Does Insurance Cover Teeth Aligners? Brand Comparisons

Whether or not your dental insurance plan will cover clear aligner treatment depends on your policy and the reason you’re seeking aligner treatment. If your aligners are fixing an orthodontic issue, and your plan covers orthodontic treatment for adults, there’s a good chance that they’ll cover some of the cost for your aligners. 

In the past, many insurance companies that did cover aligners only offered assistance with aligners that were provided in-office by a dentist or orthodontist. But with the growing popularity of telemedicine and teledentistry, more insurance companies are offering coverage for at-home and mail-order aligners as well. Some aligner providers, including Byte, have even partnered with insurance companies to make aligner coverage as easy as possible for the customer.

Most insurance companies publish information about their plans online. Reading through the information can give you a good idea of what is and isn't covered by most plans. You should also call your plan provider to ensure you have a full understanding of out-of-pocket costs.

Key facts about insurance coverage & aligners

• Coverage for aligners varies greatly between insurance companies and even policies. Some information about aligner benefits may be available online, but you may want to contact your plan provider directly to make sure you understand your coverage.

• Some aligner providers are partnered with insurance companies for an easier coverage process. Some companies will deal with the insurance companies directly or offer easy tools to help you understand and take advantage of your benefits.

• Not all dental plans have adult orthodontic coverage. Those that do may cover clear aligners if they’re being used to correct an orthodontic issue.

• Some dental plans require that orthodontic care be provided in-network or provide a payment cap on dental or orthodontic services.

What does insurance typically cover?

Most insurance companies offer at least some benefits for aligners. But how the plans work and what you’ll pay can vary greatly.

Misaligned teeth aren't simply a cosmetic concern. Crooked teeth are hard to keep clean, and mismatched jaws force muscles to work even harder with each bite. Aligners can fix the issue, and it's reasonable to expect your health insurance to cover this necessary work.

Every health insurance company is different, and companies may offer varying plans from one state to the next. In general, if you have questions about your benefits, it's best to contact your health insurance company and ask.

Common dental issues aligners can treat (and insurance might cover)

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) says most people seek orthodontic care because they have issues that cause slight discomfort to severe pain. Life with misaligned teeth isn’t just uncomfortable. It can make cleaning difficult, leading to decay and tooth loss. 

These are common issues you might address with dental aligners:

• Crowded teeth

• Gapping teeth

• Protruding teeth

• Bad bites (such as an underbite, overbite, crossbite, or open bite)

• Facial imbalance

Does UnitedHealth cover Invisalign?

Two types of health care plans exist in the UnitedHealth system. Consumers can buy a plan that addresses physical health, including regular doctor visits, surgeries, and vaccines. Consumers can also purchase plans for dental health, including some with benefits involving aligners. 

In a typical dental plan with UnitedHealth, consumers must do the following:

• Understand the network. Doctors partner with UnitedHealth and agree to charge a set amount for services.

• Stick with the network. You'll get the highest reimbursement level if you work exclusively with doctors aligned with UnitedHealth.

• Keep up with premiums. Pay your bills on time, and your benefits stay with you. If you miss a payment, your benefits are at risk.

UnitedHealth dental plans offer orthodontic treatment, but it must be provided by a network doctor. You must be referred to that orthodontist by your assigned dentist. 

UnitedHealth has an agreement with SmileDirectClub, and you can use that partnership to pay for aligners. But if you want to work with a different company, you may be forced to pay for care out of pocket.

Some insurance companies cover the full cost of aligners, but limitations including those imposed by a network, could mean higher costs for consumers.

Does Kaiser Permanente cover Invisalign?

Cutting costs is crucial for most healthcare companies. Kaiser Permanente tackles this task with a closed system model. Consumers must work with network doctors, and they're encouraged to buy products from company-owned pharmacies, opticians’ offices, and dental offices. 

Companies that offer doctor-supervised, direct-to-consumer aligners don't fit nicely into the Kaiser Permanente model. And at the moment, Kaiser Permanente doesn't have an aligner partner. 

But some Kaiser-affiliated dentists offer treatment with Invisalign. Those professionals work on a fee-for-service basis, meaning customers pay for the product rather than chipping in a monthly fee to access the care. This is the only way most Kaiser Permanente consumers can use their benefits to get aligners.

Does Anthem cover Invisalign?

Anthem is part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield family, and networks play a role in most plans. You're given a list of providers when you enroll, and you're asked to choose from that list when you're looking for medical care. 

Every plan is different, but Anthem says most dental plans do the following:

• Don't cover care for adults. Young people can get the help they need under an insurance plan, but parents can't.

• Come with a cap. You're given a spending limit each year. If you exceed that amount, you must pay the difference.

• Have detailed specifics outlining coverage. You're encouraged to call your plan administrator to determine exactly how your coverage works.

If your Anthem plan doesn't cover aligners, you could still get help. Discount programs run through Anthem could help you save on certain types of aligners. But your company choices are limited, so you'll have to watch the details carefully.

Does Humana cover Invisalign?

