Invisalign is one of the best clear braces that you can get in the market today. However, it is also no secret that this orthodontic treatment can be very expensive.
In fact, Invisalign costs more than traditional metal braces! Invisalign can cost anywhere between $3000 and $8000 and this is an amount that not everyone can pay upfront.
If you want to have this orthodontic treatment to get straighter teeth and a better smile, you might need financial assistance through dental insurance.
Insurance plans are a big deal because they help lessen out-of-pocket costs and the difference is a big deal! However, not all dental plans can cover Invisalign treatment. So, you have to choose a dental insurance company and dental insurance plan carefully.
Here, we will discuss which dental insurance companies cover Invisalign.
Dental insurance companies that cover Invisalign
Some dental insurance companies cover a portion of the Invisalign total cost just like how they cover the partial fee for traditional braces. Here are some insurance companies that have been known to cover Invisalign treatment
Aetna
For Aetna, coverage will depend on the type of plan you have. Some dental plans will only cover orthodontic services for children up to 19 years old. While other dental plans can cover 50% of the total cost for orthodontic treatment for adults.
The Aetna PPO and DMO plans cover orthodontic treatment for children. For adults, orthodontic treatment coverage is available for Aetna DMO plans.
Cigna
The Cigna Dental 1500 plan has orthodontic benefits and it can cover Invisalign. Cigna can cover 50% of the contracted fee of your Invisalign provider.
However, you will have to wait for 12 months after enrollment to the plan to use the dental coverage. Also, you have to take note that Cigna Dental 1500 has a lifetime maximum of $1000 per person.
Delta Dental
Delta PPO plans will be able to cover part of the treatment cost or give an allowance for Invisalign. How much Delta Dental coverage you can get will depend on the type of plan you get. But you can get as much as 50% coverage with Delta Dental.
To be able to get Delta Dental coverage, chances are you will have to work with an in-network dentist or orthodontist to get your Invisalign treatment.
Guardian
Most dental insurance plans from Guardian do not have orthodontics but some of their full-insurance coverage plans can cover orthodontics in the mix. You will most likely have to work with an in-network Invisalign provider to get the coverage.
If you do find a Guardian dental insurance plan that does have orthodontic coverage, make sure you read the fine print and look up the age limit, waiting period, and lifetime coverage limit. These factors can affect the overall Invisalign cost that you have to pay from your own pocket.
Humana
Humana’s dental plans have no Invisalign coverage. However. they often have discounts if you get treatment from their in-network dental professionals, and Invisalign cost can be one of them. The discounts you get will depend on the specific plan you have. You can get up to 20% discount.
These discounts are only offered to those who have comprehensive Humana plans. The basic Humana plans will not have this benefit. The best thing about discounts is that you do not have to worry about age limits or lifetime maximum limits.
MetLife
The standard PPO plans from MetLife do not include orthodontics. However, the comprehensive PPO plans do. If you have a MetLife TakeAlong insurance plan, MetLife can pay 50% of your bill but you have to double-check since some plans only get this benefit for patients who are below 19 years of age.
Take note though that the coverage usually comes with a lifetime limit. The limit is usually between $1000 and $3000, depending on the specific plan you have. So make sure to compare this first with your estimated Invisalign cost.
United Concordia
Some Preferred or Flexed PPO plans of United Concordia may have orthodontic coverage at 50%. But you have to check these plans as some may only be restricted to patients who are under 19 years of age.
Adult orthodontic coverage is also offered for companies that have more than 50 employees enrolled in the plan. If your company uses United Concordia, you should check with your HR department to verify if they were able to get orthodontic coverage.
How does insurance work for Invisalign?
Some dental insurance policies can cover a part of your Invisalign cost as they do when it comes to traditional braces. You may however find more insurance providers who would cover braces compared to Invisalign.
If you do find an insurance plan that covers Invisalign like the ones from the list above, the amount of coverage will depend on the specific type of policy you are getting. Insurance cover Invisalign costs from 20% to 50% of the total, depending on the provider and plan you choose.
Your policy will most likely have a lifetime maximum on the amount that you can get for orthodontic treatments. This limit can be anywhere from $1000 to $4000. This is something you should consider since Invisalign treatments may cost you more than that.
Insurance cover Invisalign treatment if it is proven to be medically necessary, you will be able to get a higher lifetime limit on orthodontic treatments. Situations like tooth alignment or jaw problems having negative impacts on your overall health will consider Invisalign as a medical necessity. If you have this case, all you need is to present medical proof from your doctor to your insurance provider.
Some insurance coverage also have a waiting period. This is the amount of time that you have to wait before you can use the benefits of the policy. Let’s say the waiting period is 6 months. This means you can only get Invisalign coverage 6 months after you got your insurance plan. The duration will vary depending on the provider and the specific plan that you choose from them.
Take note that not all dental insurance plans cover orthodontic benefits so if you are getting one because you plan to use invisible braces, you should make sure that orthodontic benefits are available. Make sure to clarify any restrictions when it comes to the orthodontic treatments that you can get.
Other ways to help lower the cost of Invisalign
If your current dental plan does not have orthodontic benefits included, do not worry! There are still other options for you to manage your Invisalign treatment payments at a more affordable rate. Check out these options below.
Use your HSA or FSA account
If you have a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can use it to help pay for your Invisalign treatment. These accounts let you make tax-free contributions and you can use that for your health expenses – including orthodontic treatments.
Take note that you can not roll over the money in your FSA account from one year to the next as you can with a health savings account. You have to use the money in your FSA account by the end of the year.
Get treatment as a beneficiary
If your spouse has better health or dental insurance policy than yours, you should try to get treatment as a beneficiary of their insurance account! You can even combine the benefits from your own policy with that of your spouse to pay less overall. Fair warning though – the paperwork may take a while if you choose this method.
