Will medicaid cover braces for my child?
When it comes to orthodontic care, medicaid does not cover anything other than diagnostic exams. This includes teeth cleaning, teeth reshaping (for example, tooth caps or tooth bleaching), and teeth replacement (e.g., dentures).
If your child’s dentist suspects that they may need braces, they can refer you to a pediatric dentist, who can determine if Medicaid will cover braces for your child. The short answer is yes, as long as they’re medically necessary. When you look at the definition of medical necessity for braces, you’ll find that it doesn’t refer to cosmetic procedures.
So if your braces are used to address a physical problem, like an overbite, then they’re covered. However, if your child is wearing braces to get a better hairstyle, then they may not be.
Will medicaid cover orthodontic treatment?
If your child is covered by medicaid it depends on whether braces are considered a dental service. The short answer is that Medicaid will cover corrective braces if they are needed to treat a specific medical condition.
However, Medicaid will not pay for corrective braces unless your child’s condition is severe enough to affect their daily activities and needs specialized care. Medicaid will not cover orthodontic services for cosmetic reasons. Even if your child qualifies for Medicaid, it doesn’t mean they automatically get coverage for orthodontic treatment.
Medicaid does cover braces through the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in some states. Before your child can get braces through Medicaid, however, they must apply and be accepted to the program. Check with the state you live in to learn about any additional eligibility requirements.
Will medicaid cover braces for child with my income?
The state of California can determine whether or not you qualify for Medicaid. However, if you are on Medicare or California’s Healthy Connect program, you will not be able to get Medicaid coverage for orthodontic services. Some states may cover orthodontic treatments on a sliding scale.
Contact your county Department of Health for more information on the eligibility requirements in your state. Medicaid eligibility is based on your income and the resources you have, which means that the same dentists as private insurance companies are not available to you through Medicaid.
For this reason, if your child qualifies for Medicaid but you have a lot of discretionary income, it likely will not be covered. However, if you have little or no discretionary income, Medicaid may cover braces. Medicaid coverage is dependent on your state and your location. Contact your local Medicaid office for more information.
Does medicaid cover braces for child?
Medicaid is a state-sponsored health insurance program for those with low incomes and medical needs. While it is true that Medicaid does not cover orthodontic treatments, it does cover some items. In most cases, braces are not considered a medical service for which Medicaid will cover.
However, there are some exceptions. To learn if your child’s Medicaid covers braces, you may want to look into the specific requirements of your state’s Medicaid program. It depends on your state’s Medicaid eligibility. Most states have separate Medicaid dental plans for children.
Contact your county or state Medicaid program to find out if your child is eligible. Many states also cover orthodontic services for children under other programs. For example, some states cover braces for children with disabilities.
Will medicaid cover orthodontic treatments?
Some states have specialized Medicaid programs for children that can cover orthodontic treatments. However, it's important to check with your state Medicaid office to see if your child is eligible. If you have a Medicaid dental plan, you can typically receive orthodontic treatment with a dentist who participates in the plan. However, the amount of coverage will vary depending on your state’s Medicaid dental plan and whether your child needs certain types of braces, such as lingual braces.