Braces (Orthodontics) Medicaid Rates by State

Across published Medicaid dental fee schedules, braces (orthodontics) is reimbursed in 42 of 51 jurisdictions, at a national median near $1575 and ranging from about $73 in Minnesota to $5198 in Hawaii. These are fee-for-service rates; Medicaid managed-care plan rates differ.

Comprehensive orthodontic treatment to straighten teeth and correct bite problems, most often with traditional braces. Medicaid covers braces for children and teens only when treatment is medically necessary, not for cosmetic reasons. It is listed in 42 of 51 states and DC. Pediatric dental is federally mandated under EPSDT; adult coverage is optional and varies by state. Confirm current coverage with the state Medicaid program.

A listed rate means the state publishes a fee for comprehensive orthodontic treatment, not that every child qualifies. Federal EPSDT rules require states to cover orthodontics for enrollees under 21 when it is medically necessary (for example a handicapping malocclusion), and each state sets its own qualifying criteria and prior-authorization process. Cosmetic braces are not covered, and adult orthodontic coverage is rare. States also differ in how they pay: some publish one case fee for the full course of treatment while others pay in periodic visit installments, so a low figure in the table usually reflects a per-visit payment convention rather than the total cost of braces.

Hawaii has the highest listed Medicaid rate for braces (orthodontics) at about $5198, and Minnesota the lowest among covered states at about $73. The full state ranking is above.

These rates reflect each state's most recently published Medicaid dental fee schedule, the newest being the 2026 schedule. ProviderSignal refreshes them on the cadence each program publishes, typically quarterly or annually.