Take out supplementary dental insurance despite ongoing treatment: How to cover costs
18 Jul 2025
9
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
The dentist has recommended an expensive treatment and you don't have insurance? Most policies now refuse to cover the costs. However, there are special tariffs that still offer protection even during ongoing treatments.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Taking out supplementary dental insurance is only possible with immediate coverage under very few special tariffs, despite ongoing treatment.
A treatment is already considered "advised" if there is a note in the patient's file – a treatment and cost plan is not necessarily required.
The truthful answering of health questions is a legal obligation; false statements lead to a refusal of benefits.
The Initial Situation: Why Insurers Refuse Ongoing Treatments
The core of the problem lies in insurance law: An insurance policy covers risks, not certainties. As soon as a dentist advises or begins treatment, this is considered an insured event. For the insurer, the cost risk is thereby 100 percent certain, which contradicts the fundamental principle of a risk community. A treatment is already considered advised if there is a corresponding note in your patient file, even without a treatment and cost plan. However, preventive examinations or professional teeth cleaning do not fall under this. This distinction is crucial for the later entitlement to benefits. Taking out insurance is often worthwhile for all future treatments. In this way, you protect yourself against new, unexpected costs, even if the current measure is no longer insured.
Special tariffs as a solution: Insurance coverage with immediate benefits
A few providers have recognized the market gap and offer dental supplementary insurance with immediate coverage. These policies waive the usual waiting periods and sometimes even cover treatments that have already been recommended or started. The catch: These policies are often associated with higher premiums or initial benefit limitations. Such a plan can, for example, cover the costs for up to three missing teeth, even if a treatment and cost plan is already in place. Carefully check here which treatments are specifically covered and which are not. These special plans are the only way to find an answer to the question “Can I take out supplementary dental insurance despite ongoing treatment?” that enables cost coverage. Without this specialization, retroactive coverage is excluded.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: When Signing Up Really Pays Off
Whether a special tariff is worthwhile can be shown by a simple calculation. Suppose a dental crown incurs costs of 1,300 euros, of which the statutory health insurance covers only 450 euros. Your personal contribution is therefore 850 euros. An immediate tariff might cost you 45 euros per month, totalling 540 euros in the first year. Even with these contributions, you save 310 euros in the first year. The savings often exceed the annual premium with the first major treatment. Here's an example cost breakdown:
Total treatment costs: 1,300 euros
Health insurance subsidy: 450 euros
Remaining personal contribution: 850 euros
Tariff costs per year: 540 euros (12 x 45 euros)
Your savings in the first year: 310 euros
This calculation shows why it's essential to carefully examine the costs of additional dental insurance in relation to the expected benefits. This way, you can make an informed decision.
The Challenge of Health Questions: Honesty as the Top Priority
When applying, you must answer health-related questions truthfully. This is not a request, but a legal obligation (pre-contractual duty of disclosure according to § 19 VVG). If you fail to disclose a recommended treatment, the insurer may withdraw from the contract or refuse the benefit. Even tariffs advertised as insurance without health questions often exclude already known damages in the conditions. A forgotten note about a recommended root canal treatment can jeopardise the entire contract. Insurers scrutinise the details very carefully in the event of a claim, often by consulting the treating dentist. Dishonesty almost always leads to a refusal of cost coverage.
Performance tiers and ceiling limits as limiting factors
Almost every tariff, especially those with immediate benefits, operates with a so-called reimbursement schedule. This limits the maximum reimbursement in the first few years. A typical schedule might look like this:
In the first insurance year, a maximum reimbursement of 1,000 euros.
In the first two years combined, a maximum of 2,000 euros.
In the first three years combined, a maximum of 3,000 euros.
From the fourth year onwards, the limit often no longer applies.
Choose a tariff with a reimbursement schedule that suits your expected treatment needs. An expensive implant treatment costing 4,000 euros will not be fully covered in the first year, even with a 100 percent tariff, if the schedule caps at 1,000 euros. These limitations are a crucial point that explains when the insurance will not pay, even though the procedure is technically covered. Therefore, having a precise understanding of the schedule is essential for planning.
Your strategy for success: Four steps to the right protection
To receive the best possible protection despite ongoing treatment, a strategic approach is crucial. With the right preparation, you will find a suitable supplementary dental insurance that noticeably reduces your costs. Go through the following four steps carefully:
Document status accurately: Discuss with your dentist what exactly is noted in your file. Is it a vague recommendation or a specific treatment and cost plan?
Specifically look for immediate coverage plans: Focus your search solely on insurances that explicitly provide coverage for recommended or ongoing treatments. Only about five percent of plans offer this.
Compare benefit details: Pay attention not only to the reimbursement rate but especially to the dental scale, exclusions, and the precise definition of the insured event.
Answer health questions accurately: Take your time and answer each question 100 percent correctly. When in doubt, provide too much information rather than too little.
This structured approach minimizes the risk of rejection and maximizes your chance of obtaining cost coverage. This is how you move from problem identification to a concrete solution.
Request a personalised risk analysis now
Finding the right plan while undergoing treatment is complex and error-prone. Providing incorrect information or choosing the wrong product can cost you thousands of euros. Have your insurance situation reviewed free of charge by our experts and receive specific optimization suggestions tailored to your individual circumstances.
More useful links
The Verbraucherzentrale offers comprehensive information on the risks and benefits of supplemental dental insurance.
Statista provides statistics on spending for dental treatments by type of treatment.
Another statistic from Statista shows expenditure per dentist-treated insured person by federal state.
The annual report of the Bundeszahnärztekammer (BZÄK) offers insights into dental care.
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) publishes a quality report on the cost structure in the medical field (2021).
The official website of the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides access to a wide range of official statistics.
The 2024 Statistical Yearbook of the Kassenzahnärztlichen Bundesvereinigung (KZBV) contains current data on dental care.
The Federal Ministry of Health provides information on aspects of dental treatment in Germany.
The portal gesund.bund.de, an initiative of the federal government, offers information on dental services.
FAQ
Can I take out supplementary dental insurance despite ongoing treatment?
Usually, this is not possible with most insurers. However, there are a few specialized providers whose policies can still be taken out and provide cover even during an ongoing or recommended treatment. However, these tend to be more expensive or initially limited in terms of coverage.
Does the insurance cover the costs if the treatment and cost plan has already been drawn up?
No, if the treatment plan and cost estimate were prepared before the contract was concluded, the treatment is considered an existing insurance case. The costs for this are not covered by 99 percent of all policies. Only special "emergency assistance" policies can make an exception here.
What happens if I omit an ongoing treatment when applying?
Failure to disclose ongoing or recommended treatment is a breach of the pre-contractual notification obligation. The insurer may refuse payment, withdraw from the contract or terminate it in the event of a claim. You will lose your insurance coverage and be liable for the costs.
Is it worth completing if the current treatment is not paid for?
Yes, completing it can still be worthwhile. It provides coverage for all future dental treatments that are not known today. The premiums are often lower than special rates, and you avoid facing the same problem during your next treatment.
Are there tariffs that provide coverage during ongoing orthodontic treatment?
No, ongoing orthodontic treatment is excluded from coverage with all known tariffs. Taking out this insurance is only sensible for future, new treatments, not for covering any measures already underway.
Do tariffs without health questions cover ongoing treatments?
Not necessarily. Even plans without health questions often exclude benefits for treatments that were recommended or started before the contract began. Skipping the questions simply streamlines the application process.
