At The Ranch Orthodontics, we offer a variety of payment options to make your dream smile as affordable as possible and we understand that financials can play a large role in choosing a provider. At your consultation, our treatment coordinator(s) will provide you with a treatment proposal including our payment options and applicable insurance benefits.

In-office financing

This option offers interest-free payments with an affordable initial investment. The remaining balance is divided into equal payments over the duration of the estimated treatment length.

This option is available to all our patient families. We require a debit or credit card to be kept on file as the automatic payments will be drafted on either the 1st or the 15th of the month.

Please note: if the 1st or the 15th of the month lands on a weekend, your draft will be processed on the next business day.

Payment in full

We offer a discount for payment in full via cash or check of 5%, as well as a 3% discount via credit card payment.

Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account

We accept both HAS/FSA payment methods for either option listed above. If you need a detailed invoice or receipt for the transaction, contact our office and we will gladly send that to you upon request.

Orthodontic Insurance

We accept all PPO Dental Insurance plans.

While we are not directly contracted with any specific insurance companies, we are contracted with direct fee schedules that include all major insurance companies.

In order for our staff to verify your orthodontic benefits prior to your consultation, please provide us with the insurance information within 24 hours of your appointment.

A few details that we will ask for to verify will be the subscriber’s name & date of birth, employer information, insurance company name and phone number as well as the subscriber’s social security number or member ID.

Orthodontic insurance FAQ

How much insurance coverage do I have?

We are happy to verify your orthodontic benefits prior to your initial consultation at our office. We will ask you for several details prior to your visit that are required to retrieve the benefit information.

My dental benefits start over at the beginning of each year – is this the same with orthodontics?

No. Orthodontic coverage is a Lifetime Maximum (otherwise known as LTM) that is offered on your dental plan through your employer or self-funded policy. While dental benefits replenish each fiscal or calendar year, your orthodontic benefits do not.

If I pay in full, will that make any difference on how my insurance pays?

No. Orthodontic benefits pay out over the duration of treatment--not in one lump sum payment. If your benefit is estimated at $2000, the Insurance company pays an initial payment when the braces are placed and the remainder is split into monthly, quarterly, or annual instalments for the total months in treatment.

My insurance says they will cover 50% of the total fee – is this accurate?

Orthodontic benefits are considered one of two ways; typically, 50% of the total case fee or up to the maximum allowable benefit amount. There are a few plans that pay more or less than 50%. If your LTM benefit is $2000, then braces would have to cost $4000 for you to use your full benefit.

What happens if I know I will lose coverage six months into treatment?

Insurance must be active through the course of treatment to receive full benefits. If you drop your dental insurance before your benefit has finished paying, this can result in additional out of pocket expenses for you.

What if I change my employer, or make changes to my insurance plan during treatment?

All payments will stop once your policy has been changed or terminated.

Examples of these scenarios are:

If you decrease or remove orthodontic benefits to lower your monthly premium.
If you change your employer, or your current employer has changed their plan benefits to a higher or lower benefit amount.

When this happens, you need to be sure that the new policy covers a work-in-progress, has no waiting period, and coverage is not based on medical necessity to be eligible for benefits. Insurance companies may also prorate the balance of the prior insurance plan payment, and the number of months left of the treatment plan.

The Ranch Orthodontics | Traditional Braces, Invisalign amp Spark Aligners and Early Treatment

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Dual Insurance Coverage

There are a few rules that insurance companies typically follow when a patient has dual insurance coverage.

Primary vs. Secondary

Typically, it’s best to make sure your plan allows for standard coordination of benefits, or the birthday rule. This coordination of benefits determines the primary as the person whose birthday falls first in the calendar year.

For example, if responsible party #1 birthday is 2/14/73 and responsible party #2 birthday is 11/20/1968, responsible party #1 would be considered as the primary.

A non-duplicating clause means benefits will not be duplicated. If both plans have a LTM of $1500 then with a non-duplicating clause, your total insurance benefit would be $1500.