Is Supplemental Orthodontic Insurance a Good Idea?
Health care is expensive, and dental care can be especially expensive considering that it is not covered by many medical plans. Dental procedures such as orthodontic surgeries, which can be crucial not only to your health but also to restoring your confidence, can come at hefty costs. It is estimated that the average cost of procedures such as braces is between $5000 to $6000. Considering that most of these procedures are ongoing and orthodontic care may be needed before and after surgery, the cost of getting braces can go as high as $13000. However, the good news is that supplemental orthodontic insurance can make such procedures more affordable than you had estimated.
Understanding Dental Insurance
Before opting for orthodontic insurance, it is crucial to determine whether your current healthcare insurance plan covers braces and orthodontic care. This may either be from the employer's health insurance plan or from health insurance plans from the marketplace. Here is a breakdown of the dental services covered in most healthcare insurance plans.
Adults
While some insurance plans may cover dental care, many medical and dental plans don't provide for braces and orthodontic care. However, a few plans may cover up to 50% of the cost of your braces. Additionally, some plans may only cover procedures related to injury or disease in orthodontic care but not the procedure itself.
Children
The cost covered for braces for children aged under 18 years is conditional. Most plans first need to determine that braces are medically necessary. In such cases the plan will cover part of the costs of the braces. It is important to note that orthodontic care plans and patient cost will vary based on private or public health plans.
Medically-necessary Braces
Sometimes it is necessary to have braces or oral surgery. This is done as maxillofacial surgery to fix broken jaw or facial bones. This type of surgery may also be performed to repair the cleft palate in children. Medical plans like the Affordable Care Act stated that medically necessary orthodontic care is covered; however, the term "medically necessary" was never defined.
What Orthodontic Insurance Covers
Considering the high costs of dental procedures, having orthodontic insurance can help fix your teeth and make the procedures more affordable. Before subscribing to these plans it is important to know the amount of coverage you will get and the type of procedures covered. There are several ways to pay for this type of insurance including payment plans, flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts.
Orthodontic insurance can also help cover for treatment to correct dental abnormalities on the teeth or jaw and also help cover the cost of devices such as braces when straightening teeth, close spaces between teeth, properly align lips and teeth and correct irregularities with bite.
Conclusion
Health is one the most crucial factors and dental health is no exception. Having orthodontic insurance can help ensure that you have comprehensive health coverage. Depending on the plan you subscribe to you should have different coverage, however, for kids you should opt for a plan that covers about 50% of the costs. Contact a qualified orthodontist to understand the different plans available.