Hanse Merkur Dental Supplementary Insurance: Optimise comprehensive protection for your smile
3 Apr 2025
11
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
High dental costs burden many households, as statutory health insurance often only covers a fraction. A Hanse Merkur dental supplementary insurance can offer financial security here and enable access to high-quality treatments. Find out how to find the right plan for your needs.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The Hanse Merkur dental insurance offers plans with up to one hundred percent coverage for dental prostheses and has been repeatedly awarded "VERY GOOD" by Stiftung Warentest.
Some plans, such as 'Zahn Komfort (EZK)' and 'Zahn Luxus (EZL)', have no waiting periods, allowing for immediate entitlement to benefits.
Costs vary depending on the tariff and age; for a 25-year-old, they range between approximately twenty-one and thirty-one Euros per month for high-performance tariffs.
Understanding the Need for Supplemental Dental Insurance
Statutory health insurance (GKV) in Germany often only covers basic dental care. For many modern and aesthetically demanding solutions, patients have to pay out of their own pockets. For example, a ceramic inlay can cost between five hundred and one thousand euros.
A Hanse Merkur dental supplementary insurance effectively closes this gap in coverage. It provides access to high-quality materials and treatment methods without causing costs to skyrocket. Thus, an expensive necessity becomes an affordable preventive measure. Dental health is a valuable asset, the maintenance of which should not be hindered by finances. This protection is particularly important as GKV benefits tend to be further reduced.
Opting for supplementary insurance is therefore an investment in long-term dental health and financial relief. In the next section, we will examine the specific advantages and tariff options.
Analyse the range of Hanse Merkur tariffs
Hanse Merkur offers various tariff options for dental supplementary insurance to meet individual needs. The tariffs range from basic coverage to comprehensive premium packages. For example, the 'Zahn Luxus (EZL)' tariff covers up to one hundred percent of the costs for dentures.
Core services include, depending on the tariff:
Dentures (e.g., implants, crowns, bridges) with up to one hundred percent cost coverage.
Professional tooth cleaning, often twice a year up to an amount of, for example, one hundred thirty euros.
Dental treatments such as composite fillings, root canal and periodontal treatments.
Some tariffs, like 'Zahnvorsorge Top Plus (EZP3)', also cover costs for bleaching up to two hundred euros every two years and extended pain therapies.
Many tariffs from Hanse Merkur have been rated "VERY GOOD" by Stiftung Warentest, highlighting their high quality. The dental supplementary insurance thus offers flexible protection. The exact conditions, such as waiting periods and benefit scales, are important aspects when choosing a tariff.
Calculate the costs and contributions of the Hanse Merkur dental supplementary insurance
The monthly cost of a HanseMerkur dental supplementary insurance varies depending on the chosen plan, age at entry, and dental health condition. For example, a 25-year-old policyholder pays around twenty-one point eighty-one euros per month for the 'Zahn Komfort (EZK)' plan.
For the top tier plan 'Zahn Luxus (EZL)', the costs for the same age group are approximately thirty point eighty-five euros. Children and adolescents up to nineteen years often benefit from lower premiums, which can average below ten euros. It is important to know that a premium surcharge may be applied for missing teeth (excluding wisdom or milk teeth). An overview of supplementary dental insurance costs helps with budget planning. The premiums are designed to remain stable even in older age, especially with plans featuring age reserves. Your exact premium calculation is done after answering the health questions in the application. Next, we will discuss the significance of waiting periods and benefit levels.
Please note the waiting times and benefit levels
Some of the rates of the Hanse Merkur dental supplementary insurance come without a waiting period, allowing for immediate entitlement to benefits after the start of the contract. The plans 'Zahn Komfort (EZK)' and 'Zahn Luxus (EZL)' offer this advantage for new customers.
Other plans, such as 'Zahn Exklusiv (EZ + EZT)', have a waiting period of, for example, six months for dental prostheses. Regardless, benefit scales apply, limiting the maximum reimbursement in the initial insurance years. An example for the 'Zahn Komfort' plan shows a maximum reimbursement of six hundred euros in the first year, increasing to two thousand four hundred euros by the end of the fourth year. From the fifth insurance year, these limitations often cease or are lifted from the outset in cases of accident-related treatments. These regulations are crucial for the planning of treatments. A comparison of plans without a waiting period can be worthwhile. Below, we consider special services such as prophylaxis and orthodontics.
Specific services: Prophylaxis and orthodontics in focus
Professional teeth cleaning (PZR) is an important part of dental care and is covered by many Hanse Merkur plans. For example, in the 'Zahn Komfort (EZK)' plan, up to one hundred and thirty euros per year are reimbursed for PZR, often split into two treatments of sixty-five euros each.
