Insurance & Financing

 
Many dental insurance plans have an annual maximum that resets every year and can be used for routine dental services like cleanings, fillings, and crowns. Orthodontic benefits work differently. They typically have a lifetime maximum instead of an annual limit.

 
An orthodontic lifetime maximum is the maximum dollar amount an insurance plan will cover for orthodontic treatment. It is a fixed amount that applies to the combined orthodontic treatment of all individuals covered by the plan. A lifetime maximum is specific to each insurance plan, meaning if you switch your plan or insurance company, you may have a different maximum. Once that maximum is reached, the insurance company generally won’t pay for any additional orthodontic treatment.

For example:

• Your plan has a $2,000 orthodontic lifetime maximum
• You or someone under your plan begins orthodontic treatment
• The insurance company will pay a total of $2,000 toward the treatment over time
• Once the full $2,000 has been paid, any remaining treatment costs will not be covered by your insurance plan

 
Yes.

Bluebird will submit claims and assist with insurance paperwork on your behalf and ensure you get reimbursed.

 
Not necessarily.

Lifetime maximums are generally the same for in- and out-of-network care; your benefits are yours to use however (and with whomever) you want. While pricing varies by practice, you can expect to pay roughly the same market rate with an out-of-network provider as an in-network provider.

 
Yes.

Bluebird offers competitive prices even for patients with out-of-network insurance. Once our team files your paperwork, you’ll likely end up paying the same out-of-pocket cost for Bluebird as you would for an in-network provider.

 
It depends on the insurance company.

Orthodontic insurance companies will typically reimburse you with an initial sum at the start of treatment, followed by monthly or quarterly payments of the remaining balance over the estimated length of your treatment.

If your reimbursement is sent to Bluebird, we’ll make sure you receive it promptly.

 
Contact us with information about your insurance, and we’ll do the research for you. We’ll discuss your benefits and financing options during your free consultation and work together to create a manageable repayment plan.