Does Insurance Cover Teeth Aligners? Brand Comparisons
Table of Contents
- Key Facts
- Insurance Coverage
- Aligner Non-Coverage
- Byte & Insurance Coverage
Whether or not your dental insurance plan will cover clear aligner treatment depends on your policy and the reason you’re seeking aligner treatment. If your aligners are fixing an orthodontic issue, and your plan covers orthodontic treatment for adults, there’s a good chance that they’ll cover some of the cost for your aligners.
In the past, many insurance companies that did cover aligners only offered assistance with aligners that were provided in-office by a dentist or orthodontist. But with the growing popularity of telemedicine and teledentistry, more insurance companies are offering coverage for at-home and mail-order aligners as well. Some aligner providers, including Byte, have even partnered with insurance companies to make aligner coverage as easy as possible for the customer.
Most insurance companies publish information about their plans online. Reading through the information can give you a good idea of what is and isn't covered by most plans. You should also call your plan provider to ensure you have a full understanding of out-of-pocket costs.
Key facts about insurance coverage & aligners
Coverage for aligners varies greatly between insurance companies and even policies. Some information about aligner benefits may be available online, but you may want to contact your plan provider directly to make sure you understand your coverage.
Some aligner providers are partnered with insurance companies for an easier coverage process. Some companies will deal with the insurance companies directly or offer easy tools to help you understand and take advantage of your benefits.
Not all dental plans have adult orthodontic coverage. Those that do may cover clear aligners if they’re being used to correct an orthodontic issue.
Some dental plans require that orthodontic care be provided in-network or provide a payment cap on dental or orthodontic services.
What does insurance typically cover?
Most insurance companies offer at least some benefits for aligners. But how the plans work and what you’ll pay can vary greatly.
Misaligned teeth aren't simply a cosmetic concern. Crooked teeth are hard to keep clean, and mismatched jaws force muscles to work even harder with each bite. Aligners can fix the issue, and it's reasonable to expect your health insurance to cover this necessary work.
Every health insurance company is different, and companies may offer varying plans from one state to the next. In general, if you have questions about your benefits, it's best to contact your health insurance company and ask.
Does UnitedHealth cover Invisalign?
Two types of health care plans exist in the UnitedHealth system. Consumers can buy a plan that addresses physical health, including regular doctor visits, surgeries, and vaccines. Consumers can also purchase plans for dental health, including some with benefits involving aligners.
In a typical dental plan with UnitedHealth, consumers must do the following:
Understand the network. Doctors partner with UnitedHealth and agree to charge a set amount for services.
Stick with the network. You'll get the highest reimbursement level if you work exclusively with doctors aligned with UnitedHealth.
Keep up with premiums. Pay your bills on time, and your benefits stay with you. If you miss a payment, your benefits are at risk.
UnitedHealth dental plans offer orthodontic treatment, but it must be provided by a network doctor. You must be referred to that orthodontist by your assigned dentist.
UnitedHealth has an agreement with SmileDirectClub, and you can use that partnership to pay for aligners. But if you want to work with a different company, you may be forced to pay for care out of pocket.
Some insurance companies cover the full cost of aligners, but limitations including those imposed by a network, could mean higher costs for consumers.
Does Kaiser Permanente cover Invisalign?
Cutting costs is crucial for most healthcare companies. Kaiser Permanente tackles this task with a closed system model. Consumers must work with network doctors, and they're encouraged to buy products from company-owned pharmacies, opticians’ offices, and dental offices.
Companies that offer doctor-supervised, direct-to-consumer aligners don't fit nicely into the Kaiser Permanente model. And at the moment, Kaiser Permanente doesn't have an aligner partner.
But some Kaiser-affiliated dentists offer treatment with Invisalign. Those professionals work on a fee-for-service basis, meaning customers pay for the product rather than chipping in a monthly fee to access the care. This is the only way most Kaiser Permanente consumers can use their benefits to get aligners.
Does Anthem cover Invisalign?
Anthem is part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield family, and networks play a role in most plans. You're given a list of providers when you enroll, and you're asked to choose from that list when you're looking for medical care.
Every plan is different, but Anthem says most dental plans do the following:
Don't cover care for adults. Young people can get the help they need under an insurance plan, but parents can't.
Come with a cap. You're given a spending limit each year. If you exceed that amount, you must pay the difference.
Have detailed specifics outlining coverage. You're encouraged to call your plan administrator to determine exactly how your coverage works.
If your Anthem plan doesn't cover aligners, you could still get help. Discount programs run through Anthem could help you save on certain types of aligners. But your company choices are limited, so you'll have to watch the details carefully.
Does Humana cover Invisalign?
Networks are crucial to Humana too, just as they are to many other health insurance companies. But some Humana plans come with loopholes you can use to get help with costs.
If your Humana plan has a network benefit, you could use an option to step outside of the network. You'll pay more for care than you would if you stayed in the network, but Humana will help to pick up some of the tab.
To make this work, you'd pay the aligner company directly. Then, you'd submit an out-of-network claim to get reimbursement for the devices. Many aligner companies will help you fill out the forms properly, so you can get your money back in a timely manner.
Does Cigna cover Invisalign?
Both standard health care plans and dental plans are available through Cigna. In most cases, you'll work with a network of doctors. Step outside of the network, and your bills could go up. That makes using at-home clear aligners a little difficult.
