Are Their Braces (or Clear Aligners) Covered? Membership Plans Can Help

If you’ve ever seen a parent’s face after hearing the cost of orthodontic treatment, you know. It’s a moment. Braces and clear aligners are major investments in a child’s health and confidence, but the sticker shock is real.

And while many families assume their dental insurance will help… the truth isn’t always so helpful.

Let’s talk about a smarter, more flexible way for practices to support families through orthodontic care: customized membership plans with orthodontic add-ons.

Why Ortho Isn’t Always Covered

Orthodontic coverage under traditional insurance is limited at best. Many plans:

• Have strict age limits (often capping benefits at age 18)
  
• Include lifetime maximums as low as $1,000–$1,500
  
• Require waiting periods or pre-approvals
  
• Offer minimal flexibility when it comes to treatment types like clear aligners
  

For families without insurance, the entire cost lands out of pocket. For those with insurance, the benefit might cover only a fraction of what they expected. Either way, the result is frustration, and too often, delayed care.

Enter: Membership Plans with Ortho Add-Ons

By offering a customizable membership plan, your practice can help families budget for orthodontics in a way that’s predictable, transparent, and more affordable over time.

Here’s how it works:

• Patients enroll in your standard membership plan for preventive care
  
• Then, they choose to add an orthodontic add-on for an additional monthly fee
  
• That add-on can include discounts on braces, clear aligners, retainer checks, and other services you choose
  

The result? More families are saying yes to treatment because they finally feel like it’s within reach.

Why It Works for Families

A membership plan with ortho support helps eliminate the barriers that hold families back. With one bundled monthly payment:

• They know exactly what they’re getting (and what they’re saving)
  
• They don’t have to chase reimbursements or worry about exclusions
  
• They can start treatment now and pay over time
  

You’re not just offering a discount. You’re offering a plan that makes orthodontic care feel manageable. And who wouldn’t want that?

Why It Works for Your Practice

From your side, it’s about creating consistent, recurring revenue. Ortho add-ons help:

• Increase membership plan value
  
• Improve treatment acceptance
  
• Boost patient loyalty (especially during multi-year treatment)
  

And with DentalHQ, you can customize, automate, and manage it all from one place. No spreadsheet juggling required.

Want to see how DentalHQ makes it easy to create and manage customized plans with ortho add-ons? Watch a demo or book a call today.