Take out dental supplementary insurance online directly: 5 steps to digital cover
09.07.2025
4
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
A dental crown can quickly cost over one thousand euros, yet statutory health insurance often pays less than half. Dental supplementary insurance closes this gap. Find out how to take out the right plan online in just a few minutes and make sure you do everything correctly.
The topic in brief and concise terms
You can purchase supplementary dental insurance completely online in less than 15 minutes, but you should pay attention to key details.
Answering the health questions truthfully is a legal requirement and crucial for any later entitlement to benefits.
Please note waiting periods of up to eight months and dental benefit limits in the first contract years.
The digital route to your policy: protection in under 15 minutes
Taking out dental supplementary insurance is now fully digital and often takes less than 15 minutes. You can compare over 100 plans online and complete the application directly without a signature. A practical example: a ceramic crown costs around 1,200 euros, of which the statutory health insurance scheme (GKV) covers only a fixed subsidy of about 450 euros. Without private cover, a gap of 750 euros remains, which you must pay yourself. A policy taken out online can reduce these costs to under 100 euros. The digital process makes comparing dental supplementary insurance more transparent and faster than ever before. This means you can effectively protect yourself against high out-of-pocket costs before the next treatment is due.
Health questions: The digital foundation of your contract
Answering health questions truthfully is the most important prerequisite for your insurance cover. Insurers specifically ask about missing teeth and ongoing or recommended treatments. Failing to disclose a recommended root canal treatment can lead to refusal of benefits, leaving you with costs of over €1,000. Your details form the basis of the insurer’s risk calculation. A false declaration constitutes a breach of the pre-contractual duty of disclosure and can render the contract void. There are indeed tariffs as supplementary dental insurance without health questions, but these often have higher premiums or stricter benefit limits. You should therefore be particularly careful with the following points:
Missing, unrestored teeth
Ongoing treatments or treatments recommended by the dentist (except preventive care)
Existing dental prostheses (bridges, crowns, implants)
Diagnosed periodontitis or temporomandibular joint complaints
An honest assessment of your dental health is the first step towards reliable insurance cover.
Waiting periods and benefit scales: When and how much the insurance pays
Almost every plan includes initial restrictions to protect the insured community. A typical waiting period is eight months for dental prosthetics and three months for dental treatment. Additionally, most insurers limit reimbursements in the first few years through a so-called dental benefit cap. A common model, for example, reimburses a maximum of €1,000 in the first year, €2,000 in the second, and only from the fifth year onwards without limit. An accident usually lifts these restrictions immediately. Plans without a waiting period do provide immediate cover, but the benefit cap still applies. Before taking out a policy, therefore, check carefully which amounts are covered in the first 48 months. A comparison of plans without a waiting period helps you find the right offer for your needs. These initial hurdles are crucial for the long-term stability of premiums.
Your right: Online contracting and the right of withdrawal
With every insurance contract concluded online, you have a statutory 14-day right of withdrawal. The period only begins once you have received all contractual documents, including the insurance policy and instructions on withdrawal. This gives you sufficient time to review the contract details at your leisure. Withdrawal must be made in writing without stating reasons, for example by email. Our expert tip: archive all digital contract documents – from the application record to the policy – immediately after receipt. This ensures you can meet your evidentiary obligation for the full 14 days. Any premiums already paid will be fully refunded in the event of a withdrawal. Information on how you can claim private dental supplementary insurance as a tax deduction is also included in the documents. This right protects you from hasty decisions and strengthens your position as a consumer.
Tariff features in detail: What you should look out for online
A good tariff comparison goes beyond the monthly premium alone. The reimbursement rate is decisive, usually between 80 and 100 per cent of the invoice amount. Make sure to check whether the rate refers to the total amount or only to the remaining balance after statutory health insurance benefits. Prophylaxis benefits are also important. A professional dental cleaning (PZR) costs between €80 and €120 and is covered twice a year by good plans. A comprehensive dental supplementary insurance comparison should take the following points into account:
Level of reimbursement for dental prosthetics (implants, crowns)
Coverage for dental treatment (root canal, periodontal treatment)
Prophylaxis benefits (e.g. two PZR per year)
Benefit limits in the first four to five years
Possible additional benefits such as orthodontics for children
Only when these criteria match your needs will you have found the right cover.
Digital consulting as the key to optimal protection
The pure online application is quick, but can be risky with complex dental histories. Digital expert advice closes this gap. In just 20 minutes, an expert can analyse your individual needs and recommend suitable tariffs. This minimises the risk of jeopardising your cover due to an incorrectly answered health question. A consultation helps you understand the small print and choose a tariff whose benefit scale matches any planned treatments. nextsure offers you exactly this combination: the efficiency of digital application and the security of well-founded, personal advice. This way, you do not just find any policy, but the dental supplementary insurance that is right for you. Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation checked free of charge and receive concrete suggestions for optimisation.
More useful links
Wikipedia offers a comprehensive overview of the topic of supplementary dental insurance.
The AOK Bundesverband provides detailed data and analyses on dental health in Germany with the Dental Report 2023.
FAQ
What is the difference between waiting period and benefit schedule?
The waiting period is the period after the start of the contract (e.g. eight months), during which you do not receive any benefits at all for certain treatments. The benefit scale (or sum limit) is a cap on the maximum reimbursement amount per year in the first years of the contract (e.g. EUR 1,000 in the first year).
Do I have to forgo advice when completing an online application?
No. Reputable online portals and digital insurers such as nextsure offer specialist advice by phone or video. This is strongly recommended to help you find a suitable tariff and avoid mistakes in the application.
Does the 14-day right of cancellation also apply to insurance policies?
Yes, for all insurance contracts concluded online or by telephone, you as a consumer have a statutory right of withdrawal of 14 days. For life insurance, it is 30 days. The period begins as soon as you have received all contract documents.
What counts as “recommended treatment” in the health questions?
Treatment is considered recommended as soon as your dentist makes a diagnosis and recommends a specific measure (e.g. a crown, an implant, a filling) and records this in your patient record. A routine check-up or a professional dental cleaning do not count.
Are plans without health questions always the better choice?
Not necessarily. These tariffs are often more expensive and usually have stricter benefit limits or longer waiting periods. If your teeth are in good condition, a tariff with health questions is generally more comprehensive and more affordable.
How do I submit invoices to an online insurer?
Most digital insurers offer a customer app or an online portal. There, you can simply take a photo of your dental bill or upload it as a PDF. Processing and reimbursement then usually take place within a few working days.