Cigna offers coverage for one type of aligner: Invisalign. These devices are created and supervised by network dentists or orthodontists, and you must visit that professional in person to get new trays and update your progress.
If you're an adult looking for help with aligners, Cigna may not be a good choice. Cigna plans rarely offer orthodontics coverage for adults. And plans some don't have orthodontic coverage at all, for anyone.
Some insurance companies cover the full cost of aligners, but limitations including those imposed by a network, could mean higher costs for consumers.
Aligner insurance coverage: comparison
| Aligner coverage? | Aligner partnership | More info | Customer service number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealth | Possible coverage for orthodontic treatment | SmileDirectClub partnership; may cover other brands as well | For Invisalign and in-office dental needs, staying in-network is key | (800) 444-6222 |
| Kaiser Permanente | Possible coverage for orthodontic treatment with in-network dentists | No current partnerships | Invisalign partners may be the only way to get coverage for aligners; call for more details | (800) 777-7904 |
| Anthem | Orthodontic coverage depending on plan and policy | No current partnerships | Ortho@Home discount plan to provide discounts on at-home aligners; ask plan provider for details | (800) 901-0020 |
| Humana | May cover through network benefit program | No current partnerships | Many aligner companies will help with network benefit paperwork to get reimbursed for costs | (800) 457-4708 |
| Cigna | Limited orthodontic coverage depending on plan and policy | No partnership, but may cover in-network Invisalign treatments | Limited out-of-network coverage | (800) 997-1654 |
What If My Insurance Won’t Pay?
If you've learned that your plan is not likely to cover aligners, don't give up.
Insurance plans are notoriously hard to parse, and sometimes, loopholes are buried in the footnotes. If you're hoping to use your benefits, it's best to call the company and ask what's covered.
Explain what you'd like to do, why you need it, and where you hope to get help. Find out what paperwork the company might need from you.
Many aligner companies will handle this conversation for you. They'll contact the company, discuss your benefits, and fill out the paperwork you need.
If you discover your company won't pay for all the care you need, you have options. You can use the following resources:
Flexible savings accounts (FSAs): Put money away before it's taxed, and use it to pay for qualified medical expenses. Aligners fall into this category. Most FSAs come with a time limit, so you must use the funds each year or you lose them. Aligners could be a good way to use what you have set aside.
Health savings accounts (HSAs): Put aside money before it's taxed, and use it to cover all sorts of medical expenses. HSAs don't come with a time limit, so you can spend the money whenever you'd like to.
Payment plans: Many aligner companies offer financing at reasonable rates, so you can get the help you need without breaking your monthly budget.
Byte & insurance coverage
As a leader in clear at-home aligners, Byte understands the process of getting your aligners covered by insurance and will make it easy.
Byte is partnered with several insurance companies, including Aetna, Guardian, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Anthem.
Even if your insurance is with a company that’s not partnered, Byte will help determine your eligibility for aligner coverage. Simply provide them with your insurance information, and they’ll do the hard work for you. Begin the process by entering your email on their Insurance Coverage help page.
Insurance & teeth aligners FAQs
Dental insurance for families and individuals will cover different types of orthodontics, from braces and aligners to retainers and surgery. The extent of coverage depends on individual needs as well as age.
Children and teenagers are the target demographic for orthodontics. Their jaws are still growing, so it is easier to shift teeth into proper alignment.
It is rare for dental insurance to cover orthodontic treatment for adults. However, some companies now offer partial orthodontic coverage for adults since more adults are choosing to get braces or clear aligners later in life.
When you look at your dental treatment plan, you will see a list of benefits for yourself and your family. This includes how much orthodontic treatment will be covered and for how long. For example, orthodontic treatment for your child might be completely covered, while adult orthodontic treatment for you might have 50 percent coverage.
You also might only receive coverage for one or two years. If you need further orthodontics after that, you may not have support from your dental insurance company.
Your dental insurance might not break down which type of orthodontics are covered, but clear plastic aligners are increasingly common. For the many people who are good candidates for aligners, they are considered a less expensive, more effective option. If your dental insurance covers orthodontics, it likely covers clear aligner treatment.
Yes, children and teenagers are more likely to receive dental insurance coverage for clear aligner treatment, while adults usually have to pay out of pocket. Since more adults are getting orthodontics treatment with clear aligners, more dental insurance companies are offering some coverage for this treatment.
There are also other ways to find affordable clear aligner treatment that does not require visiting an orthodontist.
Many people find their dentists by searching their insurance company’s directory. If you have a specific orthodontist or dentist in mind, you can search their website to see if they accept your dental insurance. If your dentist refers you to an orthodontist, they usually stay within your provider network, but you can confirm with the orthodontist to be sure.
If you are interested in at-home clear aligner treatment, this is often not covered by dental insurance. However, mail-order clear aligners often cost less out of pocket since you will work remotely with an orthodontist and have fewer or no in-office visits.
Dental insurance does not cover clear aligner treatment and other types of orthodontia for most adults, but there are several options to pay for the treatment you need.
One of the best treatment options for people seeking orthodontics treatment is at-home clear plastic aligners, which are much lower in cost overall than in-person orthodontics like braces. Many aligner companies offer payment plans. You can set up a payment plan that works for you, paying a small amount monthly rather than a larger fee up front.