Your Insurance Works at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design
Freelove accepts all major PPO orthodontic plans and files each claim directly with the insurer as a courtesy; HMO plans other than DeltaCare are not accepted. For patients who are eligible for Medicaid, a pre-authorization is sent on the patient’s behalf. If Medicaid determines the treatment is medically necessary, orthodontic benefits will apply. If not, Medicaid will not fund orthodontic treatment. Send the insurance card and member information before the appointment and the front-desk team verifies the exact orthodontic benefit, files every claim on the patient’s behalf, and builds the payment plan around what the plan actually pays. No insurance? In-House Financing starts at $199/month with no credit check.
Reviewed and approved by Dr. Cameron Freelove, DDS, MS · Last updated
How Orthodontic Insurance Works, In Plain Language
Orthodontic insurance is structured differently from the dental benefit that pays for routine cleanings and fillings. A cleaning is typically covered every six months against an annual maximum, but braces and clear aligners are covered once against a lifetime orthodontic maximum, a fixed dollar amount the plan will ever pay toward orthodontic treatment for each enrolled person.
Most PPO plans set the lifetime orthodontic maximum between $1,000 and $2,500 per person. Some employer-sponsored plans go up to $3,000 or $3,500. The plan pays this amount directly toward the treatment total, and the patient pays the remainder. Either upfront or through a monthly payment plan.
The average orthodontic benefit applied at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design in Kent and Sammamish is approximately $1,500 per patient.
Three other terms usually appear on an orthodontic benefits summary:
- Deductible. The amount the patient pays out of pocket before the insurance plan starts contributing. On most dental PPOs this is $50–$100 per person per year and applies once before the orthodontic benefit kicks in.
- Coverage percentage. Most PPO plans cover orthodontics at 50% of the treatment fee, up to the lifetime maximum. A few employer-sponsored plans cover 60% or 80%.
- Waiting period. Some plans require the member to be enrolled for 6–12 months before orthodontic claims are paid. Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design verifies this for every patient before the financial agreement is signed.
At the start of treatment, Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design collects an assignment of benefits so the insurance plan pays the practice directly rather than reimbursing the family later. That single form turns the practice into the patient’s billing partner for the duration of treatment, and it is the reason the family is never asked to submit paperwork to the carrier.
The key takeaway: an orthodontic benefit applies the same dollar amount regardless of which treatment option is selected. A $2,000 benefit contributes $2,000 toward metal braces, clear ceramic braces or Invisalign, or Angel Aligners, the choice of treatment is clinical, not financial. The front-desk team walks every family through the exact numbers for their plan at the free consultation.
PPO Dental Plans Accepted at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design
Freelove accepts all major PPO orthodontic plans and files each claim directly with the insurer as a courtesy; HMO plans other than DeltaCare are not accepted. For patients who are eligible for Medicaid, a pre-authorization is sent on the patient’s behalf. If Medicaid determines the treatment is medically necessary, orthodontic benefits will apply. If not, Medicaid will not fund orthodontic treatment. If a plan has orthodontic benefits, the practice accepts it and files the claim on the patient’s behalf, even when Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design is out of the network on that plan.
PPO Carriers Freelove Accepts
If a specific plan is not listed here, it is still worth sending the insurance card and member information before the appointment, most PPO carriers write orthodontic benefits under several different employer-group names, and the front-desk team verifies each one directly with the carrier.
Plans Not Accepted
HMO plans are not accepted, except DeltaCare.
When a plan is not accepted, Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design still makes treatment affordable through three financing paths: In-House Financing 0% financing options available from $199/month with no credit check, CareCredit with $0 down for approved applicants, and a 5% pay-in-full discount for families who pay the full balance at the start of treatment.
Apple Health / Medicaid Accepted
Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design accepts Apple Health / Medicaid orthodontic benefits for qualifying cases. Apple Health / Medicaid coverage in WA requires a medical-necessity determination. Dr. Freelove and the team provide the information used in that determination, but Apple Health / Medicaid makes the final decision on whether treatment is medically necessary and covered; a denial is not the practice’s decision. Payment plans and in-office financing are available for families whose coverage is not approved. Call or text Kent at (253) 852-7331 or Sammamish at (425) 651-2778 to verify a child’s eligibility before the consultation.
Free 4-Step Insurance Verification
Every patient’s exact orthodontic benefit is verified directly with the carrier, not estimated. The verification is free and carries no obligation to start treatment.
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Share the Card at Scheduling
As soon as the appointment is scheduled, the front desk needs the insurance card and member information (or a photo of the front and back) so the team can verify benefits before the visit.
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The Practice Calls the Carrier
The insurance coordinator contacts the carrier directly to confirm the exact orthodontic lifetime maximum, any waiting period, deductible status, and coverage percentage.
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The Plan Is Built Around the Benefit
The verified benefit is applied against the treatment total before any financial agreement is signed, and the remaining out-of-pocket is converted to a monthly payment or pay-in-full option.
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Claims Filed for the Family
Once treatment begins, Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design files every claim directly through the assignment of benefits. The family never submits paperwork to the insurance carrier.
