Hi everyone,

I am an expat who just moved to Berlin a couple weeks ago. I am unemployed but currently seekjng work. A couple days ago I noticed I have a cavity in one of my front teeth. Now I am trying to find the bedt way to get it treated.

I should add that I am a dual citizen — US and Ireland. However I have never had health insurance in Ireland. Since quitting my job in the US my healthcare coverage was terminated.

For health insurance I took a look into Mawista but after reading a bit about it online it is unclear if this insurance has any dental coverage.

Now the ask:

Does anyone know of any good dentists Berlin? (English is a plus)

Does anyone know what the health insurance policies for an unemployed EU citizen in Berlin without amelden?

Can someone recommend me an insurance, public or private, that I can use to see a dentist asap?

tldr – Irish/US expat without a job or insurance trying to get a filling.

Thanks!

***
Update –

I signed-up for feather expat insurance, was able to find a dentist office near my house, and managed an appointment for Monday. Thanks everyone for the great information.

Insurance I found: https://feather-insurance.com/expat-health-insurance

6 comments

  1. From your post I don’t think you qualify for public health insurance in Germany.

    You can always pay the cost for a dentist yourself, mentioning this when you call for an appointment might actually get you an appointment faster.

    In the mean time, read the wiki of this sub regarding health insurance.

  3. Sounds like right now from a legal perspective you’re basically just a tourist. EU citizens who are tourists would use the EHIC in an emergency, which this isn’t. They would get something like a cavity filled in their home country.

    Contact Mawista and ask if they cover this. If they don’t, you’ll need to pay out of pocket.

  4. > Does anyone know of any good dentists Berlin? (English is a plus)

    Sure. I had very good experience in “Zahnklinik Berlin in den Gropiuspassagen” at Johannisthaler Chaussee 313.

    > Does anyone know what the health insurance policies for an unemployed EU citizen in Berlin without amelden?

    For the first three months as an EU citizen in Germany, and as long as you are unemployed, you do count as a tourist so you are not yet required to take out health insurance (although it’s obviously a very smart thing to do). You can use medical services as a self-payer instead.

    You will soon need to get health insurance if you are planning to stay though. Proper health insurance, whether public (more reliable, stable price) or private (initially cheaper but more expensive as you get older) – not travel insurance (like Mawista).

    > Can someone recommend me an insurance, public or private, that I can use to see a dentist asap?

    For your immediate need, go as a self-payer and expect a bill around but probably under 100 EUR if it’s just a filling. In the medium term, get a public insurance like TK or BARMER (mentioning those two specifically because they offer a lot of support in English). You will need to make your stay in Germany regular though, e.g. by properly registering your address (Anmeldung).

  5. Mawista. Better run away.

    It is legally not considered a health insurance in Germany and if you live here their terms and conditions says that it is not a valid heath insurance.

    Knew a pregnant women. She had mawista. Renewed it yearly and therefore they didn’t cover the cost of the birth – existing precondition.

    Get an Anmeldung and a proper public insurance. If you get/are unemployed it will be paid for you.

  6. A simple filling will costs you around €100-200. Mawista usually covers emergency dental care at reduced rates. Check your policy, if you have a sheet for health care providers. This usually includes informations about what and at which levels is covered. Bring this to your appointment and everything should be fine.

    Concerning an English speaking dentist, where in Berlin are you? Most dentists will speak English to a certain degree, but their staff might not.

    Especially with the public holidays and the weekend your options might be limited for the next 3 days. At the [KZV Notdienst ](https://www.kzv-berlin.de/patienten/notdienst/zahnaerztlicher-notdienst/) you can find an emergency dentist in every borough of the city for the morning and afternoon.

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