Does your insurance cover adult orthodontics? How much?

[parsleysage]

I have been told at both my consults so far that my insurance is great as far as coverage for adult orthodontics goes. They cover 50% of the cost up to $2500. One of the office managers told me most insurances only cover $1000 or maybe if they are lucky $1500. She seemed really amazed at the coverage. I have Aetna Dental PPO.

How much does your insurance cover? That is, if it covers adult orthodontics at all?

[samoorelaw]

I have been told at both my consults so far that my insurance is great as far as coverage for adult orthodontics goes. They cover 50% of the cost up to $2500. One of the office managers told me most insurances only cover $1000 or maybe if they are lucky $1500. She seemed really amazed at the coverage. I have Aetna Dental PPO.

How much does your insurance cover? That is, if it covers adult orthodontics at all?

My insurance through my employer covered nothing: if you're over the age of 19, it's frequently not covered by most dental insurance. A crime because my braces cost $6,895!

[Nozzelnut]

My dental ins would cover $1k; only for children under 19. So nothing for me; all out of pocket.

[TheKT]

1,500

[parsleysage]

My insurance through my employer covered nothing: if you're over the age of 19, it's frequently not covered by most dental insurance. A crime because my braces cost $6,895!

That sucks!!! Mine are right up with you, if I go with the ortho I'm leaning towards, at $6850 if I don't become a surgical patient. (Add $1290 if I do.) I am so thankful it will be partially taken care of by insurance.

[boodles8]

$1500. I knew I'd be doing this, and also have other dental issues to resolve after this, so I looked through available plans and chose the best one.

[sirwired]

Yeah, it all depends on what the employer feels like paying for, if anything. Orthodontics are VERY subject to Adverse Selection, so the riders are very expensive.

[Woobster]

My dental insurance will cover $1500 if you're under the age of 19. If not, you're on your own.

I feel your pain... I'm paying $6400 for mine.

[millersgirl]

My insurance is pretty good...they paid $1500 and 80% of my oral surgery. I have flexible spending to cover the rest.

[MrsCharisma]

Our insurance is SO sucky, that not only does it not cover adult ortho, it does not cover orthodontics for CHILDREN either!!!!! Insane.

[parsleysage]

My insurance is pretty good...they paid $1500 and 80% of my oral surgery. I have flexible spending to cover the rest.

This is my plan too. I am hoping to get the braces ASAP so I can know by open enrollment (November) whether I need the surgery, so I can increase my health benefits to the "premium" top tier which will give me a $300 deductible and 10% coinsurance with a $1500 max. I will be maxing out my FSA at $2500 too. (I put in $1500 this year knowing I would need some dental work but not knowing I would get braces... I wish I had put more in so I could get paid back more for my braces payments!) I think even with the higher premiums for the top tier it will be cost-saving in the long run since the deductible on the lower tier is $1500 and coinsurance is 30% with a max of $3500. $1800 max costs on the top tier compared to $5000 on the lower! And this is all assuming the surgery isn't denied as "cosmetic"... which I hope it wouldn't be!

Our insurance is SO sucky, that not only does it not cover adult ortho, it does not cover orthodontics for CHILDREN either!!!!! Insane.

Holy guacamole!!! I don't really understand exactly what sirwired said (sorry sirwired) but maybe that has to do with why your employer won't cover it.

I work at a very large financial corporation. Not a big Wall Street bank or anything but a top 10 national bank you have seen commercials for. That probably explains a lot as far as our quality of insurance. It's pretty sad there's such a huge disparity but that is how money and insurance work in our society I guess.

[Fidget77]

Mine is the same .. 50% up to a lifetime maximum of $2500. I am also covered under my husband's insurance (same company) for a total of $5000. My braces are essentially free as they came in at $4800. I charge the monthly amount to my VISA and then submit it to the insurance company for re-imbursement. My step-daughter is covered the same way, her treatment time is longer (24-30 months vs my 15-18) so hers will only cost us $600 out of pocket.

[MrsCharisma]

Our insurance is SO sucky, that not only does it not cover adult ortho, it does not cover orthodontics for CHILDREN either!!!!! Insane.

Holy guacamole!!! I don't really understand exactly what sirwired said (sorry sirwired) but maybe that has to do with why your employer won't cover it.

I work at a very large financial corporation. Not a big Wall Street bank or anything but a top 10 national bank you have seen commercials for. That probably explains a lot as far as our quality of insurance. It's pretty sad there's such a huge disparity but that is how money and insurance work in our society I guess.[/quote]

It's my husband's insurance...he works for a private school. The medical coverage is horrific too. Blah.

[SunshineRay]

They pay nothing for over age 19.

[kathydell]

Very lucky to have adult orthodontic coverage of $1,500 lifetime max and able to use a flexible spending account to help with the monthly payments. Every penny helps.