FSA HSA Accounts for Invisalign and Braces
September 27th, 2023
Dr. Jennifer L. Martin and our team invite you to learn the basics of using your health savings account with the resources below. As we enter the final portion of 2023 we receive lots of interest in using Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA) for dental treatments & procedures. Please contact us for answers to your specific questions.
It is important to know that orthodontia, and the most dental services, are eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) or a limited care flexible spending account (LCFSA). Orthodontia is not eligible for reimbursement with a dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA). Read more...
Using Your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for Dental Care
Invisalign Orthodontics Treatment Is Typically Eligible with a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Invisalign orthodontics reimbursement are typically eligible with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) or a limited care flexible spending account (LCFSA). Invisalign orthodontics reimbursement is not eligible with a dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA).
More Dental Expenses That Can Be Paid with FSAs
When it comes to using an FSA for dental expenses, reimbursement rules generally follow the deduction rules as spelled out in IRS Publication 502. The basic guideline is that anything that treats or prevents a dental disease is eligible for FSA coverage:
- Teeth cleaning
- Fillings and sealants
- Crowns
- Bonding
- Dentures
- Tooth extraction
- Inlays and onlays
- All diagnostic and preventative services
- Treatments for gingivitis, temporomandibular joint syndrome and disorder, gum recession, and oral surgery
Expenses That Are Excluded
Unfortunately, cosmetic procedures—such as teeth whitening, veneers, and cosmetic orthodontics—are not covered by FSA plans. If you want to get your teeth bright and white, you will have to pay out of pocket, as cosmetic dentistry is simply not on the list. In fact, you cannot even buy toothpaste of any kind or dental floss using FSA funds, as they are not eligible expenses. Oral pain remedies, however, are typically covered by plans.
There is an obvious discrepancy with orthodontia. While the IRS says that some procedures treat disease and some are cosmetic, there is no specific set of rules that defines the specifics regarding which procedures qualify for coverage under an FSA.
Know Your Plan: Flexible Spending Plans Vary
The IRS provides general rules for FSA plans, but each individual FSA provider interprets those rules differently. Talk to your employer and your plan provider before you start any course of treatment. We are more than willing to coordinate with your insurance provider to make sure the services you are receiving are eligible.
Creating Generations of Smiles Through A Legacy of Personal Care and Heartfelt Service!
Dr. Jennifer L. Martin and our team love transforming lives, one smile at a time. We work one-to-one with each patient to determine their clinical needs and care goals, and then develop individual treatment paths to create their healthy new smile. Please reach out to schedule a consultation so you maximize your health savings account features. Now is the time to start treatment if you want to use funds for a 2021 ‘use it or lose it’ budget.
We offer complimentary consultations for you and your family at our Pleasant Hill, CA orthodontic office, serving Martinez, Concord, Walnut Creek and Lafayette. Please call to learn more and schedule your consultation, today. Dr. Martin and everyone at Jennifer L. Martin, DDS, look forward to welcoming you to our practice. We would love to develop a long-term relationship with you, while making the beautiful smile of your dreams a reality!
Best wishes,
Jennifer L. Martin, D.D.S.
401 Gregory Lane, Suite 126
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Phone: (925) 676-8485
Should You Choose a Dentist or Orthodontist?
September 20th, 2023
“People often wonder what the difference is between an orthodontist and a dentist. Both dentists and orthodontists work on teeth, provide professional care that helps patients have good oral health, and both are dental school graduates. Your dentist may even offer orthodontic services, leading you to assume that they are an orthodontist. But the truth is that putting aligners or braces on teeth does not make a dentist an orthodontist.
Dentists, who are also known as general (or family) dentists, are concerned with overall oral health. Dentists treat decayed teeth (fillings) and remove failed teeth (extractions). They usually provide services such as crowns, veneers, or bonding to improve the appearance and function of teeth that have extensive decay or are misshapen or broken. Dentists look for abnormalities in the mouth and teach patients how to prevent dental disease.
As knowledgeable and skillful as dentists are, certain areas of dentistry have educational programs beyond dental school. Orthodontics is one of those areas. And that’s where specialists, such as orthodontists, come in.
Dental specialists get to be specialists by completing four years of general dental education in dental school and then continuing in an accredited program where they study their specific specialty full-time for two or more years. When dentists studying a specialty area successfully complete their formal specialty education, they can use a title that denotes their area of specialization. “Orthodontist” is one example.
Other dental specialists include endodontists specializing in root canals; periodontists specializing in treating gum disease; pediatric dentists specializing in dental care for the under-21 age group; and oral and maxillofacial surgeons specializing in face, mouth, and jaw surgery. Orthodontists are specialists who focus on the bite – how teeth meet and function, how they are aligned, how they are set in the jaws, and the positioning and sizes of the upper and lower jaws.
