Determining whether or not Public Aid covers orthodontic treatment (braces) for children in Illinois can be a challenge.
In the State of Illinois, children covered by Public Aid dental coverage (also known as Medicaid, AllKids, KidCare or the Medical Card) may qualify for orthodontic treatment with braces. While not all patients covered by Public Aid will qualify for braces, a comprehensive orthodontic examination by an approved Illinois Public Aid Orthodontic (orthodontist or dentist) provider can help determine eligibility. All children must be pre-approved by the State of Illinois Public Aid administrators before orthodontic treatment with braces can begin. The following information provides a detailed overview about orthodontic coverage by Public Aid in the state of Illinois.
What is Public Aid in Illinois?
Public Aid is a form of government assisted health care available to low-income families and children in Illinois. Currently there are two government funded Medicaid programs that offer general dental care and orthodontic treatment with braces in Illinois; All Kids and Family Care.
All Kids provides health care to children of low-income families, while Family Care provides coverage for parents of these children. Each of these programs provides specific dental care coverage and may assist in paying for orthodontic treatment, dental braces and orthodontist fees.
Dr. Gustav Kozina and Den-Care Smile Center is an approved, licensed Illinois provider of General Dentistry, Oral Surgery and Orthodontic treatment with braces and accepts Medicaid, Public Aid, All Kids, Medical Card and Tarjeta Médica as well as most dental insurance plans.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), formerly known as the Illinois Department of Public Aid (also known as Medicaid), administers the Illinois Medicaid dental program.
Are Braces Covered by Public Aid in Illinois?
Not all kids covered under the Public Aid dental care program will qualify for orthodontic treatment with braces. Illinois Public Aid administrators must pre-approve all children before orthodontic treatment can begin and only children with severe needs will qualify for orthodontic treatment and braces. Orthodontists and dentists use special tests to determine the severity of a patient’s need for orthodontic treatment with braces. If your child is currently covered by Pubic Aid in Illinois, it would be in your best interest to have your child examined by an approved Illinois Public Aid orthodontic provider to see if they might be a candidate for covered orthodontic treatment.
To determine if your child is eligible for orthodontic treatment, you must first schedule an appointment with an approved orthodontic provider for an orthodontic consultation. A top-rated Public Aid orthodontic provider in North Eastern Illinois that serves patients throughout metro Chicago, including Cook, Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane, Boone, Winnebago and Will counties is Den-Care Smile Center (847-DENTIST). They offer FREE Illinois Public Aid orthodontic (braces) consultations where they will examine your child and determine if they meet the criteria to have their orthodontic dental records submitted for pre-approval to the Illinois Public Aid office. If your child is deemed eligible, Den-Care Smile Center will submit the necessary documentation to Public Aid administrators on your behalf.
After a case is submitted for orthodontic treatment with braces it can take up to 4 weeks for the files to be reviewed and evaluated by a Public Aid administrator. Dr. Kozina or a staff member from Den-Care Smile Center will contact you when the approval for orthodontic treatment with braces from All Kids is received.
In the event your child does not qualify for orthodontic treatment with braces through Public Aid, , Dr. Kozina and the staff at Den-Care Smile Center will work with you to provide an affordable payment option that will fit within your family’s budget.
To schedule a free orthodontic consultation for your child, please contact Den-Care Smile Center at 1-847-DENTIST. For more information about orthodontic coverage for children covered by Public Aid in Illinois, please visit www.publicaidorthodontics.com.
