Short answer: According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the statutory health insurers’ fixed subsidy for dental prostheses is to fall from 60 to 50 percent. Anyone who proves preventive care is to receive 60 or 65 percent. For an assumed standard treatment costing 1,000 euros, the own share rises from 400 to 500 euros. Last updated: November 2026.
The fixed subsidy for dental prostheses determines the share of costs that your health insurer covers. For 2027 the draft bill provides for a reduction. This guide explains how the subsidy works, what the draft changes and how your own share is calculated for a treatment.
The essentials in brief
- The fixed subsidy covers part of the standard treatment, and you pay the rest as your own share.
- According to the BMG, the subsidy is to fall from 60 to 50 percent.
- With proven preventive care, 60 or 65 percent are to apply again.
- The draft names as its aim the level that applied up to 2020.
- Whether and from which date a cut-off applies depends on the promulgated act.
How does the fixed subsidy work?
For dental prostheses the statutory health insurer covers a fixed share of the costs of the standard treatment. This subsidy is a percentage, not a flat amount. If you choose a higher-quality treatment that goes beyond the standard treatment, you bear the additional costs yourself.
Before treatment, the treatment and cost plan prepared by your dentist is worth having. It shows which share falls to the insurer and which to you. Review it carefully before you agree.
What changes in 2027 under the draft?
According to the committee report on the draft bill of 8 July 2026, the fixed subsidies for dental prostheses are to be reduced to the level that applied up to 2020. The Federal Ministry of Health names a specific reduction from 60 to 50 percent. With proven preventive care, the rate remains at 60 or 65 percent.
| Proven preventive care | Fixed subsidy under the draft | Own share for a 1,000 euro standard treatment (assumption) |
|---|---|---|
| no | 50 percent | 500 euros |
| yes | 60 to 65 percent | 350 to 400 euros |
The table assumes a standard treatment of 1,000 euros without additional services. The actual subsidies depend on the final act and on the treatment and cost plan from your dentist.
Why is the subsidy falling at all?
The ministry justifies the reform with the aim of keeping additional contributions stable. This includes savings on benefits, and the subsidy counts among them. Without the reform, the ministry expected a clearly higher average additional contribution for 2027, namely 3.8 percent. The overall context is explained in our guide GKV reform 2026 (in German).
This is no assessment of the effect on individual insured persons. Whether the reduction becomes a burden in practice depends on which treatment you need and whether you can prove preventive care.
How do you calculate your own share?
Your own share is the cost of the chosen treatment minus the fixed subsidy. For the calculation, always use the standard treatment as the reference, because the insurer bases its subsidy on that figure.
- Assumption: the standard treatment costs 1,000 euros.
- At a 50 percent subsidy the insurer pays 500 euros, and your own share is 500 euros.
- At a 60 percent subsidy the insurer pays 600 euros, and your own share is 400 euros.
- At a 65 percent subsidy the insurer pays 650 euros, and your own share is 350 euros.
In the example, the difference between the variants is 100 to 150 euros. With higher costs for the standard treatment, the gap grows accordingly.
What does this mean for students and new graduates?
Anyone planning dental prostheses in the coming months should agree the start of treatment and the treatment plan with the dentist. When a switch-over date applies depends on the statutory text, which you should check. For students on a tight budget, the own share is often the decisive factor.
Dental supplementary cover can soften the own share, provided it exists before the need arises, because waiting periods apply. Our guide dental supplementary insurance for students (in German) explains the basics.
What does standard treatment mean?
Standard treatment describes the treatment that the health insurer regards as sufficient. It forms the basis for the fixed subsidy. If you choose a comparable but higher-quality solution, you pay the difference yourself. The two variants should be shown clearly separated in the cost plan, so that you see the difference at once.
If something is unclear, ask which item counts as standard treatment. A clear separation prevents additional services from slipping into the cost calculation unnoticed.
What role does preventive care play?
You record preventive check-ups in the bonus booklet. This documentation is the condition for the higher subsidy to apply. Gaps in the entries can lead to a lower subsidy. It is therefore worth attending appointments regularly and having the entries confirmed.
Keep copies of the entries until the billing is complete. For larger treatments, a complete record is especially helpful if questions arise later.
Frequently asked questions
Has the fixed subsidy already been reduced?
The draft provides for the reduction. Whether it applies is shown by the promulgated act in the Federal Law Gazette. Until then, plan with today’s rules and treat the change as a possible additional factor.
Does the reduction apply to all treatments?
According to the draft it concerns the fixed subsidy for dental prostheses. Other dental services follow their own rules, which you should check in the statutory text before drawing conclusions.
How high is my own share in concrete terms?
It results from the cost of the chosen treatment minus the fixed subsidy. The treatment and cost plan shows the figures in advance, and you can discuss it with your dentist at your own pace.
What if the own share is not affordable?
Ask your health insurer which arrangements are possible for hardship cases. It is important to describe the situation early and to submit complete documents.
What to do now
- Have the treatment and cost plan prepared before planned treatment.
- Compare the costs with the fixed subsidy under the rules that apply at the time.
- Check whether dental supplementary insurance suits your situation.
- Document your preventive check-ups, because they can affect the subsidy. For a personal assessment, Academycon is available.
Related guides
- Krankenkasse 2027: What changes for insured persons and students
- GKV reform 2026
- Copayments 2027
- Dental supplementary insurance for students (in German)
- Pharmacy copayment 2027
Sources: German Bundestag: printed paper 21/7023 of 8 July 2026, report on the draft bill, Federal Ministry of Health: FAQ on the GKV contribution rate stabilisation act, Federal Ministry of Health: press release on the Bundestag resolution of 10 July 2026
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
