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Supplemental Orthodontic Insurance: 4 Smile-Friendly Tips
Need braces for you or your kid? If you’re worried it’s going to be expensive, you’re not alone.
The good news: with supplemental orthodontic insurance, it could be more affordable than you think.
Without insurance, the average cost for braces is $5,000 to $6,000.1
But the more orthodontic care you need to fix your teeth, the higher the cost. Braces can cost up to $13,000. For adults the cost may even be higher for bone grafts, implants, and restorative dental work that needs to be completed before braces.2
Need braces to fix your teeth?
Check out these four smile-friendly tips about supplemental orthodontic insurance to find out if it’s right for you:
1. Help understanding medical & dental insurance benefits
If you have health insurance through an employer or the Health Insurance Marketplace, find out if your plan covers braces and orthodontic care.
- For adults, many medical and dental plans don’t cover braces or orthodontic care. Some plans pay up to 50% of the cost for braces. And other plans only cover orthodontic care related to injury or disease.3
- For children. If a dental professional determines braces are medically necessary for a child under age 18, only some plans cover part of the cost. Research also shows orthodontic care plans and patient costs vary widely based on public or private health plans.
- Medically-necessary braces. This is usually reserved for oral surgery (called maxillofacial surgery) needed to fix a broken jaw or facial bones. It may also include surgery to repair a cleft palate in children. While the Affordable Care Act mandated “medically necessary” orthodontic care, this was never defined. Instead individual states determine what is “medically necessary” orthodontic care.
2. Find out what orthodontic insurance for braces covers
Got sticker shock about your out-of-pocket costs for braces?
Don’t worry. Supplemental orthodontic insurance can make fixing your teeth more affordable based on the amount of coverage you get.
Payment plans, flexible spending accounts, and health savings accounts can also be used to pay for orthodontic care to make it more affordable.4
This type of insurance can help cover the cost of devices and treatment to correct abnormalities of the teeth and jaw, such as braces needed to:5
- Straighten teeth
- Close spaces between teeth
- Correct irregularities with bite
- Properly align lips and teeth
How much will you save with supplemental orthodontic insurance?
It depends on the plan. But for kids, you should be able to find options that cover up to 50% of the cost. Most plans also have a lifetime maximum for the duration of your orthodontic care.7
4. Help understanding the options for braces (orthodontic care)
Let’s say you need braces to straighten out your teeth.
It wasn’t that long ago you had one choice: metal braces.
While metal braces may be the most cost-effective, now there are multiple options and price-points for orthodontic care to fix your teeth. This includes:2
- Metal braces. Average cost: $3,000 to $7,000
- Ceramic braces. Average cost: $4,000 to $8,500
- Lingual braces. Average cost: $5,000 to $13,000
- Aligners or invisible braces (clear plastic trays that snap on to teeth). Average cost: $1,000 to $8,500
Wondering which choice is right for you? Talk with your orthodontist about your options for braces, treatment plan, and expected amount of time you’ll need to wear them.
4. Get an estimate for braces
Just like with a general contractor, you can request an estimate from your orthodontist to avoid surprises with your bill.
“Dentists can submit a pre-estimate to clarify out-of-pocket costs for the consumer if needed,” according to the American Dental Association.6
It’s a smart way to get real about how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket for braces.
If additional services are needed, the charges may be higher than the estimate. But with supplemental orthodontic insurance, it’s may be more affordable than getting your teeth fixed without insurance.
Looking for supplemental orthodontic insurance?
Call HealthMarkets today at (800) 827-9990 for more information, or find a local licensed insurance agent.