Which dental insurance covers invisible braces for adults and reduces your costs by up to 90 percent?
2 May 2025
10
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
Invisible braces, known as aligners, are a popular method of correcting teeth in adults, but the costs can be as much as €8,500. The statutory health insurance usually does not cover this. A robust dental supplementary insurance can almost completely cushion this financial burden.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The cost of invisible braces for adults (€3,500 to €8,500) is almost never covered by statutory health insurance.
A good dental supplementary insurance should explicitly include orthodontics for adults and reimburse at least 80 percent of the costs.
Be sure to take out the insurance before a dentist officially recommends the treatment to avoid exclusions.
Cost analysis: Expect up to €8,500 for aligners
The cost of treatment with invisible aligners varies significantly depending on the extent of the dental misalignment and typically ranges between 3,500 and 8,500 euros. For minor corrections, the cost is often around 4,000 euros, while complex treatments can quickly exceed 7,000 euros. The statutory health insurance (GKV) does not usually cover these costs for adults, as the treatment is mostly considered an aesthetic measure. Only in cases of severe jaw anomalies requiring surgery is there a minimal chance of partial cost coverage. Therefore, private insurance is the only option for nine out of ten patients to reduce costs. Without it, there remains a personal contribution of 100 percent. Choosing the right supplementary dental insurance and understanding its costs is therefore crucial.
Pricing Features: Identify the right protection for adults
When looking for suitable dental supplementary insurance, the coverage component "Orthodontics for Adults" is crucial. Many plans only cover children up to 18 years or restrict coverage to treatment due to accidents. Ensure that aligner therapies are explicitly mentioned in the contract. A good policy reimburses at least 80 per cent, with top-tier plans covering up to 100 per cent of the costs. Specifically look for policies that also cover purely aesthetic reasons, as this is often the case for adults. Comprehensive protection through dental supplementary insurance is the first step towards financing.
Here are four key criteria for selecting a plan:
Coverage amount: Reimbursement of at least 80 per cent for orthodontics.
Scope: Explicit inclusion of aligner therapies for adults.
No accident clause: Insurance coverage even without a prior accident.
Medical necessity: Plans that also cover aesthetic corrections.
These points form the basis for solid coverage of your treatment costs.
Performance limitations: Strategically manage billing tiers and waiting periods
Almost all dental supplementary insurances limit their benefits in the first years through a so-called dental scale. This means the maximum reimbursement is capped, for example, at 1,000 euros in the first year and 2,000 euros in the first two years. Plan your treatment so that the main cost occurs only after the third or fourth insurance year to make full use of the benefit amount. Additionally, orthodontics often come with a special waiting period of eight months. Only after this period can you submit invoices. Some providers offer policies without a waiting period, allowing for a quicker start to treatment.
Application: Overcoming the Challenge of Health Questions
The most important principle is: The insurance must be taken out before the treatment is recommended or started. As soon as a dentist or orthodontist makes a diagnosis or notes a measure in your patient record, it is too late to claim benefits. Insurers explicitly ask about recommended, intended, or ongoing treatments in the application. Providing false information can lead to contract termination and refusal of benefits. Be absolutely honest here, as the insurance will check your patient records in the event of a claim. An adult orthodontic brace can only be insured before the first official recommendation.
Example calculation: Over €4,500 in savings with the right tariff
For example, an aligner treatment costs you 6,000 euros. Without insurance, you'll bear this amount entirely yourself. With a robust dental supplementary insurance for 45 euros a month, the situation looks different. After a contract period of 24 months, you will have paid 1,080 euros in contributions. The insurer reimburses 90 percent of the treatment costs, which is 5,400 euros. Your remaining personal share of the treatment is only 600 euros. Your total costs amount to 1,680 euros (600 euros personal share + 1,080 euros contributions), which means a saving of 4,320 euros. A well-considered comparison of dental supplementary insurances reveals the huge savings potential.
Expert tip: Cleverly close funding gaps
Even with very good insurance, there can be a personal share of ten to twenty percent left, which can still amount to several hundred euros. Our expert tip: Clarify early on whether your orthodontist offers installment payments to make these remaining costs manageable. Many practices cooperate with financial service providers and offer interest-free payments over six or twelve months. If this is not sufficient, a targeted small loan can be an alternative to bridge the remaining amount without having to postpone the treatment. This way, you ensure that your path to a new smile doesn't fail at the last financial hurdle.
The complexity of tariff conditions often makes expert advice indispensable. We support you in finding the optimal coverage for your needs. Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation checked for free and receive concrete optimization suggestions.
More useful links
AOK provides information on dental health services, particularly about braces.
Verbraucherzentrale provides information on personal contributions, insurance benefits, and additional costs at the orthodontist.
Techniker Krankenkasse offers information on the costs of orthodontic treatments for adults.
Barmer explains its orthodontic services.
Kassenzahnärztliche Bundesvereinigung (KZBV) provides information about the process of orthodontic treatment.
Bundesgesundheitsministerium publishes an IGES report on the topic of orthodontics.
Apotheken Umschau offers an article on braces for adults, their relevance, and the associated costs.
Statistisches Bundesamt provides a quality report on cost structures in the medical sector (2022).
FAQ
What does 'Zahnstaffel' mean in a dental supplementary insurance?
The dental stagger is a benefit limitation in the initial years of coverage. It specifies the maximum reimbursement amount per year, for example, a maximum of €1,000 in the first year, €2,000 in the first two years, and so on. This limitation ceases after approximately three to five years.
Is there a dental supplementary insurance for orthodontics with no waiting period?
Yes, some insurers offer policies without the usual eight-month waiting period. This means you can access benefits immediately from the start of the contract. However, it still applies that the treatment must not have been recommended yet.
What is the difference between an aesthetic and a medically necessary treatment?
A medically necessary treatment is deemed necessary when a dental or jaw misalignment causes health issues such as pain or functional limitations (KIG classification). An aesthetic treatment primarily serves the purpose of visual improvement. Most aligner treatments for adults fall into the latter category.
Does the insurance also cover the costs for retainers?
Many good orthodontic plans also cover the cost of retainers necessary for stabilising teeth after treatment. The exact amount of reimbursement depends on the chosen plan and should be verified in advance.
What happens if I provide incorrect information regarding the health questions?
If you conceal a recommended treatment, the insurer can refuse benefits, contest the contract, or even terminate it. Since insurers review the patient's records in case of a claim, false statements are uncovered.
Does the insurance also cover other methods such as lingual techniques?
Yes, comprehensive plans for adult orthodontics often include various methods, such as lingual braces (braces fitted on the inside). Check the insurance terms to ensure your preferred method is covered.
