The short answer
Usually not. German statutory health insurance (Krankenkasse) only pays its dental subsidy, the Festzuschuss, for treatment in the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, and Serbia and Bosnia are not in the EU. Austria's ÖGK and Swiss basic insurance also pay practically nothing for implants or crowns there. Even so, one implant with a crown costs €850 at our clinics, compared with about €1,600–2,650 in Germany after the subsidy.
By Spasoje Stefanović, SmileLink · Medically reviewed by Dr Ninoslav Konatar, implantologist and prosthodontist, on 30 September 2026 · Updated: 3 October 2026 · Rules checked against BZÄK, TK, AOK, ÖGK and the Swiss KVG
For planned implants, crowns and dentures in Serbia or Bosnia, statutory insurance in Germany, Austria and Switzerland usually pays nothing. Supplementary dental insurance can pay if your policy covers treatment outside the EU.
| Insurance | Pays for Serbia / Bosnia? | Main reason |
|---|---|---|
| German statutory insurance (AOK, TK, Barmer …) | Usually no | Festzuschuss only in the EU, EEA and Switzerland |
| ÖGK (Austria) | Practically no | Only if the treatment isn't possible in Austria |
| Swiss basic insurance (KVG) | No | Doesn't cover dental work in Switzerland either, except for serious illness or accidents |
| Supplementary or private dental insurance | Depends on the policy | What matters is where the policy applies (Geltungsbereich) |
Because German law only provides for statutory cover of treatment abroad within the EU and the European Economic Area. Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are not EU countries.
The German Federal Dental Association (BZÄK) states that statutory insurers are only legally required to cover costs "within the EU or the European Economic Area".[1] TK pays for dental prosthetics abroad in all EU states plus the UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.[2]
Germany does have a social security agreement with Serbia and with Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to AOK, though, the insurer can only contribute to planned treatment there if no suitable treatment is available in Germany, and only if agreed in advance.[3] Implants, crowns and dentures are available at every German dental practice, so in practice that condition is almost never met.
In most cases, yes. One implant with a crown costs €850 at our clinics. In Germany it costs €2,300–3,200, and the Festzuschuss usually covers only €550–690 of that, so you pay roughly €1,600–2,650 yourself.
| Treatment | Germany, your share after Festzuschuss | Our clinics in Serbia and Bosnia | Your saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implant + crown (1 tooth) | approx. €1,600 – 2,650 | €850 | approx. €750 – 1,800 |
| All-ceramic crown (1 tooth) | approx. €300 – 660 | €200 | approx. €100 – 460 |
| All-on-4 (1 jaw) | approx. €11,200 – 17,400 | €4,000 | approx. €7,200 – 13,400 |
German prices before the subsidy: implant + crown €2,300–3,200, all-ceramic crown €600–900, All-on-4 €12,000–18,000 per jaw. The Festzuschuss depends on the diagnosis and your Bonusheft (60, 70 or 75% of standard care). Guide values: crown approx. €240–300, one missing tooth approx. €550–690, toothless jaw approx. €580–770.[4] Prices in Switzerland are higher still: an implant costs €2,000–2,500 there, All-on-4 €16,000–20,000. Travel costs are not included. Many of our patients combine treatment with a visit to family anyway.
One implant with a crown: your share in Germany after the Festzuschuss (€1,600–2,650) vs. our clinics in Serbia and Bosnia (€850)
For implants and crowns, practically not. The ÖGK only covers planned treatment in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina if it can't be provided in Austria within a medically reasonable time.
The treatment must also be part of the ÖGK's standard benefits. The application has to be completed by an Austrian public hospital, at least two weeks before treatment starts.[5] For implants and cosmetic dentistry these conditions are not met in practice.
Basic insurance (Grundversicherung) doesn't cover dental treatment in Switzerland or abroad, except for severe, unavoidable diseases of the chewing system, severe general illnesses or accidents.
That's set out in Article 31 of the Swiss Health Insurance Act (KVG).[6] Implants, crowns and veneers needed because of decay or tooth loss don't qualify. Supplementary dental insurance (Zahnzusatzversicherung) usually covers only part of the cost, with an annual cap.
It can, if your policy applies outside the EU and covers planned treatment. Many policies only pay for emergencies outside Europe. Check your policy terms for:
The same applies to private health insurance (PKV). Always get confirmation in writing.
Partly, for urgent cases. But Serbia's public health insurance covers dental treatment for adults only to a very limited extent.
With a certificate of entitlement (Anspruchsbescheinigung) from your Krankenkasse, a branch of Serbia's national health insurance fund issues you form INO-1, which lets you be treated in public facilities. The official leaflet from Germany's liaison office for health insurance abroad (DVKA) says dental treatment is covered "only to a very limited extent", except for children and teenagers.[7] None of this applies to planned dental prosthetics.
In Germany, dental costs can be claimed as extraordinary expenses (außergewöhnliche Belastungen) under § 33 EStG, but only the part above your reasonable burden threshold of 1–7% of your income.[8]
We found no specific official rule for treatment outside the EU, so keep all invoices and check with your tax adviser. In Austria, the Federal Finance Court in January 2026 accepted dental costs in Hungary, including travel costs, as extraordinary expenses because the total was clearly lower than in Austria.[9] The court did not rule on whether the same applies to Serbia.
Corrections and warranty claims are the responsibility of the clinic that did the treatment, not your dentist at home.
So get the treatment plan, price and warranty terms in writing beforehand. With us you get a lifetime warranty on the implant and a 5-year warranty on crowns.
To find out what to expect after you return, read You got a dental implant in Serbia — what to expect when you get back home.
Usually not. AOK can only contribute to planned treatment in Serbia or Bosnia if it isn't possible in Germany, and for implants that's practically never the case.
The Bonusheft only increases the Festzuschuss, and that's usually not available for Serbia and Bosnia. Keep it up to date with your dentist at home anyway, because it counts for future dental work in Germany.
Serbia is not in the EU. For urgent treatment you need a certificate of entitlement from your insurer and, once there, form INO-1.
For most treatments, yes. The Festzuschuss is usually a few hundred euros, while the saving on one implant with a crown is about €750–1,800.
For implants and crowns, practically not. The ÖGK only covers planned treatment in Bosnia if it isn't possible in Austria, and only with an application from an Austrian public hospital.
Want to know what you would pay?
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This article is for information only and does not replace a binding answer from your insurer or tax adviser. Rules can change, so always get written confirmation before treatment.
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