Are Invisible Aligners Covered By Insurance

Invisible aligners are constructed of a transparent plastic material shaped to fit your teeth. Teeth are gradually realigned using a series of aligners fabricated from an initial scan or impression. Since they are tailored to each individual’s teeth and are nearly undetectable, they are an excellent option for those who want a discreet alternative for teeth straightening.

As previously indicated, Aligners are not covered by Medicare. No dental treatment, including Invisalign, is covered by Medicare. You will need to pay the entire price of your treatment if you do not have access to private insurance that will cover it.

Clear aligners are, like traditional braces, one of the less expensive orthodontic treatment alternatives. Clear aligners are not advised in more difficult instances because of the nature of the material and the simpler motions necessary to straighten teeth and align jaws. Clear aligner treatment in Australia may cost between $6,500 to $9,500 on average, however this might vary from state to state. Treatment with clear aligners typically takes between 6 to 12 months. Costs can be much lower for shorter or more restricted treatments involving only some of the teeth, and significantly higher for more complex or lengthy treatments, depending on the number of trays and the intricacy of the case.

There is no standard private health insurance plan. Clear aligner treatment may be fully covered by an additional plan that covers orthodontics, much like traditional braces. Verifying this information with your preferred health insurance company is recommended since their policies may differ from those listed below.

Numerous ‘Extras’ packages provided by private health insurance providers include coverage for various dental treatments;

General dental care insurance – covers hygienic procedures such as cleaning and scaling, x-rays, fillings, extractions, and so on.

Major dental insurance – entails more difficult dental treatments such as wisdom tooth extraction, crowns, implants, and bridges.

Orthodontic therapy – is a specialized treatment that corrects
misaligned teeth and jaws and is frequently included individually within the
Extras, so this is the coverage you’ll need to think about.

Although many general dentists now provide orthodontic services, it’s crucial to remember that if your insurance company requires a prescription from an orthodontic specialist, the treatment may not be covered under the Major Dental plan. Some health insurance companies may pay a smaller benefit if you get orthodontic treatment from a dentist.

A part of orthodontic treatment, such as braces and in most instances aligner treatment, may be covered by the Major Dental component of your private Extras policy; nevertheless, it is advisable to clarify this with specific funds.

Many ‘basic’ Extras policies exclude Major Dental, therefore you should opt for a more comprehensive Extras policy.

To name a few of the many health insurance companies in Australia that provide orthodontic and dental extras plans:

• AHM
• GMHBA
• Bupa
• Medibank
• HIF
• Nib

Additionally, it is important to remember that most dental and orthodontic coverage plans have a 12-month time delay before they kick in. In most cases, the orthodontic treatment can be begun before the completion of the waiting period if:

Even after the waiting time has ended, you will continue with your orthodontic treatment if you have not yet paid the full cost of your treatment.

But before beginning any orthodontic care or treatment, it is important to verify with your health fund or provider to be sure that it will cover it.

Some individual policy names and key fund details you should know.