Orthodontics is not affordable! Remember early in the book I said there were some myths about orthodontics out there? This is one of them.
I feel helping with the cost of a college education is the best use of our money for our children. The second best is investing in a beautiful smile for them.
I am, of course, biased with my opinion because of what I do for a living, but as we mentioned, research shows how important an attractive smile is in our societies. Given that I feel this strongly about orthodontic treatment, I decided to write a chapter to help families learn and know more to make treatment more affordable.
Spectacular Smiles, Superior Customer Service: Today’s Orthodontics
Bill M. Dischinger, DMD
Key Takeaways
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) offer powerful ways to pay for treatment using pre-tax dollars.
- Understanding your orthodontic insurance benefits and enrollment periods can save you significantly, and you don’t necessarily need to see an in-network doctor.
- Be cautious of offices offering the “cheapest” upfront price, as they often make up for it with hidden fees or lower-quality materials that prolong treatment.
- Many offices provide flexible, interest-free payment plans and partner with companies like OrthoFi to make the financial investment fit your family’s budget.
Utilizing Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
Many companies offer programs for the employees called Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Savings Accounts. Using these accounts to pay for treatment allows you to use pre-tax dollars for treatment. Many Flexible Spending Accounts let you put up to $2500/year toward qualified health care expenses, which include orthodontics.
With Health Savings Accounts, you may be able to pay for the entire treatment, pre-taxed. Using these accounts creates a significant tax advantage and can be the most powerful way to save money on your orthodontic treatment.
Make sure you pay attention to your company deadlines if you plan to use flex spending dollars. Most companies require you to let them know ahead of time if you plan to use flex dollars and how much you would like to save into an account. Check with your specific company, but most companies have either November or June enrollment periods.
Failing to sign up in time could cost you significantly more out-of-pocket dollars to pay for your treatment. Most orthodontists offer free consultations, so be sure to get an orthodontic exam before the deadline to register for your flex account.
Navigating Orthodontic Insurance Benefits
If you have orthodontic insurance, congratulations! Approximately 60% of those seeking orthodontic treatment do not have the ability to take advantage of insurance benefits. Make sure to check with your employer as to what type of insurance is available to you.
Many have different options for orthodontic coverage. Some insurances also now require a one-year waiting period. So, you may have to sign up now for benefits next year.
If you, or a family member, may be interested in orthodontics in the future, check with your insurance supplier to make sure you get the most benefit from your insurance. Also, a common misconception is that you can only see an in-network orthodontist. FALSE!
For almost all orthodontic insurances, you will still get the same insurance benefit regardless of if you see an in-network doctor or not. When you visit an orthodontist, they should provide you with a complimentary insurance benefits check.
Exploring Flexible Payment Plans
Most offices will offer you several options to pay for treatment. Typically, you can pay for treatment in full and save a percentage on treatment, you can use a down payment and break payments into 1-2 years of monthly payments, or you can opt for an extended financing plan.
If you choose an extended financing plan, watch for hidden fees or surprise charges if you miss a payment. You shouldn’t need to pay higher than 10% APR for an extended (over 30 month) payment plan. You should also have the option for shorter payment plans to have 0% APR.
Companies like OrthoFi are helping doctors make treatment more and more affordable for patients by giving them many different options to customize paying for treatment.
The True Cost of “Cheap” Orthodontics
When comparing the price for orthodontists, look closely at the cheapest price. Many offices offer low prices up front, but hit you with many fees later in treatment which can make the total cost for treatment much higher. Broken bracket fees, missed appointment fees, cancellation fees, not including retainers in the overall price, separate fees for x-rays, etc.
These can dramatically increase the total cost of treatment. Beware of any office that charges additional monthly fees after a certain point. For example, many offices can start charging extra if treatment extends beyond 24 months.
This actually creates an incentive for the office to keep your braces on longer so that the office can charge more. Also, lower-cost offices typically use lower-cost materials. Braces can be purchased from third-world manufacturers for a fraction of the cost of American-made braces.
But, all braces are not created equal. Using a cheaper brace often leads to months or years longer in braces and 10 or 15 additional visits during treatment. Would you pay a few hundred dollars extra to be done with your braces sooner and to have many less trips into the office for adjustments?
Consider this before selecting your orthodontist. Shopping for the cheapest orthodontic treatment in town may come with a significant cost; in dollars, in your time, and in your comfort.
A Worthwhile Financial Investment
We know that orthodontic treatment is a financial investment and for many families, this is a significant financial decision. We have talked about what a difference orthodontic treatment can make in a person’s life. Our goal is for everyone that seeks treatment at our office to be able to afford it.
We have partnered with OrthoFi, a company mentioned earlier. With their help, we have seen finances be removed as a barrier to starting treatment with us. I definitely encourage you to work with an office that is willing to work with you financially so that orthodontics is not a burden financially, but something that can fit within your family’s budget.
Conclusion
Time to wake back up, you’ve reached the end of the book. If you made it this far, you deserve a prize. You won’t get a prize, but you deserve one.
Thank you for coming along with me on an orthodontic learning ride. Today’s orthodontics is light years ahead of where it once was. A beautiful, well balanced face and smile is attainable, more comfortable, faster and affordable.
Take that next step and call an orthodontist near you. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, we’d love to see you in our office. You’re just a phone call away from a Spectacular Smile with Superior Customer Service!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use my Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) for braces?
A: Yes! Orthodontics is a qualified healthcare expense. Using your FSA or HSA allows you to pay for treatment with pre-tax dollars, which can create a significant financial advantage. Just be sure to check your company’s enrollment deadlines.
Q: Do I have to go to an “in-network” orthodontist to use my insurance?
A: No, this is a common misconception. For almost all orthodontic insurance plans, you will receive the exact same insurance benefit regardless of whether the doctor is in-network or out-of-network.
Q: Why should I be cautious of orthodontists offering the lowest price in town?
A: Offices offering the cheapest upfront prices often tack on hidden charges later, such as fees for broken brackets, missed appointments, retainers, and x-rays. Additionally, they may use lower-quality materials that require more office visits and extend your time in braces by months or even years.