Natasha moved from Kyiv to Hamburg three years ago. sharp, organized, takes care of herself. When a tooth broke and she needed a crown, she came to me with one question: "Andrii, how much will the insurance pay?"
I asked: "Do you have a Bonusheft?"
She looked at me blankly.
The insurance paid 60% of the standard treatment cost. Had Natasha kept a filled Bonusheft for the last 10 years, the insurance would have paid 75%. several hundred euros more. Money that was simply waiting. but she didn't know it existed.
Let me explain everything you need to know about this small but valuable booklet.
What is the Bonusheft dental bonus booklet?
The Bonusheft is a small passport-sized booklet issued by your dentist. It documents your regular preventive check-ups. Every time you come in for an examination, the dentist stamps and dates an entry.
It has existed since 1989 and is governed by § 55 SGB V (Sozialgesetzbuch. the German social law code). This is not a marketing gimmick from your insurer. it is your legal right.
The logic is straightforward: the German state wants people to visit the dentist regularly. As a reward, your statutory health insurer (GKV) increases its contribution. the Festzuschuss. when you need major dental work: crowns, bridges, dentures (collectively called Zahnersatz).
How the Bonusheft Festzuschuss works: step by step
Request a Bonusheft from your dentist
It is free of charge and available at any dental practice. If your dentist does not have one on hand, they will order it. Simply ask: "Können Sie mir ein Bonusheft geben?" ("Could you give me a Bonusheft?")
Attend at least one check-up per year
The Kontrolluntersuchung (routine check-up) takes 15–20 minutes: the dentist examines your teeth and gums, and takes an X-ray if needed. No complex procedures. just preventive care. GKV covers two check-ups per year at no cost to you.
Get the stamp
Stamp, signature, date. done. Important: only a preventive check-up counts towards the Bonusheft. If you came in purely to treat a cavity, ask the dentist to do the routine exam as well and add the stamp. Two things in one visit. it is possible.
After 5 years: Festzuschuss rises to 70%
After 5 consecutive years of annual visits, your insurer's contribution to dental prosthetics jumps by 10 percentage points. from 60% to 70%.
After 10 years: Festzuschuss rises to 75%
This is the maximum. After 10 years of the Bonusheft, your insurer covers 75% of the Regelversorgung cost. saving you hundreds of euros per tooth.
Real numbers: how much does insurance actually pay?
The Festzuschuss is calculated based on the Regelversorgung. the standard treatment defined for your specific dental situation. For example, if you are missing a molar, the Regelversorgung is a metal bridge. If you prefer an implant or premium ceramic crown, you pay the difference above the Festzuschuss yourself.
Example: one missing tooth replaced with a bridge (Festzuschuss basis per KZBV data approx. €1,318):
| Situation | Insurance pays | Your share |
|---|---|---|
| No Bonusheft (60%) | ~€791 | ~€527 |
| 5 years Bonusheft (70%) | ~€923 | ~€395 |
| 10 years Bonusheft (75%) | ~€989 | ~€329 |
The difference between "no Bonusheft" and "10 years Bonusheft" is roughly €200. for a single tooth. If you need two or three teeth, or a multi-unit bridge, those numbers multiply accordingly.
What happens if you miss a year?
This is where most people slip up.
Miss one year. your consecutive streak is broken. The years you have already accumulated do not simply vanish, but to qualify for the higher Festzuschuss (70% or 75%) you must build a new unbroken streak of 5 or 10 years.
Practical tip: Save the date of your last check-up in your phone calendar. Set a reminder for next year. One dental visit per year. that is literally hundreds of euros saved over time.
Just arrived in Germany? Start your Bonusheft now
Good news: you can start the moment you arrive.
As soon as you are enrolled in GKV and have your Gesundheitskarte (health insurance card), you are entitled to a Bonusheft. Go to a dentist, ask for a Bonusheft, complete your first check-up. and the clock starts.
German health insurers do not recognise foreign dental records as a substitute for years in the Bonusheft. Records from Ukraine, the UK, the US, or anywhere else will not increase your Festzuschuss. The count in Germany starts from zero. from the first stamp in a German Bonusheft.
If you arrive at age 30 and start your Bonusheft straight away, by 40 you will have the maximum 10-year bonus. These are real savings worth building from day one.
Special cases
For children: under 18, two check-ups per year are required (under the Individualprophylaxe programme). GKV covers these fully.
Low-income households: if your income falls below a certain threshold, you may apply for Härtefall-Regelung. in which case the insurer can cover 100% of the Festzuschuss. Check with your specific Krankenkasse.
Looking for an English-speaking dentist in Hamburg who will walk you through the German system? Read also our guide on professional dental cleaning in Germany.
The digital Bonusheft: what changed in 2025
Since 15 February 2025, Germany has been rolling out the elektronische Patientenakte (ePA). a digital patient file for every GKV member. Along with it came the digital dental bonus booklet: the elektronisches Zahnbonusheft.
Your dentist can now enter check-up data directly into the ePA, and you can view your full visit history through your insurer's smartphone app.
Key advantages of the digital Bonusheft
The booklet can no longer be lost
No need to carry a physical document
Data is preserved when you change dentists
Important: the paper Bonusheft remains completely valid. If you prefer paper, there is nothing you need to change. both formats are officially accepted by all German health insurers.
The ePA operates on an opt-out basis: a digital file is created automatically for every insured person. From 1 October 2025, dental practices are legally required to enter treatment data into the ePA.
The bottom line: one stamp a year, and the money works for you
The Bonusheft is one of those things in Germany that nobody explicitly tells you about. but it is worth real money. One visit per year. One stamp. Ten years. and you have the maximum subsidy.
Start today. Tomorrow, one year will already be on the books.