following points are relevant when applying and under the contract conditions:
Answering four health questions.
Insurance requirement: membership of statutory health insurance or free medical care and residence in Germany.
Limitation to a maximum of three missing teeth and exclusion of certain pre-existing conditions.
Minimum contract term of two years.
Tiered benefit limits in the first four policy years.
These conditions ensure a fair risk assessment for both contracting parties.
Conclusion: Finding the right cover for your dental health
The dental supplementary insurance offered by Bayerische provides a flexible way to protect yourself against high dental treatment costs and gain access to high-quality dental care. With different plans such as ZAHN Smart, ZAHN Komfort and ZAHN Prestige, as well as the additional ZAHN Sofort module, the cover can be tailored to individual needs – from solid basic protection to comprehensive premium cover. The waiver of waiting periods in many plans is a clear advantage. The positive ratings from Stiftung Warentest, especially for the ZAHN Prestige plan, underline its performance. A careful review of your own requirements and a comparison of the plan details are crucial in finding the ideal dental supplementary insurance. nextsure will be happy to help you analyse your individual risk situation and choose the right solution for your dental health.
More useful links
The Federal Ministry of Health provides information on dental treatment in Germany.
The German Dental Association provides data and figures on the German dental profession.
The German Dental Association presents the results of the German Oral Health Study (DMS).
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists publishes its Statistical Yearbook with relevant data.
Wikipedia offers an article on the fee schedule for dentists (GOZ).
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides tables on health expenditure by type of service.
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds provides key figures on statutory health insurance (GKV).
AOK presents figures and facts on dentists.
Stiftung Warentest offers a test report on supplementary dental insurance.
FAQ
What benefits does Bayerische’s dental supplementary insurance offer?
Die Bayerische offers up to 100% cost reimbursement, no waiting periods in many plans, an immediate cover module for ongoing treatments, and award-winning plans such as ZAHN Prestige.
How quickly does die Bayerische reimburse the costs?
According to Bayerische, the money is often in the insured person's account within ten days in the event of a claim.
Are professional dental cleanings included in cover with Bayerische?
Yes, professional dental cleaning is included in every tariff of the Bavarian supplementary dental insurance, although the amount reimbursed varies depending on the tariff (e.g. EUR 80 with Smart, up to EUR 200 with Prestige).
What does the ZAHN Prestige plan from Bayerische cover?
The ZAHN Prestige plan reimburses 100 per cent of the costs for dental treatment and dentures, up to €200 per year for professional teeth cleaning and whitening, as well as orthodontics up to €2,000.
Can I take out dental supplementary insurance with Die Bayerische if a treatment has already been planned?
Yes, with the ZAHN Sofort add-on you can also receive reimbursement for treatments already recommended or currently underway. This costs an additional 29.90 euros per month.
How important is the bonus booklet for the benefits offered by Bayerische?
In the ZAHN Komfort plan, a bonus booklet kept without gaps for five years can increase the reimbursement rate for dental prosthetics from eighty per cent to ninety per cent.