Coverage for orthodontic measures, especially for children and teenagers, is another important aspect. While some general dental supplementary insurance plans from Hanse Merkur offer no or limited benefits for orthodontics, there are specific dental supplementary insurances for braces or child plans that provide more comprehensive protection. It is therefore important to carefully check the extent of coverage when orthodontic treatments are foreseeable. HanseMerkur also offers plans that cover costs for bleaching and advanced pain therapies. The tax deductibility of contributions is another advantage that we will now spotlight.
Expert depth: terms and legal aspects
When taking out a Hanse Merkur dental insurance policy, it is important to answer health questions truthfully and completely. Treatments that have already been advised or started are generally excluded from insurance coverage.
The minimum contract term is often two years, with a notice period of three months before the expiration date. Our expert tip: Carefully check the regulations regarding benefit exclusions. For example, there may be restrictions on periodontitis treatments if they were already known before the contract was concluded. The tax-deductibility of contributions as precautionary expenses is possible, but limited by maximum rates, such as one thousand nine hundred euros for employees. It is also important to know whether one is allowed to have two dental insurance policies, which is generally not advisable. The exact conditions can be found in the insurance documents (AVB). Next, we'll summarize the key points and offer a recommendation.
Find the optimal protection: Recommendations for action
Choosing the right Hanse Merkur dental insurance greatly depends on your individual needs and financial situation. Analyse your dental condition and consider which services are important to you. Do you need immediate coverage, or is a waiting period acceptable?
Here are a few steps to help you choose:
Needs assessment: Evaluate your future treatment needs. Are there existing fillings that may need to be renewed in a few years?
Plan comparison: Compare the various Hanse Merkur plans (e.g., EZK, EZL, EZP) regarding coverage for dentures, dental treatment, and prophylaxis. Pay attention to reimbursement rates between ninety and one hundred percent.
Cost review: Calculate the monthly premiums and consider any possible surcharges. A premium of around thirty euros for a top plan can be a sound investment.
Contract details: Carefully read the terms about waiting periods, benefit scales, and exclusions.
Use independent reviews, such as those from Stiftung Warentest, as a guide. A careful choice ensures you receive the best benefits in the long term. If you're unsure, professional advice can help you find the optimal coverage.
More useful links
Statistisches Bundesamt offers detailed data on healthcare expenditure in Germany, broken down by types of service.
Bundesgesundheitsministerium provides the report "Data and Facts about Health" from 2021, which gives comprehensive insights into the German healthcare system.
Bundesgesundheitsministerium informs about dental treatments and the corresponding regulations within the German healthcare system.
gesund.bund.de offers comprehensive information on dental care and oral hygiene, supported by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Kassenzahnärztliche Bundesvereinigung (KZBV) provides the latest figures and facts about contractual dental care in Germany in the 2024 Statistical Yearbook.
Verband der Ersatzkassen e.V. (vdek) provides data on expenditure for dental treatments by substitute health insurance funds.
Verbraucherzentrale provides objective information on the risks and benefits of supplementary dental insurance from a consumer perspective.
PKV (Verband der Privaten Krankenversicherung) highlights in a press release the strong growth in supplementary dental insurance in Germany.
AWMF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften) offers access to a scientific guideline on dental preservation.
FAQ
Why is a Hanse Merkur dental supplementary insurance useful?
A Hanse Merkur dental insurance is sensible because the statutory health insurance often only provides fixed subsidies for standard treatments. With an additional insurance, you can reduce high personal contributions for dental prosthetics, dental treatments, and prophylaxis and gain access to high-quality care.
What services are covered by the Hanse Merkur dental supplementary insurance?
Depending on the plan, Hanse Merkur dental supplementary insurance covers costs for dental prosthetics (e.g., implants, crowns) up to one hundred percent, professional dental cleaning (e.g., up to one hundred and thirty euros annually), dental treatments (fillings, root canal treatments), and sometimes even bleaching and advanced pain therapy.
What does "without waiting period" mean in the Hanse Merkur dental supplementary insurance?
No waiting period means you can access services immediately after the contract begins, without having to wait for a specific period. Hanse Merkur's 'Zahn Komfort (EZK)' and 'Zahn Luxus (EZL)' plans offer this benefit. However, please be aware of possible benefit scales in the initial years.
Are costs covered for treatments that have already been recommended?
No, costs for treatments that were advised or commenced by a dentist before the contract was concluded are generally not covered by the Hanse Merkur dental insurance.
Are the contributions to the Hanse Merkur dental supplementary insurance tax-deductible?
Yes, contributions to the Hanse Merkur dental supplementary insurance can be claimed as preventive expenses in the tax return. However, maximum limits apply, which may already be exhausted by contributions to health and long-term care insurance.
How do I find the best Hanse Merkur plan for me?
To find the best plan, you should analyse your individual needs (e.g. desired reimbursement level, necessity of orthodontics). Compare the benefits and costs of the various Hanse Merkur plans (e.g. EZK, EZL) and consult independent reviews such as those from Stiftung Warentest. We are happy to provide you with individual advice.
