Does Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Does Insurance Cover Invisalign

Insurance will often cover the cost of Invisalign, just as it would cover traditional braces. This is because Invisalign isn’t just a cosmetic procedure, but a functional treatment.

Now that you know that insurance will generally cover the cost of Invisalign, the rest of the article will cover more detailed information that is important to know.

Invisalign is a great alternative to braces. It’s a more modern procedure and you don’t have the unsightly look of braces. Not to mention that it will typically take less time than braces. If you are going to get Invisalign, there are a few things you should know first.

What to Know About Invisalign

First, you should talk with your dentist before deciding on any procedure. Your dentist may find that Invisalign isn’t a viable option for you. Or decide to wait on going with Invisalign until after another procedure or just waiting for your teeth to fully settle.

Always make sure that Invisalign is covered by your insurance company before moving ahead with any major decision.

Before deciding on Invisalign, confirm that the procedure is covered by insurance. As mentioned earlier, Invisalign is generally covered by insurance, but every plan is different. It may be covered 100%, 50%, or not at all. No one can tell you without looking at your specific insurance plan.

To find out if Invisalign is covered, call your insurance company and ask. They will be able to definitively tell you how much you would pay out of pocket, if anything.

What is a Cosmetic Procedure?

Sometimes Invisalign is not covered because the insurance companies consider it a cosmetic procedure. A cosmetic procedure is one that doesn’t have a functional medical component to it.

For example, plastic surgery to get a nose job just to look better would be a cosmetic procedure. If the nose job is required for a real medical reason, such as a deviated septum, then it would not be considered cosmetic and would be covered by insurance.

In a similar sense, if you will be getting Invisalign just for the looks and not a real medical reason, your insurance company could deny your claim. If that happens, you would have to pay for the procedure out of pocket.

Medical Reasons for Getting Invisalign

The reason for insurance covering the cost of procedures with a medical function is because if the issue isn’t solved, it can cause issues later on that will actually cost the insurance company more money. As a result, it is best to solve the primary issue before it causes more issues later.

If you are thinking about getting Invisalign and want to ensure that your insurance company will cover the cost, the procedure needs to have a medical function. There are a few different medical functions that Invisalign solves.

Overbites and Underbites

The first is overbites or underbites that can be solved with Invisalign. This is where the top and bottom rows of your teeth are misaligned. Overbites and underbites can cause issues with chewing and teeth grinding. In that scenario, insurance would generally cover the cost of the procedure to avoid more costly procedures down the road. Sometimes using retainers can also resolve overbites and underbites without expensive surgery.

Teeth Overcrowding

Second would be overcrowding. If your teeth are too close together or crowded, it can prematurely cause decay, cavities, and grinding. Those will actually result in more costly procedures down the road, such as root canals, implants, and more expensive oral surgery.

Chewing and Jaw Related

Finally, trouble with chewing and other jaw related issues can also be solved by Invisalign. These can also result in more long-term issues down the road. If the jaw related issues aren’t solved, they can actually result in more substantial jaw reconstruction surgery. So instead of the insurance company paying $3,000 for Invisalign, now they’re paying $15,000 for major surgery.

Conclusion

Invisalign is a great alternative to braces to solve a number of medical issues. However, it’s important to know if the procedure will be covered by insurance. As mentioned earlier, insurance companies will generally cover the cost of Invisalign, but that’s not always the case.

It’s important to call and confirm with your insurance company before deciding on Invisalign. And along those lines, you should also confirm with your dentist that Invisalign is right for you.

There are a lot of benefits to Invisalign that you should look into if you have any of the issues mentioned earlier in the article.

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