Shabby Chic Boho The cost of maintaining your health can be expensive in the USA, which is why it’s essential to maximize what’s available within your budget.
Access to healthcare is incredibly important, as it enables individuals to receive the necessary care. With that being said, there are several useful ways to help access the care you need, particularly when it comes to orthodontics.
From using pre-tax HSA/FSA funds to making use of financing and payment plans. This guide will provide you with all the information you need to know about finding budget-friendly orthodontic care.
The benefits of seeing an orthodontist
Just like any healthcare professional, you must see an orthodontist regularly. There are many benefits to seeing an orthodontist. Let’s take a look at those benefits:
Improved oral hygiene
Straight teeth are easier to clean effectively with both brushing and flossing. This also helps to reduce the risk of plaque build-up cavities and gum disease too.
Corrects bite
Misaligned bites can often cause uneven pressure on certain teeth. This can lead to wear and tea, chips or fractures over time. That’s why it’s important to correct your bite over time and distribute that pressure evenly.
Alleviation of jaw pain
Proper alignment of your teeth and jaw will reduce stress on the TMJ. This can alleviate chronic jaw pain and associated discomforts like headaches.
Prevention of future issues
Early intervention can help guide jaw growth and make space for permanent teeth, especially in children from a young age.
Improved breathing and sleep
Your breathing and sleep can improve from having orthodontic treatment. By aligning the jaw, it improves air flow, which helps with breathing issues, snoring and sleep apnoea.
What insurances and savings are available?
To afford orthodontics on a budget, it’s worth checking to see if your dental insurance covers part of the costs.
Dental insurance
A lot of people will have orthodontic insurance, and if it’s something you’ve not got currently, then it’s definitely worth getting so that you can cover yourself in situations where dental work is required. Dealing with any dental pain can be incredibly uncomfortable, and so having access to that dental care without needing to worry about insurance is helpful.
Make sure that you check your plan in advance, as many providers will cover a portion of the orthodontic treatment, especially for minors.
Make use of HSA/FSA
Certain types of accounts can be helpful when you’re trying to make your money go a little further. Using pre-tax dollars from both Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts is beneficial for significant savings of 20-30% on your costs.
This also includes co-payment as well as tax advantages. If you’ve not explored these savings and spending accounts before, then it’s worth seeing how much they’d benefit you.
Dedicated savings
It’s always useful to have different money pots so that you have a collection of savings for possible events and financial expenses in the future. You are always likely to need a savings account for your medical needs, so it’s worth starting a specific savings account for orthodontic expenses.
That way, you can build your funds over time, rather than having to pay out a lot in a short space of time, which can leave you short on cash flow.
Financing and payment plans
Another option is considering the various types of financing and payment plans available. These are helpful if you need to spread costs and can’t always afford such big payments made upfront.
In-house plans
Many orthodontists will offer the opportunity of payment plans. These provide low monthly payments and sometimes go from $0-$1,000 down.
It’s useful to explore these plans, especially if you’re shopping around for orthodontists for the first time or perhaps finding a new one after moving house.
0% interest options
There are certainly advantages to exploring practices that have 0% interest options, especially as this can be helpful to spread the costs or avoid paying anything for a period of time.
Usually, these no-interest financing will provide between 12 and 24 months for short-term affordability. This will usually help a lot of those who are on a tight budget and need a bit of flexibility in their payment plan.
Third-party financing
Using personal loans is often a great help, as well as credit cards. However, it is a good idea to compare the total cost with interest in order to figure out which options are the best, as some will charge a lot more in interest over time.
Other cost-saving tips
When it comes to cost-saving tips, anything you can do to improve your efforts in saving money is always going to be beneficial. With that being said, here are some other cost-saving tips worth doing for the year ahead.
Compare quotes
First and foremost, always look to compare quotes. You want estimates from multiple orthodontists that you like the look of in order to see how much you should expect to get charged for work, and which ones look like they’re taking you for a ride.
Make sure to compare both pricing and services if you can.
Ask for discounts
Inquire about referral discounts or any seasonal promotions that the orthodontists might have available. Not all of them will offer it, but it’s worth checking out the options so you’ve crossed it off your list.
Consider at-home aligners
A good option for those that want to save money and have mild cases, at-home clear alginers can be a cheaper alternative than traditional braces. They also are a lot more appealing for those who don’t want something to be sticking out visually every day.
Dental schools and clinics
Finally, there is the option of dental schools and clinics. Dental schools will often provide care at lower costs through their teaching clinics. Of course, the experience might not be as enjoyable, especially if things go wrong or they do something that causes discomfort in general.
There are plenty of options out there to choose from. So with that being said, make sure to explore what orthodontic care options you have in terms of insurance, financing and other tips mentioned in this article.
Featured image: Photo by Caroline LM on Unsplash
