What You Need to Know about Dental Insurance for Braces
If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, either with braces or clear aligners, you’ll want to know what dental insurance will cover your procedure—and what you’ll have to pay out of pocket. Knowing the ins and outs of your dental insurance policy will help you avoid surprises, save money, and get the orthodontic care you need as soon as possible. Here are the most important things to keep in mind about dental insurance for braces.
Health Insurance vs. Dental Insurance
Health insurance is primarily focused on providing coverage for medical bills, but there’s also a subset of plans that includes dental. Before you sign up, make sure your health and dental plans are complementary, not redundant. Find out what each plan covers—and more importantly, what they don’t—so you don’t have an unpleasant surprise if you have to file a claim. For example, if you get braces through your employer’s benefits program and need some extra orthodontic care or a replacement retainer, it might be hard to get reimbursed by your health insurer if they don’t include orthodontic care in their policy. Talk with both companies separately before deciding on one that offers exactly what you need.
Financing Options
It’s worth considering all of your financial options before committing to dental insurance for braces. It’s not uncommon for people, especially younger ones, to struggle financially with dental costs. Before you commit, it’s worth looking into financing and finding ways to spread out payments so they don’t burden you too much at once. Depending on how long you anticipate wearing braces, it might make sense financially to stretch payments out over longer periods of time or ask your employer if they offer an employee loan program. When possible, getting financing from third parties like banks or credit unions is often cheaper than using insurance—and it offers more payment flexibility since there are no restrictions on using funds as needed. The tradeoff?
Why Choose an Invisalign Provider
Let’s be honest: no one likes going to the dentist. However, with Invisalign, it’s possible that going to your orthodontist could be more comfortable and convenient than ever before. This is because most Invisalign providers use a house call approach, which means they come directly to you. The benefits of house calls include quicker service and convenience; you don’t need to leave work or school in order to receive treatment. For these reasons and others, it pays to investigate Invisalign providers when searching for a new orthodontist.
One Year Before Treatment Starts
The cost of dental insurance and braces are often underestimated because they’re long-term investments. Most dental insurances require that you have both medical and orthodontic plans, so try to factor in these costs when estimating your income over a year. If you qualify, Medicaid might help cover your expenses but only once your braces are removed. You can also opt for out-of-pocket payments—but remember, it’s usually cheaper if you get those during a yearly budgeting process than paying for them with credit cards! Once a year rolls around and braces treatment is underway, be prepared:
Getting Ready for Treatment
Before starting your orthodontic treatment, there are a few basic things you need to know. First, have an in-depth conversation with your orthodontist about what’s involved in any given plan; it’s important that you fully understand what will happen and get all of your questions answered before moving forward. Next, make sure you’re financially prepared and get dental insurance for braces. The type of insurance plan that’s right for you depends on how much coverage you want and what kind of out-of-pocket expenses you can afford. For example, if cost is a big concern but complete coverage is not, consider a limited benefit plan or dental insurance plans with benefits like low copays instead of high deductibles.
The First Few Months of Treatment
It’s important that you do your research on orthodontic care, which includes both in-office visits and working with your dentist and orthodontist to develop a plan of action. Before committing to treatment, it is imperative that you know what type of dental insurance you have or if your insurance will cover part or all of your expenses. If you’re considering braces or Invisalign as an option for adult orthodontic treatment, discuss with your dentist how long it may take, how much it will cost and how long you should wait before making such a decision. There are financial advantages associated with getting braces as an adult; just make sure you weigh those options carefully when deciding on whether or not it is right for you.
The Second Phase of Treatment
Some orthodontic treatments can take a long time. Possibly up to two years to complete. If you don’t stick with your maintenance care plan. It’s possible that you could run into some problems. Including tooth misalignment and food getting stuck in between your teeth. Even worse is if you neglect your treatment altogether. That can result in having to wear your braces longer. Than necessary or even have them put back on again. Make sure that you’re following through with all of your dentist. Recommended visits and procedures so that any potential problems are solved before they occur.
Maintenance Care After Treatment Ends
A lot of people wait to go see a dentist until their teeth are hurting or look bad. But that’s not how you should maintain your teeth. Pay attention and get dental insurance for braces when you first start going; your dentist will walk you through maintenance care and how to take care of yourself after treatment ends. Take advantage of free dental screenings as well as low-cost options; it’s important that your oral health continues to stay in good shape!
