Invisalign Cost With vs. Without Insurance

You’ve finally decided to take care of your teeth, but first of all you need a realistic number. Not some kind of “it depends” statement, but a concrete number, which will help you plan. Of course. Invisalign treatment requires money, and it is only fair that you be aware of your financial position before making such decisions.

What really matters in the end is whether you have dental insurance or not. In any case you’ll know exactly how much you’ll have to pay for the treatment starting from the first moment. All of the information on pricing of Invisalign with and without insurance, factors influencing the price and ways to minimize your expenses will be provided in this article. One little clarification to start with: there can be slight differences between prices depending on your personal situation, and this information should be considered only as guidance.

What Does Invisalign Cost Without Insurance?

Depending on whether you have dental insurance coverage or not, and if the one you have covers orthodontic treatment or not, your prices may differ drastically. There are three types of Invisalign packages:

• Invisalign Express: This is the most basic package, designed for crowding and spacing issues which will require relatively few aligners.
• Invisalign Lite: This package is used for moderately difficult issues.
• Invisalign Comprehensive: This is the most complicated package and it is used for complicated cases of orthodontic treatment where bite correction and crowded teeth are required.

Cases involving complex adults with bites and/or relapse after previous orthodontics are on the higher side while simple teenage cases without crowding are on the lower side.

To give an idea of pricing, metal braces fall into roughly the same price category as Invisalign treatment. It doesn’t cost any more than most people expect.

Without dental insurance to offset some of the costs, our guide on financing Invisalign without insurance can be helpful for you.

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What Changes When You Have Dental Insurance

However, insurance does not consider Invisalign the same way as they would a regular cleaning. The benefits system is completely different and knowing this upfront helps you to avoid an unpleasant surprise during the treatment process.

The most common type of orthodontic coverage in dental plans covers about half of your costs, though it depends on your plan, however not beyond the maximum amount which may vary depending on the plan. Thus once you have reached the lifetime maximum amount, the plan will no longer pay for any costs related to the procedure.

Thus, it means that the insurance will cover just a very tiny percentage of the cost. However, on the other hand, it will cover a major portion of the same. This is because the amount covered entirely depends upon the lifetime maximum of the insurance scheme.

Just a few things that should be checked before thinking, “I have insurance, therefore I am covered”:

• It depends on age. Orthodontics benefits are automatically covered for children under the age of 19; however, there is great variability in plans that cover adult orthodontics. In certain plans, adult orthodontics are not covered at all.
• Some plans feature waiting periods. The waiting period is needed for orthodontic benefits to be activated after signing up for the plan.
• The coverage differs between traditional braces and Invisalign. It is safe to assume that Invisalign aligners are included in plans in the same manner as traditional braces; however, sometimes it is listed separately and excluded.

We check your exact benefits prior to starting the treatment; therefore, you can have a look at what Invisalign is all about at Hello Ortho and come to the consultation appointment with your insurance information.

What Actually Moves Your Price Up or Down

These four factors will determine your position on the scale.

• The level of complexity of your case. This is by far the most influential factor. Cases that require only slight adjustment will have to wear fewer aligners than more severe overbites or several years worth of overcrowding. Long-term plans, which may span from a few months to up to two years, will cost more than short-term plans.
• Where you live. Prices for orthodontics vary according to the cost of living in your city. The larger metropolitan areas have the highest prices, and smaller markets are somewhere in the middle of the national average range. When researching your choices in your area, look at the typical prices for Invisalign in Napa or Petaluma pricing breakdown instead of the national average.
• Experience and technology of your provider. Board certified orthodontists using digital scans and in-house treatment planning usually will charge differently from the general dentist that offers Invisalign as an add-on service. You pay for the treatment plan which will go behind those trays, not for the plastic.
• Your insurance coverage. As described above, two people who have “orthodontic coverage” noted on their insurance cards may receive very different estimates based on their lifetime maximums and coinsurance.

The estimate is personalized to your teeth, and not an estimate of someone else’s teeth.

Financing and Saving Costs

Even with the help of insurance, hardly anyone pays for Invisalign at once.

• HSA & FSA money. If you have an HSA or FSA account, Invisalign is considered to be a qualified expense that you can use funds for. Effectively, using pre-tax dollars will reduce the total cost of treatment, since you will not be taxed on those at all. Annual contribution limit amounts change every year, so be sure to check yours. Unlike FSA money, HSA money carries forward each year.
• Third-party financing. Third-party providers such as CareCredit provide financing options at low or no interest for a certain time period for clients that would need smaller monthly payments than those offered with an in-house financing option.
• Obtaining multiple quotes. Costs vary per provider and sometimes widely between providers in the same case. It may not cost anything but time to get another opinion and save money in the process.
• Maximizing insurance coverage. If you are deciding on insurance options during your open enrollment and you are sure about your orthodontic procedure, go for a plan that has better lifetime maximums on orthodontics at a higher cost premium. It makes sense in the long run..

Your Next Step

The only answer to the question “How much does Invisalign cost?” will always be: “It depends.” Now that you know your actual number, why it changes, and what you can do to reduce it.

There is no way to know your actual number unless you schedule an appointment. At this point, we will review your insurance coverage and your payment options, and customize a plan for you at no cost to you. Book your free consultation with Hello Ortho today and see how much your smile actually costs.