Does Medicare Cover Braces? Dental Orthodontics vs. Medical Braces

The short answer: braces for teeth are not covered

If you are asking whether Original Medicare pays for orthodontic braces to straighten your teeth, the answer is no. Medicare does not cover orthodontics for either adults or children.

In most cases Original Medicare also does not cover other routine dental work such as cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, dentures, or implants. Orthodontic braces fall into this excluded category of dental care.

Under Original Medicare, you are responsible for the full cost of any non-covered service, including braces. There is no Medicare deductible or coinsurance that applies, because the service simply is not a Medicare benefit.

Why Medicare does not cover dental braces

The dental exclusion is written into federal law, not set by an insurance company. Section 1862(a)(12) of the Social Security Act prohibits Medicare from paying for services connected with the care, treatment, filling, removal, or replacement of teeth or the structures that directly support teeth.

Because orthodontic braces move and reposition teeth, they fall squarely inside this statutory dental exclusion. This is why neither Part A nor Part B will pay for them, regardless of your age or the reason you want braces.

• The exclusion is the same for adults and children — Medicare does not cover orthodontia for any age.
• Clear aligners (such as Invisalign-style trays) and retainers are treated the same as traditional metal braces: they are dental/orthodontic devices, so Original Medicare does not cover them either.

The braces Medicare DOES cover: arm, leg, back, and neck

There is an important point of confusion in the word 'braces.' Medicare Part B does cover certain medical braces — but these are orthopedic/body braces, not dental braces.

Part B covers arm, leg, back, and neck braces as durable medical equipment (DME) when they are medically necessary and ordered by your doctor. These devices support or stabilize part of your body; they have nothing to do with your teeth.

• For a Part B-covered medical brace, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after you meet the Part B deductible.
• The 2026 Part B annual deductible is $283, and the standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month.
• A dental orthodontist's braces are never covered under this DME benefit — only orthopedic braces for the arm, leg, back, or neck qualify.

When Medicare does cover some dental work (but not braces)

Medicare will pay for a limited set of dental services when they are inextricably linked to a covered medical procedure. These are narrow exceptions, and orthodontic braces are not among them.

If you are facing one of these covered medical treatments, the related dental service may be covered, but you should always confirm in advance with your doctor and Medicare.

• Oral exams and treatment before a heart valve replacement or a bone marrow, organ, or kidney transplant.
• Tooth extraction to clear a mouth infection before chemotherapy.
• Treatment of dental complications that arise during head and neck cancer treatment.
• Oral exams and treatment of infection before and during dialysis for end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
• None of these exceptions include orthodontic braces.

Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and other ways to get help

Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans add supplemental dental benefits that Original Medicare does not offer, and a few of these plans include orthodontic coverage. Benefits, networks, dollar caps, and waiting periods vary widely from plan to plan, so you must read the plan's Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage before assuming braces are covered.

Even when a Medicare Advantage plan covers orthodontia, it typically applies an annual dental dollar cap. Any cost above that cap is yours to pay. For example, if a plan has a $1,000 annual dental maximum and your braces cost $5,000, you would owe the $4,000 difference, plus any deductibles, copays, or coinsurance the plan charges.

A Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan will not help with braces. Medigap only fills cost-sharing gaps for services Original Medicare already covers — since Medicare does not cover orthodontia, there is nothing for Medigap to supplement.

• Standalone dental insurance is another option; some plans include orthodontic coverage, but many have waiting periods, annual maximums, and age limits — check the policy carefully.
• Other ways to manage the cost include dental school clinics, orthodontist payment plans, and community health centers.
• Always confirm any orthodontic benefit in the plan's own documents; benefits are never guaranteed across all plans.