How much is Invisalign with insurance?
This question often gets asked, but finding an answer can feel a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack.
There are multiple reasons for this, but they boil down to the fact that different insurance providers offer different levels of coverage for orthodontic treatments, including teeth straightening. Some insurance plans as well as many employee benefits packages cover orthodontic treatment, including both traditional metal braces and invisible braces, but some don’t.
In other words, your mileage is going to vary in terms of how much you can expect to save on your Invisalign aligners or other dental services through your oral health insurance plan.
Many insurance providers cover enough of your Invisalign cost to make Invisalign aligners affordable, and in this article, we’ll be going over the minimum Invisalign costs you can expect to pay, both with and without insurance.
We’re also going to be looking at some great Invisalign alternatives that are more affordable, in case you either lack insurance or health savings accounts, or your existing dental insurance plan doesn’t cover Invisalign trays. By the time you have reached the bottom of this page, my hope is that you will have a clear idea of how you can achieve perfectly straight teeth for less than the full Invisalign cost you might have expected.
Why clear braces
Invisible aligners are fast becoming more popular than traditional braces, and there are many reasons why invisible braces are gaining traction among people seeking dental alignment therapy.
Here, we’ll take a look at some of the most important upsides to choosing clear braces.
Clear braces are less obtrusive
Traditional braces get the job done, but they also present some significance challenges. For one, you have to keep them in permanently while your teeth are moved into alignment.
Unlike conventional braces, many clear braces can be worn for as little as 8-10 hours every 24 hours, which means you have the option of wearing them at night and can keep a low profile about your dental treatment.
Clear braces are better for oral health
Another plus on the side of insole braces is that they are a better choice for oral health.
You can take them out when you need to brush and clean your teeth, plus you’re less likely to get pieces of food stuck in them than you are when wearing conventional braces.
Clear braces are cheaper
Yet another surprising benefit of clear braces is that they’re often less costly than traditional metal braces are.
Not only is the starting cost of Invisalign and other clear aligners often less than the price of traditional braces, Invisalign aligners are covered by many dental insurance plans, which can bring down their cost even more.
How Invisalign works
Invisalign can help you achieve a straighter smile in three easy-t0-follow steps.
Consultation and custom plan
First, you’ll need to make an appointment to see an Invisalign Doctor (always a board certified dentist) at one of Invisalign’s dental offices.
Using an iTero Elementor scanner, the dentist is going to take a fast and accurate 3D scan of your teeth before creating a custom plan for straightening them. Your custom plan is going to include a custom quote.
The alignment process
Once your custom teeth straightening plan and custom quote have been agreed on, the next step is the most crucial part of the process.
You will receive your first pair of custom aligners, and your Invisalign Doctor will ensure that the fit is exactly as it should be, and will also be able to answer any questions you may have at this step. You’ll have regular checkups every 6-8 weeks. You’ll also be able to pick up your next sets of aligners at these visits.
The expected timeframe for dental alignment using Invisalign aligners is around 6 months, but can take longer depending on your specific teeth alignment needs. Usually, you’ll already be able to start seeing results after a few weeks of wearing your first pair of aligners.
Aftercare
To ensure that your new, straight smile lasts, Invisalign equips you with their ultra-strong Vivera aligner at the end of your treatment.
Vivera retainers are custom-made and are 30% more durable than other retainers and will need to be won sporadically to keep your teeth in check.
How much does Invisalign cost?
Invisalign treatment costs can vary significantly depending on your individual dental needs. The exact cost of your treatment will be determined by your Invisalign Doctor following your initial appointment and a thorough 3D scan of your teeth.
The cost of Invisalign treatment is going to vary from person to person depending on individual dental needs, and a custom quote will be determined by your Invisalign Doctor. To get an estimate of how much your Invisalign aligners are going to cost, use the ‘Find an Invisalign Doctor’ search tool on Invisalign’s website.
