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How Flex Spending Can Help You With Orthodontic Care

Our West Seattle and Burien, WA orthodontist and his team at Peralta Orthodontics never want finances to stand in the way of our patients getting the orthodontic care they need. That is why our practice offers several options for paying for the orthodontic services we provide.

What is Flex Spending?

A flexible spending account, or FSA, is a popular benefit option offered by many employers that allows participants to avoid taxation on money spent for health care and dependent care expenses. At the time of hiring or during the open enrollment period, employees may elect to set aside a portion of their pay for a given year into a FSA.

If you have a FSA through your employer, funds from that account can be used to cover the cost of orthodontic care that your dental insurance plan might not cover. The current law allows individuals with FSAs to set aside $2,550 per year. However, families can stretch these benefits because the maximum applies per employee, per plan and not per tax return or household. So if both parents are working, each can set aside $2,550 for a total of $5100 and use the money to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses (including orthodontic care) for themselves, each other and their children.

How We Work with FSAs

Under most plans, you will lose your FSA money if you don’t use it at the end of the year, although $500 of unused funds may be rolled over into the following year. We regularly work with flexible spending accounts and can set up a payment plan that can be structured over the course of 2 to 3 years (if applicable to the treatment plan) to help you get the most out of your tax-advantaged FSA account.

For more information on your payment options at Peralta Orthodontics, visit our Office Policies page. If you have any questions about paying for orthodontic care using your FSA funds, please contact us as we’re always happy to help!