Are braces usually covered by insurance?

[Anonymous]

I am getting a huge run-around from my ortho and Blue Cross about covering my kid's braces. Both seem to be hinting that it's rare for insurance to cover the cost.

Is this worth my time? Did your kid's braces get covered by insurance or not? thanks.

[Anonymous]

Totally covered? No way. I think my plan covers up to $2,000 for each individual. (And the total cost is always way more than $2,000.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally covered? No way. I think my plan covers up to $2,000 for each individual. (And the total cost is always way more than $2,000.)

Scratch that, I just checked. Only $1,000 and that’s only if I pay for the premium dental plan.

[Anonymous]

We have federal BCBS and got supplemental MetLife dental for our kids' braces. They don't have a cooling off period like many insurances do and covered $3500 of the $5k plans for both kids.

[Anonymous]

Some dental specific insurances do cover braces, unlike carefirst
But many also don't give significant benefits, or they have a waiting period

[Anonymous]

Nope. Ours covered $1,000 per kid.

[Anonymous]

We have MetLife dental insurance. The high plan covers $5k lifetime per person. The basic plan only covers $1.5k.
So, if there is a second phase, you need to get on different insurance company.

[Anonymous]

I paid about 50% (2500). I have pretty good insurance too.

[Anonymous]

Our dental insurance covered $3000 total for anyone on the plan who wanted braces / invisalyn.

For each kid it cost $7500 but fortunately the year before the 2nd kid we changed insurance so got the $3000 twice, still a lot to pay however.

[Anonymous]

Health insurance will never cover orthodontia unless your child broke their jaw or something horrible.

Dental insurance will sometimes cover it, but never fully. We've never had a dental plan that paid over 50%.

[Anonymous]

My kids have BCBS and they will not cover orthodontia. You need separate supplemental coverage that covers ortho. And yes, there is almost always a waiting period of a year. BUT, given that most kids will be in braces for at least 18 months, you can get the coverage applied at some point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids have BCBS and they will not cover orthodontia. You need separate supplemental coverage that covers ortho. And yes, there is almost always a waiting period of a year. BUT, given that most kids will be in braces for at least 18 months, you can get the coverage applied at some point.

I should have added, you need an "in treatment" waiting period for this to qualify. Some won't cover it if you've had any treatment before the 1 year period.

[Anonymous]

$1000 per kid lifetime so even if you change insurance midway you don't get another shot at it.

[Anonymous]

We have Fed BCBS for health but got a GEHA dental policy that covers braces. But there is a lifetime maximum that they will pay out.

[Anonymous]

$2000 life time