As of 2020, Invisalign braces start at around $2,800. The average cost, however, is $3,000-$4,800 for a full treatment. While a simple Invisalign case (minor teeth movement case that only requires a few months of wear to achieve the desired results) costs approximately $2,80o, costs can run up to around $5,000.
Note that all of the prices mentioned here are before insurance. How much – and if – your insurance provider covers your Invisalign treatment can vary wildly.
Does your insurance cover Invisalign treatment?
You might be positively surprised to discover that your oral health insurance provider covers much more than just tooth decay. The typical dental insurance includes orthodontic treatment, including braces.
If you have crooked teeth, chances are your existing insurance can help you dramatically lower the cost of your Invisalign aligners. Most PPO insurances and other insurance plans cover this particular service.
Invisalign are happy to accept insurance, and typically your insurance provider is going to pay either a specific dollar amount, or a certain percentage of your treatment.
Does your children’s health insurance program cover Invisalign?
If you are a parent, it is worth considering whether or not your children’s health insurance covers Invisalign costs, in case your children need braces.
You might find that your children are already covered in your dental health nsurance, but in case they aren’t, you should look into either setting up a health savings account for them, or take out insurance for them that also covers Invisalign treatment in case they are going to need it in the future. It is always a good idea to think ahead and plan for all eventualities.
How to bring down your Invisalign cost
According to the Consumer Guide for Dentistry, the national average cost of Invisalign treatment is $3,000–$5,000. Depending on your financial circumstances, this can seem like a rather steep price tag.
Luckily, there are a number of different ways that you can bring down the cost of your Invisalign treatment – and getting insurance to cover part of your treatment is just one of them. Let us take a look at the different options available to you here.
Insurance
Does your insurance plan cover Invisalign?
Your insurance is the first thing you should be looking at when you are considering getting your custom clear aligners from Invisalign.
Most dental insurance plans include orthodontic treatment, which also covers braces and aligners. You may be insured through your work, or you might have a private insurance that can help you bring down your Invisalign aligner costs by a significant amount.
Exactly how much your insurance is going to contribute towards your Invisalign clear aligners is going to depend on a number of different factors, including your insurance provider and which tier of insurance you are on.
Hopefully, you have held onto all the insurance paperwork you have from any insurance providers you are with, so that you can quickly and easily look up whether they cover orthodontic treatment. The price difference between paying the total cost of your treatment out of pocket and having at least part of it covered by insurance can be quite significant – it could even be the difference between whether or not you are able to afford your treatment cost.
Payment plans
Not all insurance plans cover Invisalign, but even if you discover that you don’t have the appropriate coverage through an insurance policy, there are still other ways for you to be able to afford Invisalign. Payment plans is one of them.
Just like the Invisalign cost you will be quoted by your Invisalign Doctor is going to depend on your specific dental needs, any payment plans you will be offered is also going to be on an individual basis that takes your specific situation and needs into account. It is important to note that you might be eligible for a payment plan whether part of your treatment is covered by insurance or not. If you are on a low income or otherwise don’t have the ability to pay the full amount up front, it is good to know that Invisalign are sympathetic to this and are more than happy to work out a tailor-made payment plan to suit you.
Invisalign payment plans entail paying a monthly fee, rather than paying the full Invisalign cost up front. In most cases, you should expect to be paying a minimum of $50 over the course of 36 months. Depending on how much correction your teeth need, costs can easily run as high as $200 for 24 months, with or without a down payment.
Only your Invisalign Doctor will be able to give you a specific, personalised quote and payment plan offer.
Invisalign alternatives
If you don’t have insurance to help you cover your Invisalign cost, and if the payment plan Invisalign can offer you still is not enough to put Invisalign braces within your financial reach, it may be time for you to look into the many cheaper Invisalign alternatives that are out there.
To help make your search easier, here are a few suggestions that provide high-quality, low-cost clear aligners.