Networks are crucial to Humana too, just as they are to many other health insurance companies. But some Humana plans come with loopholes you can use to get help with costs. 

If your Humana plan has a network benefit, you could use an option to step outside of the network. You'll pay more for care than you would if you stayed in the network, but Humana will help to pick up some of the tab. 

To make this work, you'd pay the aligner company directly. Then, you'd submit an out-of-network claim to get reimbursement for the devices. Many aligner companies will help you fill out the forms properly, so you can get your money back in a timely manner.

Does Cigna cover Invisalign?

Both standard health care plans and dental plans are available through Cigna. In most cases, you'll work with a network of doctors. Step outside of the network, and your bills could go up. That makes using at-home clear aligners a little difficult. 

Cigna offers coverage for one type of aligner: Invisalign. These devices are created and supervised by network dentists or orthodontists, and you must visit that professional in person to get new trays and update your progress. 

If you're an adult looking for help with aligners, Cigna may not be a good choice. Cigna plans rarely offer orthodontics coverage for adults. And plans some don't have orthodontic coverage at all, for anyone.

Aligner insurance coverage: comparison

How to read insurance documents

The National Association of Dental Plans says most policies cover seven basic areas of dental care. The first four are typically covered in the first year, and the last two are covered later.

The areas include the following:

1. Preventive care (cleaning, office visits, and x-rays)

2. Restorative care (fillings and crowns)

3. Endodontics (root canals)

4. Oral surgery (tooth removal, biopsies, and drainage of infections)

5. Orthodontics (retainers, aligners, and braces)

6. Periodontics (scaling, root planing, managing infections0

7. Prosthodontics (dentures and bridges) 

If you’re reading through your dental insurance plan, look for words like “orthodontics.” In that section, look for details about the following items:

• Deductibles: Do you need to pay a specified amount before your coverage kicks in?

• Copayments: Do you need to make a payment each time you see your provider?

• Exclusions: Are specific types of care never covered by the plan?

What you’ll need to communicate with insurance

You’ve read all the documents, and you’re still not sure if your plan covers the care you’ll need. What should you do next? Calling the company directly is always smart. A conversation with a representative could give you the answers you’ll need to move forward with treatment.

Here’s what you need for the call:

• Your individual dental policy number

• Your dental policy plan number

• The date you visited a dentist and got a dental diagnosis

• Your dental diagnosis and assigned severity (if available)

• The name of the company you’d like to use

What If My Insurance Won’t Pay?

If you discover your company won't pay for all the care you need, you have options. You can use the following resources:

Flexible savings accounts

A flexible savings account (FSA) allows you to contribute up to $3,200 through payroll deductions during 2024 in an account dedicated to healthcare expenses.

Some FSAs allow people to “carry over” money they don’t spend in one year and use it in the next. Per IRS rules, the maximum amount you can carry to 2025 is $640. If you have a large balance in your FSA and don’t use it, you can lose it.

Aligners could be a good way to use what you have set aside. You can also use FSA dollars for your insurance copayments and deductibles, prescription drugs, and some medical devices.

FSAs are employer-established plans, meaning that you have to get them via an employment arrangement. If you’re self-employed or your company doesn’t offer FSAs, you can’t use this option.

Health savings accounts

Health savings accounts (HSAs) allow you to contribute $4,150 as an individual or $8,300 as a family and take a deduction on your taxes for doing so. (You can contribute more, but you can’t deduct more.)

Anyone can participate in an HSA, including people who are self-employed and those who work for places that don’t offer an HSA. However, you must buy what the IRS considers a high-deductible health plan. In 2024, that means a plan with a $1,600 deductible for an individual or $3,200 for a family.

Aligner expenses could be covered by an HSA. You can also use the funds for qualified expenses, such as electric toothbrushes, copayments, or deductibles.

When you’re purchasing health insurance, look for plans that are labeled as HSA eligible, and follow the instructions to enroll.

Payment plans

Many aligner companies offer financing at reasonable rates, so you can get the help you need without breaking your monthly budget.

How can an aligner company help?

Many aligner companies have teams ready to help with difficult insurance conversations. An aligner company can typically help with the following tasks:

• Understanding benefits: Provide your insurance company name and policy number, and the plan could help you find out how your policy typically handles aligner claims.

• Recognizing paperwork: Your aligner representative could explain what sorts of documents your insurance company might need to cover your care.

• Explaining your costs: The aligner company could give you an estimate of your treatment costs if you use them with your plan.

Several aligner companies offer services like this, including Byte, Alignerco, and NewSmile.

Byte & insurance coverage

As a leader in clear at-home aligners, Byte understands the process of getting your aligners covered by insurance and will make it easy. 

Byte is partnered with several insurance companies, including Aetna, Guardian, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Anthem. 

Even if your insurance is with a company that’s not partnered, Byte will help determine your eligibility for aligner coverage. Simply provide them with your insurance information, and they’ll do the hard work for you. Begin the process by entering your email on their Insurance Coverage help page.

Insurance & teeth aligners FAQs