Overview
- The new GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz reduces Festzuschüsse for standard dental prosthetics by ten percentage points so that from 1 January 2027 insurers pay 50% without a bonusheft, 60% with five years, and 65% with ten years.
- To preserve the higher 2026 subsidy, patients must have their Heil‑und‑Kostenplan approved by their Krankenkasse before year-end 2026 because approvals are normally valid for six months.
- Very low‑income insured people and recipients of social benefits remain protected by the Härtefallregelung, which can fully cover the Regelversorgung when gross monthly income is below published thresholds (for example about €1,582 for a single adult).
- Regular checkups logged in the paper bonusheft or the eZahnbonus in the electronic patient record raise the Festzuschuss and missing entries can sometimes be retroactively added if practice records support them.
- Consumers can reduce out‑of‑pocket costs by seeking a free second opinion, using university dental clinics, checking insurer cooperation programs, considering treatment abroad, or reviewing a dental supplementary policy, and worked examples show individual bills can rise by roughly €40–€173 for typical crown or bridge cases.