If your extras cover includes orthodontics, your health fund may pay part of the cost of braces or clear aligners treatment. How much you get back depends on your fund, your level of cover, your waiting period and any annual or lifetime limits. Our team at B Orthodontics can help you work out your entitlements before you start.
Most major Australian health funds offer orthodontic benefits on mid to top-level extras policies, including:
Orthodontic benefits are usually paid under extras cover, not hospital cover. Most funds apply:
Because treatment often runs across more than one year, the timing of your claims can affect how much you receive. That’s why it pays to check your cover first.
Before increasing your health fund cover to include orthodontics, check whether the additional premiums are actually worth paying. Compare the extra cost of your cover with the orthodontic rebates available, including any annual limits, waiting periods and lifetime limits. In some cases, the additional cover may not save you money overall, so it’s worth doing the calculations first.
Orthodontic treatment is not just about choosing when to start; timing can also influence treatment options and outcomes. For some children, delaying treatment may affect the results that can be achieved, particularly when treatment is linked to growth and development. We recommend consulting your orthodontist as early as possible to understand the ideal timing for your child and avoid missing a valuable treatment window.
| Item number | Service |
|---|---|
| 014 | Consultation (child) |
| 015 | Consultation (adult) |
| 036 | Lateral cephalometric X-ray |
| 037 | OPG (panoramic X-ray) |
| 072 | Intra-oral photographs |
| 073 | Extra-oral photographs |
| 881 | Fixed braces, upper and lower |
Item numbers are a guide only. Your final treatment plan will list the exact codes that apply to you.
Many extras policies include orthodontic cover for braces and clear aligners. Basic extras policies often exclude it, so check your policy or call your fund.
It varies widely by fund and level of cover, from a few hundred dollars up to several thousand. Your fund can give you an estimate using the item numbers above.
Yes. Most funds apply a waiting period of around 12 months for orthodontics, so check your start date if you’re planning treatment soon.
We offer flexible payment plans to help spread the cost of treatment.
