Analysis of billing data from privately insured people shows: Dental care was secured during the Covid-19 pandemic

24.07.2023 17:14

In the Corona pandemic year 2020, the total number of dental services billed for those with private health insurance fell by only three percent compared to the previous year. Children and adults up to the age of 35 even used more dental services in 2020 than in 2019. This is a result of a WIP study based on an evaluation of billing data.

The significant pandemic-related restrictions in social life (e.g. contact restrictions, distance rules) during the first Covid-19 wave in spring 2020 led to a significant decline in dental use. In March 2020, the number of benefits was 23.6 percent lower than in March 2019 and in April it was even 46.4 percent lower than the previous year. But there was already a clear catch-up effect in May 2020 (+29.7 percent compared to May 2019), which continued in June.

In the second half of 2020, there were hardly any differences in utilization compared to the pre-pandemic year, even though the second Covid-19 wave began at the end of September. The organization of protective measures in dental practices apparently had a positive effect here. The PKV supported doctors during the pandemic by paying a hygiene allowance.

The study is based on billing data from around 2.5 million PKV insured people

The WIP short analysis can be done under this link be downloaded.