Orthodontic care is not typically included in standard health insurance plans, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use insurance at the orthodontist. In fact, there are specific orthodontic insurance plans that can provide you with coverage for braces and many other orthodontic services. Whether you’re pursuing orthodontic care for yourself or a child, you should first decide whether orthodontic insurance could help you get more affordable care.
Is orthodontic insurance worth it?
Orthodontic insurance can be worth it, but it entirely depends on the amount of coverage that your orthodontic insurance plan offers. For starters, orthodontic insurance may not cover 100% of your orthodontic treatment. If you have an estimate of what your orthodontic treatment will cost, you should weigh it against the savings you’ll get with insurance and the amount you’ll have to pay in insurance premiums. Additionally, orthodontic insurance may not cover all orthodontic treatments. While it’s common for orthodontic insurance to cover traditional braces, it may offer limited or no coverage for things like Invisalign®. For these reasons, it’s important to read the fine print with any orthodontics insurance plan and be sure it’s worth the cost you’ll owe in premiums.
How to get orthodontic insurance
Most orthodontic insurance plans come packaged with dental insurance. In fact, your current dental insurance plan may already include some coverage for orthodontic treatments! However, if you’re seeking insurance coverage, you’ll want to start by exploring the dental insurance options that include orthodontic coverage. Specifically, you’ll want to explore any added costs when orthodontics coverage is included, and what coverage it provides. As we mentioned above, insurance plans can vary in the amount of coverage provided and the treatments that are eligible for coverage. Be sure to do your research before signing up for a plan so you know that your orthodontic treatment will be covered!
Can adults get braces free?
Even with orthodontic insurance, it is uncommon for adults to get braces for free. For starters, as discussed earlier, many orthodontic plans provide limited or fixed coverage for orthodontic treatments, and not 100% coverage. This means even with orthodontic insurance, you may still be responsible for a portion of the cost of your braces treatment. Additionally, some orthodontic insurance plans restrict coverage for patients over the age of 18. As an adult, it may be more difficult to find orthodontic insurance plans that offer coverage for adult braces treatments.
Fortunately, if you don’t have orthodontic insurance or don’t get enough coverage through your current orthodontic insurance provider, there are other ways to make your treatment more affordable. Drs. Savage, Sabol and Visser offer financing options to split the cost of treatment into affordable monthly payments. Contact us today to learn more about these and other options for lowering the cost of braces and other orthodontic services.