Out-of-Pocket Cost After Insurance
These are the typical starting fees at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design with the average $1,500 PPO orthodontic benefit applied. The actual benefit may be higher or lower depending on the specific plan, a free verification at the first consultation returns the exact number.
| Treatment | Starting Fee | After $1,500 Benefit | Est. Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Braces | $5,000 | $3,500 | From $199/mo |
| Clear Ceramic Braces | $5,000 | $3,500 | From $199/mo |
| Invisalign | $5,000 | $3,500 | From $199/mo |
| Angel Aligners | $5,000 | $3,500 | From $199/mo |
A higher benefit lowers the out-of-pocket dollar-for-dollar. Example: a patient with a $2,000 lifetime maximum would subtract $2,000 from the starting fee instead of $1,500. Use the free calculators for a personalized estimate based on the exact plan:
Financing, Three Ways to Pay
Whether the insurance plan covers the full benefit or nothing at all, Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design keeps treatment affordable through three financing options. Every option is paired with the verified insurance benefit so the family sees one number for the out-of-pocket cost, one number for the monthly payment, and no surprises after treatment starts.
- In-House Financing (most popular): 0% financing options available, no credit check, monthly payments from $199/month, down payment $300 for comprehensive braces, no credit check.
- CareCredit: $0 down available for approved credit, 0% APR promotional financing through CareCredit for approved credit. Useful as a secondary option when the In-House Financing limits do not fit the household budget.
- Pay-in-full discount: 5% off the total treatment fee when the family pays the full balance at the start of active treatment.
HSA and FSA accounts are accepted for the full orthodontic fee. The practice provides itemized receipts, procedure codes, and any reimbursement documentation the plan administrator requires. HSA/FSA funds can be combined with any of the three financing paths above.
Community discounts are applied alongside insurance, not on top of it. The 5% pay-in-full discount can be combined with any other discount. Otherwise there is one discount per patient: a patient who qualifies for more than one receives whichever single discount gives the largest savings. Discounts cannot be combined with other promotions or special offers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance & Financing
Does Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design accept my dental insurance?
Freelove accepts all major PPO orthodontic plans and files each claim directly with the insurer as a courtesy; HMO plans other than DeltaCare are not accepted. For patients who are eligible for Medicaid, a pre-authorization is sent on the patient’s behalf. If Medicaid determines the treatment is medically necessary, orthodontic benefits will apply. If not, Medicaid will not fund orthodontic treatment. If the plan has an orthodontic benefit, the practice accepts it and files the claim on the patient’s behalf, even out of network. The fastest way to confirm is to share the insurance card and member information when the appointment is scheduled, so the team can verify the exact benefit with the carrier before the visit.
How much will insurance pay for braces or Invisalign?
Most PPO plans carry a lifetime orthodontic maximum between $1,000 and $2,500 per enrolled person. Some employer-sponsored plans go up to $3,000 or $3,500.
The average benefit applied at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design is approximately $1,500, paid once over the lifetime of the patient, regardless of whether the treatment is metal braces, clear ceramic braces or Invisalign, or Angel Aligners. Every patient receives a free verification at the consultation.
What if the family does not have insurance?
Treatment remains affordable without insurance. In-House Financing offers 0% financing options available with no credit check, from $199/month. CareCredit offers $0 down for approved credit.
A 5% pay-in-full discount applies to the full balance when paid at start of treatment, and HSA/FSA funds are accepted on top of any of these options.
How is the insurance benefit applied to the payment plan?
The verified insurance benefit is subtracted from the treatment total before the monthly payment is calculated, not refunded later.
A $5,000 treatment total, minus the $1,500 insurance benefit, becomes the remainder owed by the family; that remainder is what the In-House Financing, or CareCredit plan is built around.
Every claim is then filed directly by the practice, so the insurance money never passes through the family’s hands.
What is an “assignment of benefits”?
Assignment of benefits is the form signed at the start of treatment that tells the insurance carrier to pay Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design directly rather than reimbursing the family later. It is what makes the practice’s claim-filing service possible. Without it, the family would pay the full fee upfront and then chase the insurance reimbursement through the carrier’s member portal.
Can the family use HSA or FSA funds for orthodontic treatment?
Yes. Orthodontic treatment is a qualifying medical expense for both Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds under IRS Publication 502. Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design provides itemized receipts and any reimbursement documentation the plan administrator requires. HSA and FSA funds can be combined with any of the three financing plans to reduce the monthly out-of-pocket payment.
Which insurance plans does Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design accept?
Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design accepts all PPO orthodontic plans and files every claim on the patient’s behalf. Orthodontic benefits are a lifetime-maximum specialty benefit rather than a negotiated in-network rate, so for most orthodontic plans the carrier pays the same dollar amount regardless of network status.
The following HMO plans are accepted: DeltaCare.
Practice credentials
Why Families in Kent and Sammamish Trust Their Orthodontic Insurance to Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design
Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design is an American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) member practice. Dr. Freelove is an orthodontist who completed a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-approved Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics after dental school, and personally reviews every treatment plan.
The insurance coordinator handles verification, claim submission, and carrier follow-up in house. Before the financial agreement is signed, the team reviews the expected insurance contribution and the remaining out-of-pocket with the family so there is no ambiguity about what the plan is expected to pay and what remains owed.
Verify the Insurance Benefit, Free Consultation
Send the insurance card and member information before the appointment. Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design verifies the exact orthodontic benefit on-site, builds the payment plan around the remaining balance, and includes a comprehensive orthodontic exam for every new patient, with no deposit and no obligation.