AlignerCo offer clear braces starting at $1,145 (or less, if you’re lucky enough to catch one of their frequent sales) for a full alignment treatment. On top of the already low prices, AlignerCo offer various flexible payment plans that allow you to spread out the cost of your treatment.
Other alternatives worth looking into include Candid, ClearCorrect, NewSmile, Smile Direct Club and SnapCorrect.
While Invisalign is, beyond a doubt, the best known and probably the most experienced provider of invisible aligners, there are plenty of other viable options out there offering comparable treatments at a lower cost.
Invisalign with insurance Q & A
You’ve made it through most of the article, and hopefully, most of the questions you started out with have been answered. In case you are still left with some, you may find the answers to them here.
How much is Invisalign if you have insurance?
How much your Invisalign cost comes up to, with or without insurance, depends on your individual dental needs. Whether you only have a few teeth in need or correction or have a mouth full of crooked teeth is going to be the determining factor.
If you’re fortunate enough to have an insurance policy that covers orthodontist treatments including Invisalign braces, you can expect your insurance to cover either a set dollar amount or a certain percentage of your overall treatment cost. In few instances, you might be able to get insurance to cover the full cost of your braces.
If you have insurance that will cover a percentage of Invisalign, you can expect to pay a monthly fee of roughly $83 a month over the time period of 36 months, but keep in mind that this could vary depending on the initial price you have been quoted by your Invisalign Doctor.
How much do you pay monthly for Invisalign?
Invisalign are more than happy to offer you an individualised payment plan so you can spread your Invisalign cost over a number of months rather than paying everything in one portion upfront.
In most cases, you will have to make a down payment, followed by a set monthly amount that you and your Invisalign Doctor have agreed on.
The cost of Invisalign per monthly will depend on the total cost of your treatment, but to give you a rough idea, you can expect to pay a minimum of $50 for a 36 month duration. The cost upper range could easily be more. $200 for a 24 month duration is not unusual – with or without an initial down payment.
To find out exactly how much you would have to pay per month for Invisalign clear braces, please consult your nearest Invisalign Doctor and ask them about available financing options.
How much do I pay out of pocket for Invisalign?
Even if you work out a payment plan that allows you to spread the cost of your Invisalign clear aligners over several months, you will most likely still need to make an initial down payment to get the plan and your treatment process started.
A downpayment is a lump sum that you pay upfront, followed by monthly instalments of a pre-agreed set amount for a set duration.
Invisalign are very amenable and happy to work out a payment plan that suits you and takes both your treatment plan and your financial situation into account. However, to find out exactly how much you would have to pay out of pocket for your Invisalign teeth correction treatment, you will have to contact Invisalign.
In closing
Invisalign treatment is one of the best investments you can make in yourself. After all, being able to smile with confidence is absolutely priceless.
While the total treatment cost of Invisalign invisible braces is on the higher side when compared to cheaper alternatives, the results you are going to achieve will speak for themselves.
Luckily, many insurance companies include orthodontic treatments, including Invisalign aligners, in what they cover. In most cases, your insurance provider isn’t going to cover the entire Invisalign cost, but will instead contribute a set amount or a percentage of the total cost. Still, this can help bring the cost of your treatment down to a level where you’re able to more easily afford your braces.
On top of any insurance coverage you might receive, Invisalign themselves offer payment plans that are every bit as flexible and individualised as their teeth straightening plans. Typically, your Invisalign payment plan will involve making a down payment, followed by monthly instalments of a set, agreed-upon amount until you have paid off the full cost of your treatment.
In the end, there is only one way to find out exactly how much your Invisalign treatment plan is going to cost – and that’s by contacting your nearest Invisalign Doctor. Invisalign has many locations, and you can find your nearest one using the ‘Find your Invisalign Doctor now’ search tool over on Invisalign’s main page.
All in all, Invisalign clear braces might be much more affordable than you would have expected – particularly if your insurance covers part of your Invisalign cost.
