Does Dental Insurance Cover Braces? 

Do you or a family have crooked and/or have been considering braces? You might be wondering if braces are covered by dental insurance then. Well, how do you know if dental insurance covers braces? If you have health or dental insurance, check with your provider. Most health plans don’t pay for orthodontic treatment for people over 18 years old, but many will at least partially cover children under age 18.

If your child is nearing the age of braces, it’s a good idea to check out the fine print of your plan. Not all plans are the same, so you want to find the one that you need. There may be plans that cover some costs for braces, see plan details or speak to a representative. 

Things to know about insurance and braces:

• Dental plans typically don’t cover cosmetic procedures, such as whitening and veneers, but if your child has a medical need for braces, your plan may provide coverage.
• All dental plans have an annual cap on services for the year. The cost of your child’s braces may fulfill or exceed your annual cap.
• Some dental insurance plans also set a waiting period for certain procedures, so make sure you enroll with plenty of time before your child needs braces.
• Some orthodontic plans won’t cover braces if your child got them before the effective date of the policy, which makes them an out-of-pocket expense. To prevent this, try to keep the same insurance plan throughout your child’s entire orthodontic treatment.
• You may need to purchase a supplemental orthodontic insurance plan to receive coverage for braces.

Does any dental insurance cover braces? 

Major medical insurance plans do not typically include dental coverage. It is most often a supplemental plan that you need to purchase separately. Some states require all dental insurers licensed in the state to provide coverage for children’s braces. But limitations or restrictions on coverage may apply.

Does dental insurance cover adult braces? 

For individuals whose interest is in improving their appearance, most dental plans that cover orthodontics for adults exclude orthodontic treatment for cosmetic purposes.

If you want to learn more about dental insurance and how they work with braces, visit us at Healthedly so you can speak to an agent and get a quote today! 

For more information on health insurance or healthy tips, visit us through Healthedly Insurance Services to learn more.

Also, utilize these resources to help navigate what you’re looking for: 

• ACA

• Medicare

• Group Health

• Life 

• Travel Health