General dentists are licensed to practice dentistry. Some states allow them to provide specialty care, even if they do not have formal post-dental school training in the specialty services. For example, a dentist may be able to perform a root canal, but that does not mean he/she is an endodontist. A dentist may be able to extract a tooth, but that does not mean he/she is an oral surgeon. Likewise, a dentist may be able to provide braces or aligners to move teeth, but that does not mean the dentist is an orthodontist. Only orthodontists have additional orthodontic education from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, providing them with specialized training in moving teeth.”
Sourced from https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/dentist-or-orthodontist-who-should-you-choose/
Trust an AAO Orthodontist like Jennifer L. Martin, DDS
Dr. Jennifer L. Martin and our team love transforming lives, one smile at a time. We work one-to-one with each patient to determine their clinical needs and care goals, and then develop individual treatment paths to create their healthy new smile. We appreciate parents who understand the importance of getting their children a proper start towards a lifetime or oral & orthodontic health.
We offer complimentary consultations for you and your family at our Pleasant Hill, CA orthodontic office, serving Martinez, Concord, Walnut Creek and Lafayette. Please call to learn more and schedule your consultation, today.
Dr. Martin and everyone at Jennifer L. Martin, DDS, look forward to welcoming you to our practice. We would love to develop a long-term relationship with you, while making the beautiful smile of your dreams a reality!
Jennifer L. Martin, D.D.S.
401 Gregory Lane, Suite 126
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Phone: (925) 676-8485
Use FSA HSA dollars for Invisalign® treatment
September 6th, 2023
The year is coming to an end, and it’s time to remind all of our patients to use their Flexible Spending Account (FSA) savings before you lose it!
As the year comes to an end, we want to remind all of our patients to use their Flexible Spending Account (FSA) savings before it's too late. If you have money in your FSA, it will not roll over into the next year, so be sure to take advantage of it before it's gone! At Jennifer Martin Orthodontics, we recommend using your FSA dollars to get started on Invisalign® treatment. Invisalign is a great option for patients of all ages and has been used to treat entire families at our practice. Keep reading to learn more about Flex Spending Accounts and how Invisalign may be the right choice for you.
That’s right-if you have money in your FSA it will not roll over into next year. If you’ve been considering Invisalign® treatment, using your FSA dollars would be an excellent way to get started. Jennifer Martin Orthodontics uses Invisalign for patients of all ages, and has even treated entire families!
Read on to learn more about Flex Spending Accounts, and if Invisalign may be right for you.Using Your Flex Spending Account Wisely
The first thing to do is make sure that you do have a FSA, and verify how much you have saved over the year. Once that is done, schedule with your Orthodontist to see if your FSA is enough to cover the treatment you need, and if not, make a plan to come up with the rest out of pocket.
Your FSA can be used for a variety of Dental and Orthodontics procedures. Some people are under the mistaken impression that FSA cannot be used for Orthodontics treatment, but that is not necessarily the case.
The general rule of thumb is that FSA’s cannot be used for anything considered strictly cosmetic. For example, teeth whitening would not be covered under your FSA.
The most important thing about a FSA is planning ahead. You want to know ahead of time how much you need to set aside for your desired treatment. If you don’t have a FSA but think you will be need one in the future, now is the time to contact your Insurance Provider to set one up.
Using your Flex Spending Account for Orthodontics
Many Orthodontic procedures go far beyond the aesthetics. Straight, even, properly aligned teeth are crucial for the overall health and wellness of your mouth, as well as the rest of your body further on down the road.
Invisalign and orthodontics aren’t just for teenagers, adults can benefit just as much-sometimes even more so.
If you do have a FSA account that you need to use up, and you’ve considered Invisalign treatment in the past, this is a perfect opportunity for you to achieve both of those things at the same time.
If you don’t have a FSA and would like to, call your Insurance Provider before the year is over, and get it set up for next year. It’s never too soon to start planning for your future health and well-being.
If this seems confusing, don’t worry! Experts are standing by at Jennifer Martin Orthodontics to answer any questions you may have.
Schedule with Jennifer Martin Orthodontics Today
Jennifer Martin Orthodontics is a family friendly practice-they treat patients of all ages. Dr. Martin purchased the business from her Father, and literally grew up in this office! Many of her current patients have parents who were treated here in the past-it’s truly a Legacy Practice.
For that reason, family and community matter here. You will never feel like “just a set of teeth”-the team here really takes the time to get to know their patients, and to understand their goals and reasons for treatment.
Located in Pleasant Hill, Jennifer Martin Orthodontics treats patients from Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Martinez, and all of the surrounding communities. Don’t lose those FSA dollars, Schedule your appointment today at (926) 676-8485 and start improving your smile tomorrow!
