How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?

[Anonymous]

I was quoted $6k for two years of invisalign with a highly regarded orthodontist.

I imagine it's a lot cheaper if you do the regular braces.

I can easily see working families coming up with a few thousand dollars across 2-3 years for braces. They're not going on vacation, they're not buying expensive clothes, they're not dining out at nice restaurants. Having good teeth is so important these days, perhaps too much.

[Anonymous]

Medicaid pays for braces for children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I highly doubt Medicaid pays for braces. Clearly dental care does not equal orthodontia. Just grievance peddling.

https://www.aabraces.com/blog/2016/06/medicaid-orthodontics

[Anonymous]

I don't have dental insurance and DD has braces. I was paying like $200 or something every month for YEARS. She should get her braces off at the end of Spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They probably get it for “free” (#yourepayingforit).

Okay, how? I don’t want to pay another $7k.

The same way they qualify for their food stamps. They don’t work.

You are simply evil.

And misinformed. The majority of non disabled adults receiving food stamps work.

[Anonymous]

Braces are elective, see the UK people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sons braces cost 1200$. How much is your quote?

What os the name of your orthodontist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Medicaid pays for braces for children.

For medically necessary treatment, not merely cosmetic. Not all braces are for medical reasons but certainly some are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Medicaid pays for braces for children.

For medically necessary treatment, not merely cosmetic. Not all braces are for medical reasons but certainly some are.

Poor kids don't generally get braces for cosmetic reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a blue collar household where money was very tight. My parents stretched every penny in the grocery budget, our house was shabby, one older car, and maybe one new school outfit every year, the rest being hand-me-downs from cousins, etc. The family income was just enough for no assistance from the state or federal government. Yet both my sibling and I had braces through middle school. My parents considered it a necessity. They used part of their meager savings for it, and it was the only thing they went into a little debt for.

I'm enormously grateful. My sib and I would have looked like beavers with our giant overbites. All you can see in our elementary school pictures are giant teeth set in tiny mouths. Both my parents grew up extremely poor, and had a lot of dental problems (and pain) stemming from childhood poverty, so I think that is a lot of the reason they made sure dental care was something we couldn't cut back on.

My point is, you never know how families might be budgeting to pay for braces; I don't think you can assume they are getting them for free.

This is basically me too. Luckily my sister didn't need them but we certainly shopped around for a good deal and got a payment plan. In my case it kind of was a necessity, I had baby teeth that we're not getting loose, the teeth above we're moving and crowding the roots, starting to cause discomfort. If they hadn't been able to swing it I would have a very effed up set of teeth, which sadly some just have to deal with.

Also, remember that some "lower income" folks work the kinds of jobs that arent salaried. Which sometimes actually means that you can hustle your way into extra money with more hours or shifts with some luck. My mom did this

[Anonymous]

I work as a counselor in a school where every students gets free lunch. Kids get braces from second to third tier dentists. Many of these dentists work for big dental chains
1) if it is medically necessary then medi-care pays. So the kids with severe cases that are the most costly to treat have braces free of charge.
2) an orthodontist donates his services and provides free braces to 5 needy families a year from our school.
3) installment plans of $100 to $150 dollars a month. That is $2400 to $3600 for 2 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a blue collar household where money was very tight. My parents stretched every penny in the grocery budget, our house was shabby, one older car, and maybe one new school outfit every year, the rest being hand-me-downs from cousins, etc. The family income was just enough for no assistance from the state or federal government. Yet both my sibling and I had braces through middle school. My parents considered it a necessity. They used part of their meager savings for it, and it was the only thing they went into a little debt for.

I'm enormously grateful. My sib and I would have looked like beavers with our giant overbites. All you can see in our elementary school pictures are giant teeth set in tiny mouths. Both my parents grew up extremely poor, and had a lot of dental problems (and pain) stemming from childhood poverty, so I think that is a lot of the reason they made sure dental care was something we couldn't cut back on.

My point is, you never know how families might be budgeting to pay for braces; I don't think you can assume they are getting them for free.

This is basically me too. Luckily my sister didn't need them but we certainly shopped around for a good deal and got a payment plan. In my case it kind of was a necessity, I had baby teeth that we're not getting loose, the teeth above we're moving and crowding the roots, starting to cause discomfort. If they hadn't been able to swing it I would have a very effed up set of teeth, which sadly some just have to deal with.

Also, remember that some "lower income" folks work the kinds of jobs that arent salaried. Which sometimes actually means that you can hustle your way into extra money with more hours or shifts with some luck. My mom did this

I was solidly middle class, BUT the child of a single mom. Braces were not an option. My mom also has lingering teeth issues from growing up poor - she is 70 and has had health and dental insurance since she was 18 years old. Growing up without dental care basically overruled the next 52 years. My dad didn't pay for ANYTHING outside of what they agreed on between the two of them for child support, but faithfully paid his every other month ortho bill.

So, OP - basically you just never know. Grandma or someone else could be chipping in. If you are salty, look for room in your budget. Or get a higher paying job. Or know that you can't go to the ortho charging top dollar (like the one in NW. To that poster - you know you can go somewhere else, right? Sometimes more expensive just means he needs to pay his NW rent).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work as a counselor in a school where every students gets free lunch. Kids get braces from second to third tier dentists. Many of these dentists work for big dental chains
1) if it is medically necessary then medi-care pays. So the kids with severe cases that are the most costly to treat have braces free of charge.
2) an orthodontist donates his services and provides free braces to 5 needy families a year from our school.
3) installment plans of $100 to $150 dollars a month. That is $2400 to $3600 for 2 years.

I know at least a half dozen low-income teens who have gotten braces during their freshman year of college. Is that medi-caid/care too? Is financial aid dept. walking kids through this? Doesn't seem like something first-generation college kids would figure out on their own.

[Anonymous]

They go to places with payment plans. $200 a month for several years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They go to places with payment plans. $200 a month for several years.

This is what I pay per month with a $400 first payment. It will take 2 years to pay them off which is about the length of time my DS is supposed to have them on.