Monthly installment plans
You can ask your Invisalign provider if you can arrange a personalized monthly installment plan to lessen your initial payments. Some dental offices can accommodate this with no interest rates! Typically, you will deposit a larger amount upfront and then you pay a smaller amount each month for the agreed number of years.
Subscribe to a dental discount plan
Insurance providers are offering dental discount plans or dental savings plans. These plans will give you discounts on certain procedures or dental office visits for a monthly or annual fee. And orthodontic treatments like Invisalign can sometimes be offered in these plans.
Compare dental professionals in your area
If your community has a good number of dental professionals, chances are, they will be giving different rates or have promos and discounts to keep up with the competition. Do not be afraid to shop around! Call up their offices and ask how much they offer for Invisalign and if they have any discounts or installment plans for it. Then, compare notes.
Use lending companies
You can also use third-party money lending companies like CareCredit to help you pay for your Invisalign treatment. They can cover the cost of a wide range of medical procedures and this can include Invisalign treatment.
These companies will ask you to pay them an affordable down payment and then, you pay a monthly fee. Most of these companies can provide funds for you with no interest if you pay within a limited time.
Usually, the interest will kick in if you are unable to pay off the loan within the specified period that you agreed upon. To avoid this from happening, make sure that you will be able to make your monthly payments so you do not have to pay an extra fee.
Consider at-home clear aligners
If you like having the convenience of Invisalign’s discreet invisible braces but can not afford Invisalign’s expensive rates, you should consider getting at-home aligner brands like Smile Direct Club, Byte, AlignerCo, Candid, or Clear Correct.
This is the best option especially if you only have mild issues of misalignment, spacing, and crowding. They are not only cheaper but they also have a faster treatment period. You do not only get to save money but also this dental treatment takes less effort.
FAQs
Why is Invisalign treatment better than traditional braces?
Compared to metal braces that are the traditional standard to straighten teeth, Invisalign is a more discreet way to improve your smile. Instead of the obvious metal wirings, Invisalign uses clear aligner trays made out of transparent plastic. People would not even notice that you have them on. There is no need to feel self-conscious about it.
Aside from its aesthetical value, Invisalign is also less intrusive. The clear aligners are removable so you can easily take them off when you eat or drink. They are not permanently fixed on your teeth so you do not have to deal with a lot of dietary restrictions.
The only downside is that Invisalign is most of the time more expensive compared to traditional metal braces. Keep in mind thought that Invisalign and braces cost heavily depends on the particular dental issue you want to fix.
Can I have Invisalign treatment for free if I have dental insurance?
No. It would be impossible to get Invisalign treatment for free. A dental insurance plan can only cover a part of your total orthodontic costs. The best insurance plans cover 50% of your Invisalign treatments.
How much does Invisalign treatment cost?
If you check their website, you will see that Invisalign does not have a fixed pricing rate compared to other invisible braces brands. This is because Invisalign will charge you depending on the specific dental condition you have, the fees of your Invisalign provider, your location, and many more.
If you have a minor issue, you can expect the cost to be lesser. The more serious your issues are, the more expensive your Invisalign total cost will be.
How do I get dental insurance plans?
You can get your traditional dental insurance plan from your employer or you pay for it from your own pocket.
When you get traditional dental insurance from your employer, there is the advantage that your deductibles are automatically taken from your salary before taxes. This will reduce the tax you have to pay. Another advantage is that you get to pay lower premiums since your company contributes to the cost of your insurance plan.
The downside of relying on an employer’s dental plan is that you don’t get a say on the insurance coverage. Your employer chooses what is covered or not. Most employers will just go for general dental benefits and not include orthodontics. Some would bundle dental under a general health plan, limiting your dental options. And most of the time, some do not offer dental at all.
The second option is to invest in an individual plan that covers orthodontics. This way, you have complete control of your dental insurance and have a say on the services that you want to be covered. You can do this any time of the year.
If you already have regular dental coverage and orthodontics is not covered, you can call your insurance provider and check to see if you can have orthodontic befits as an add-on. Many dental insurance plans can let you have this option. You will, of course, be asked to pay an additional fee for this.
Are there cheaper orthodontic treatment options?
Invisalign can be expensive – even if you have minor issues, it can still come at a high price. And even if you have an insurance plan that helps cover part of the treatment, you may not even have enough for your out-of-pocket costs.
Fortunately, Invisalign is not the only option you have. Other invisible aligner brands in the market are just as good when it comes to minor dental issues at more than half the price!
This is possible because most of these brands do remote treatment – there are no provider fees and office visit fees to add up to your total cost!
So, if you want to have straighter teeth without having to drain out your savings, you should check out cheaper Invisalign alternatives such as Byte, Candid, Smile Direct Club, Clear Correct, and AlignerCo. These brands can help you fix your misaligned teeth just as good as Invisalign does as long as your issues are minor!
Conclusion
Invisalign is one of the best orthodontic treatments that you can get but it also comes with a high price. Fortunately, there are insurance providers out there that can cover up to half the total cost for you, depending on the specific plan you have with them.
Before you start your Invisalign treatment, make sure to check your insurance company to confirm if you do have coverage before your treatment begins. Most dental insurance companies consider Invisalign as a cosmetic procedure in their list of dental treatments. You do not want to end up surprised later on when they reject your insurance claim for the Invisalign procedure.
Aside from checking in with your insurance provider, you should also verify if your Invisalign provider is in-network with your insurance provider. Your coverage may be compromised or you might end up paying for your provider fees yourself if you end up with an Invisalign provider that is not connected to your insurance company.
As you can see, Invisalign insurance is possible and there are a lot of ways to lower the cost of Invisalign treatment!
