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Is Invisalign Covered by Private Health Insurance or Medicare?

Invisalign treatment addresses misaligned teeth, crowded and crooked teeth, and bite problems. It uses almost invisible plastic aligner trays that you must wear for at least 22 hours per day for two weeks. Afterwards, you will need to change into a new set slightly different from the previous one. This continues until you complete your treatment. This is usually after 12 to 18 months, depending on the severity of your dental issues.

Invisalign is not cheap and often costs more than traditional dental braces. As a result, many people wonder if it is covered by private health fund insurance or Medicare. Read on to learn more.

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How Much Does It Cost to Have Invisalign Treatment?

This depends on a few factors, but the average cost for full treatments is from $6,000 to $9,000. On the other hand, it may range up to $4,500 for minor treatments.

What Factors Influence the Cost of Invisalign?

A few factors affect the final cost of your Invisalign treatment. These include:

  • Your location and dentist or orthodontist
    Your location and the experience of your dentist will influence the price. In most cases, the fees for dentists in major cities are more expensive than those in rural areas because of higher overhead costs. Similarly, dentists with more experience may charge more than one with less.

  • The complexity of the treatment is required.
    The more complex your case is, the more aligners you need and the longer it will take you to complete treatment. This means you should expect higher costs.

  • Whether you need additional treatments
    Sometimes, your dentist must perform other procedures, such as filing, root canal, or a scale and clean, before beginning Invisalign treatment. This can significantly increase the cost of your treatment.

  • Your insurance
    While Invisalign with Medicare is not possible, private health insurance plans may cover at least part of the cost.

  • Payment plans offered by the dental clinic
    Most dentists offer flexible payment plans to help make the cost of treatment more manageable.

  • Aftercare retainers
    You may need to wear a retainer after completing your Invisalign treatment to keep your teeth from shifting back. The price of this varies but is an additional cost to the treatment.

Can Invisalign Be Claimed on Health Insurance?

As mentioned, some private health fund companies cover Invisalign treatment, but it depends on your level of cover. You will need to check with your provider to determine if your health insurance policy covers it and how much rebate you can receive. Generally, you should expect the insurance company to pay for only a portion of the cost, such as 40%.

Also, Invisalign with insurance coverage may involve deductibles, co-pays and other out-of-pocket costs. Remember to ask your insurance provider about these before getting treatment.

Which Extras Do I Need to Get to Have Invisalign Treatment Covered?

You may need to add extras or purchase an extended dental insurance plan in order to have Invisalign treatment covered. Verify that it has orthodontic coverage before signing up. Orthodontic treatments, such as Invisalign, are considered major dental services.

How Long Should I Wait Before I Can Be Eligible to Claim Cover for My Invisalign Treatment?

In many cases, there is a 12-month waiting period before you can make a claim for any orthodontic treatments. So, you may have to pay out-of-pocket for the first 12 months of your Invisalign treatment before claiming a refund. Also, some policies have lifetime or yearly limits. For example, if you have an orthodontic limit of $1,200 and your treatment costs $1,700, you can get the $1,200 reimbursement but may have to wait for 12 months before receiving the remaining $500.

Keep in mind that different insurance providers have their own rules and regulations regarding cover for orthodontic treatments, so check with them directly for more information.

Is Invisalign Covered Under Medicare?

As stated above, Invisalign with Medicare is not possible. Medicare does not cover any type of dental treatment, including Invisalign. If you don’t have private insurance that can cover your treatment, you have to pay from your pocket for the full cost of your treatment.

Are There Payment Options Offered for Patients Without Health Insurance?

Many dentists offer convenient payment plans to help make the cost of Invisalign treatment more affordable. For instance, they may let you pay in monthly instalments or offer discounted rates if you pay the treatment costs upfront.

In Australia, several options exist, such as OpenPay, ZipMoney, AfterPay and LatitudePay. These companies allow you to pay for your treatment in instalments with no interest or low-interest rates.

Final Thoughts

Invisalign treatment helps you achieve straight teeth for a shorter time, without seeing metals and wires in your mouth. However, this procedure is relatively expensive. Invisalign with Medicare may not be possible, but you may be able to get some coverage from your private health insurance provider. Additionally, payment plans and other financing options are available to help reduce the cost of treatment.

If you want to know if you are a good candidate for Invisalign treatment and how much it would cost, book a consultation with us now.

Magical Smiles strives to provide you with positive outcomes for your Invisalign treatment. We equipped our clinic with modern technology and a team of dental practitioners with years of experience performing orthodontic treatments, including Invisalign. We can create a customised orthodontic treatment plan for you based on your circumstances. During your appointment, we will also discuss our payment plans and help you decide which is right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have mild to moderate misalignment of your teeth, crooked or crowded teeth, and bite problems, you may be eligible for Invisalign. However, you should be in good oral health without tooth decay and have realistic treatment expectations. You must also be committed to wearing your aligners for 22 hours per day and practising good oral hygiene. Lastly, children below seven years old are not advised to get this treatment.
Aside from improving your smile, Invisalign is discreet and unnoticeable. And, the treatment time is usually shorter than traditional braces, more comfortable, and less painful than ceramic braces. It also benefits adults who don’t want to show metals and wires in their mouths. Additionally, since you can remove the aligners, there are no dietary restrictions and brushing, and flossing is easy.
Invisalign treatment takes a shorter period of time to complete, usually 12 to 18 months. Conventional braces may take 2 to 3 years to complete, depending on the severity of your orthodontic issues. Note that these are just estimates and treatment duration will vary individually.
Invisalign is more comfortable than traditional braces since the aligners are made from smooth plastic and don’t have any metal or wires that can irritate your mouth. With traditional metal braces, you may experience pain or discomfort due to the sharp edges of brackets and wires.

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