If you have always had a desire for straight teeth, but lacked financing options, you are not alone. Many people struggle to pay their bills and have enough left over for orthodontic treatment. While some dental insurance policies do have orthodontic coverage, they have limitations. Perhaps you want Invisalign or ceramic braces, but your insurance policy only covers the cost of traditional metal braces. Whatever the case, you are probably looking for other ways to finance your orthodontic treatment. Here are some helpful tips for finding the financing you need for a beautiful, straight smile.

Inquire About Healthcare Financing

Healthcare financing is a type of loan that is reserved specifically for healthcare procedures and tests, which includes dental care. A good place to start is by asking your orthodontist what healthcare financing programs they use. They probably have one or two financing firms that they recommend to their patients.

These financing programs work similar to any other loan, where you go through the application process and wait to be approved. Once approved, you will get the orthodontic treatment you need, and pay monthly payments to the loan you received. You may end up paying a little more than the cost of treatment for interest, but it lets you get started on your orthodontic treatment right now.

Get an Employment Savings Account

If you currently have a high-deductible health plan through your employer or privately, you can get a health savings account (HSA). With an HSA, you contribute money to the account on a regular basis, which starts adding up similar to a traditional savings account. The benefit of an HSA over a regular savings account is that it is tax-advantaged. This means if you have funds automatically deposited from your paycheck to the account, those funds are tax-deductible.

You are actually saving money by not being subject to federal income tax on the amount you deposit to the HSA. The funds in the account can be used for any type of medical costs, including dental work and orthodontic treatments.

Get Orthodontic Treatment for Medical Conditions

This will require you to work closely with your orthodontist in order to be approved by your dental insurance company. If you are struggling to get your orthodontic treatment approved by your insurance policy, you can change how it is billed. Instead of simply billing it for cosmetic purposes, you can have your orthodontist bill it as medically-necessary.

For example, wanting straight teeth or filling in a tooth gap is not necessarily medically-necessary, but fixing an overbite can be. Overbites tend to affect your overall dental health, causing jaw pain and difficulty chewing. It can also increase your risk for developing TMJ later in life. If it is billed for this purpose, your dental insurance may be more willing to cover the costs. (For more information on orthodontic specialists, contact Boland Orthodontics)