Whether you’re considering orthodontics for yourself or your kids, one of the central things on your mind may be how to pay for treatment.
What does treatment cost? Does insurance cover it? What are options for financing orthodontics? With a little planning and foresight, you can make orthodontics affordable and comfortable for your lifestyle.
We never want finances to get in the way of the treatment you need, and we always work individually with families in our practice to find a solution that works for them. Fortunately we have a very experienced financial expert on our team with nearly 4 decades of experience helping families finance orthodontics and maximize their benefits.
Keep reading to find out more helpful tips on paying for orthodontic care!
Orthodontic Insurance
Patients often wonder if their dental insurance will cover orthodontic care. Many dental insurances do not have orthodontic benefits with them – but not to worry! There are other ways to assist the cost of your orthodontic care.
With dental plans that carry an orthodontic benefit, they typically cover about 20-30% of the total cost of orthodontic treatment. Most plans offer a 1-time benefit per person covered. The coverage levels are typically $1500, $2000 or in rare cases $2500. Benefits are paid on different schedules depending on the plan.
Often, patients will plan to switch to a dental plan with orthodontic coverage before they start their treatment. If you’re planning for orthodontic care in the near future, it’s a perfect time right NOW to review your current dental insurance, and plan to switch to a new offering for 2018 during your open enrollment.
Flexible Spending Accounts for Orthodontics
Another great option to finance your orthodontic care is planning to set aside money in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). This can help you offset the cost of your care and be able to finance it with pre-tax money.
The amount each individual can set aside in an FSA account for 2018 is $2,600. Each paycheck will have a small amount deduced pre-tax and put into the FSA for you to use on your medical care. Orthodontic care is a reimbursable expense for FSA money.
It’s important to plan to use all of it because if you don’t use it, you lose it! For any patients who have money left over in 2017, you may also be able to use this for your orthodontic treatment.
If you’re considering orthodontics in the near future, it’s a great time NOW to plan for your 2018 FSA benefits so you can sign up during your open enrollment period coming up!
Financing for Orthodontic Treatment
In addition to dental insurance and FSA accounts, there are also other ways to finance your orthodontic treatment. In our office, we offer multiple payment plans for families depending on what you prefer.
Typically you can opt for a higher down payment, and lower monthly payments; or a lower down payment and higher monthly payments. Every family is different, and we are flexible to find a solution that’s comfortable for your lifestyle.
As always, our financing options are interest-free to patients – it’s our priority to be able to get the treatment you need in a way that’s affordable to you.
Cost of Orthodontic Care
The price of orthodontic treatment will vary slightly within a range based on how extensive or difficult your treatment is. The tricky part is – sometimes cases that look easy in the mirror might be more challenging, and conversely cases that might appear complicated could be more straightforward than they seem.
The best thing to do is schedule a complimentary consultation so we can evaluate you personally and give you an exact price for your treatment. Our prices are competitive for the area, and in a reasonable range.
We’d love to help you plan for your orthodontic care! We are always here to help and answer any questions you may have about how to pay for orthodontics. We can also help you plan your dental insurance and FSA benefits to maximize these resources.
Give us a call today to schedule your complimentary orthodontic consultation, and discuss pricing and financing options for your care. We see patients from all over the East Bay including Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Orinda, Lafayette, Martinez and Concord.