Tips on insurance cost coverage: how to save on orthodontic treatment
Support from your insurance for your child's treatment
The cost of orthodontic treatment can vary depending on the severity of the malocclusion. The good news: many insurers offer support to cover part of the treatment costs. At the Eltz Institut we want to help you find the best options for cost coverage by your insurance and make full use of your entitlements. Here are our tips for making your child's orthodontic treatment as affordable as possible.
1. Use free braces: cost coverage for severe malocclusions
For children and teenagers with severe malocclusions, Austrian public health insurance provides free braces. This applies to children under 18 with a malocclusion that falls into severity grade IOTN 4 or 5 (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need).
Requirements for free braces:
- Under 18 years old: Treatment must begin before the 18th birthday.
- Severe malocclusion: The malocclusion must reach severity grade IOTN 4 or 5. Examples include a severe overjet, a crossbite or significant jaw misalignment.
2. Subsidies for milder malocclusions: partial cost coverage
Even for milder malocclusions (IOTN 1–3) that do not qualify for free braces, it is possible to receive subsidies from your health insurance fund. Depending on your insurance contract and the type of treatment, you can be reimbursed for part of the costs. We support you with the application and submission to the health insurance fund.
3. Private supplementary insurance: further support options
If you have taken out private health insurance, you should check its benefits for orthodontic treatment carefully. Many private supplementary insurance policies offer extensive cost coverage for braces and orthodontic treatment that goes beyond the benefits of the statutory health insurance funds.
What benefits do private supplementary insurance policies offer?
- Partial coverage of treatment costs for all types of braces, including invisible aligners.
- Extended cost coverage, even for mild malocclusions that are not covered by statutory health insurance.
- Subsidies for private treatment services, such as more aesthetically pleasing braces or additional check-ups.
4. Take advantage of tax benefits: deduct treatment costs
In addition to cost coverage by your health insurance fund or private insurance, you can deduct the treatment costs from your taxes. In Austria, medical treatment, including orthodontic treatment, counts as an extraordinary expense that can be claimed in your annual tax return (Lohnsteuerausgleich).
How tax deductibility works:
- Declare payments: Enter all payments made during the year for orthodontic treatment in your annual tax return.
- Discounts and instalments: Interest-free instalment payments and discounts for paying upfront can also be deducted.
- Tax savings: Depending on your income and family size, you can save several hundred euros in tax this way.
Why the Eltz Institut?
At the Eltz Institut we not only specialise in giving children and teenagers the perfect smile, but also support you with optimal cost planning and cost coverage by insurers. With over 20,000 successfully treated patients and an experienced team, we are on hand to help with all your questions.
Your benefits at the Eltz Institut:
- Applications: We take care of submitting all the necessary documents and communicating with your health insurance fund for you. You do not have to worry about a thing.
- Maximum transparency: We give you a clear overview of the treatment costs and all possible reimbursements.
- Flexible financing models: Should your insurance not cover all the costs, we offer interest-free instalment plans and discounts for paying upfront.
Book a consultation now!
Do you have questions about cost coverage by your insurance, or would you like to find out more about the financing options at the Eltz Institut? Book a consultation now and get individual advice. Together we will make sure that your child's orthodontic treatment remains affordable and predictable!