Perhaps your child has just finished up an orthodontic checkup, and you've been informed that they will need braces. Or maybe you're an adult who's dreamed of aligning your smile for years and now feel you're ready to do so. Regardless of why you're considering braces, you probably have a lot running through your mind about the cost! It's normal to have plenty of questions, like how much are braces with insurance? Will my health insurance even cover the expense? We want to put your mind at ease and give you the knowledge to make an informed decision. So we've gathered some facts about the average cost of braces, how insurance coverage can help, and different payment options.
Average Cost of Treatment
Unfortunately, there's no easy answer when it comes to the "average" cost of orthodontic treatment. The amount of money you'll need to spend depends on you or your child's age, the nature of their problem that needs fixing, if you have dental insurance and what their coverage will be, where you live, and the type of braces your or your child's orthodontist recommends. The good news is that there are ways to estimate the cost of braces based on reports from past and current orthodontic patients.
Authority Dental notes a wide range, from $1,100 to $13,000! We know this "average" range looks quite large, but there are ways to narrow down the suspected cost of treatment by what type of braces you or your child will get. Authority Dental lists the average price of different types of braces as follows:
- Metal braces: $5,350
- Ceramic braces: $5,500
- Self-ligating braces: $5,500
- Invisible braces: $5,700
- Lingual braces: $12,000
Insurance Coverage
If you're fortunate enough to have dental insurance, you're probably wondering, how much do braces cost with dental insurance? If you have health insurance for your family, the first step is to determine if it includes coverage for braces. Your policy can contribute at least part of the cost of your or your child's orthodontic care. Your dental insurance may also support prescription products such as an anti-cavity fluoride rinse, which helps ensure healthy, beautiful teeth when braces are removed.
How much do braces cost once your insurance has covered part of the treatment? Out of pocket, patients with insurance paid an average of $3,407 for traditional metal braces, per reader reports from CostHelper. Insurance usually pays a part of the down payment and spreads the rest of the benefit across the treatment duration. The total amount covered by insurance is typically subject to a maximum benefit, so check with your insurance provider to determine your coverage ceiling.
Payment Options
You can pay for your or your child's orthodontic treatment in several ways:
- If you have health insurance with a Flexible Savings Account (FSA) option, you may find that you qualify for reimbursement from the FSA for orthodontics. Through your employer, you may have the option to set aside funds from your paycheck to go into your FSA. You will still pay the same amount, but your money will be tax-free.
- Like an FSA, you can open a Health Savings Account (HSA) if you're on a high-deductible health insurance plan. You can invest tax-free money into your HSA that you can use for most medical and dental bills. This type of account can even move with you from job to job, so it's not dependent on your current employer.
- Methods of financing, such as personal loans or credit cards, are frequently used to fund orthodontic treatment. You should speak with your child's orthodontic office to see if you can get a discounted price and avoid interest charges by paying a sizable percentage of the cost upfront.
- Many orthodontists offer payment plans for certain patients, as long as they're eligible. Some can be very flexible and may even be interest-free!
Whether or not you have insurance, some of these options can help you cover some of the cost of your or your child's braces. Unfortunately, a lot goes into the question: How much are braces with insurance? So there's no easy answer. But we recommend starting this conversation with your child's orthodontist office as soon as possible! It's worth it to research the various ways you can pay for braces with a combination of insurance, payment plans, health, and flexible savings accounts.
Depending on your individual insurance plan, some insurers agree to provide coverage for orthodontics while others do not. This can make it very difficult when attempting to understand what you’re eligible to receive versus what you’ll be expected to pay out of pocket. Fortunately, at Richardson Orthodontics, our team is here to help make sure your treatment is affordable. Dr. Jones and Dr. Hanson is a BlueCross BlueShield orthodontist in Richardson who is proud to be in-network with not only this particular insurance company but many others as well. As a result, you can expect to achieve the same great results without the added burden of paying for braces solely out of your pocket. If you’re ready to learn more about what we can do for you, call to schedule a free consultation today.
BlueCross BlueShield Coverage Availability & Fees
When choosing to enroll in a plan with BlueCross BlueShield, it’s important to remember that every individual plan is different. Some may offer orthodontic coverage while others may not. If you are choosing to straighten your teeth for purely cosmetic reasons, there is a strong chance that you will not be able to rely on your dental insurance plan to cover the costs.
However, if you are in need of braces to fix a problem that could potentially hinder your oral health, you might receive orthodontic coverage of up to 50%. The same is true should you prefer clear braces or lingual braces.
If you are looking to straighten your teeth with Invisalign, many BlueCross BlueShield plans will not provide available coverage unless it is for a patient under the age of 19. But if you choose to pay for a more expensive insurance plan, your Invisalign may be covered up to 50% if you are an adult.
One of the added benefits of seeing Dr. Jones and Dr. Hanson for treatment is that she is in-network with BlueCross BlueShield dental insurance in Richardson. This means that she can ensure that you pay the lowest possible price for your orthodontics because of her contractual agreement with the insurance company. Of course, even if we are not in-network with your particular plan, we can still file your claims and help you save more when it comes to straightening your smile.
Meet Amie and Catherine
At Richardson Orthodontics, both Amie and Catherine are here to help you better navigate your dental insurance coverage. Knowing how to handle the financial side of orthodontics is never easy, which is why we have two highly trained and skilled individuals who can make the process much easier to understand. Catherin is a registered dental assistant and has experience helping patients with scheduling and finances. Amie serves as our insurance coordinator and financial consultant. Allowing them to identify ways in which you can save on your orthodontic treatment is just one of their many specialties. They’ll also work on your behalf, file any necessary paperwork, and maximize your benefits so you can be sure to get the full reimbursement.