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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Why not? Do these kids go to a university with a dental school? Maybe they are getting them done there. You just never know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still waiting for the name of the ortho doing braces for $2,500.

My kids went to Dr. David Hughes in Springfield (Traford Lane). For one of them, this is about what we paid. It's been a few years but I have no doubt he'd work with you to come up with a plan that met your needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Credit cards, Sliding scale doctors and maybe some other expenses like mortgage etc is less (or they rent)

I mean poor poor, not fake poor but actually solidly middle class. No mortgage. No new car. No college degree. Crummy job. Struggling to pay bills. Yet one or two kids in braces. The money just doesn’t add up.

How do you know how much money these folks make?

Because they get a fee waiver to play in my daughter's league. Because I see them working part-time at the grocery store. Because some of them tell me they aren't currently employed. You know, things like that.

Maybe you want to trade places with them. I'm sure food/housing insecurity is way better than not being able to afford braces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Why not? Do these kids go to a university with a dental school? Maybe they are getting them done there. You just never know.

The average college freshman doesn't know how to re-new a prescription on their own but you think all sorts of low-income kids hit the ground running and head to an orthodontist in their college town on their own? Sounds far fetched.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still waiting for the name of the ortho doing braces for $2,500.

My kids went to Dr. David Hughes in Springfield (Traford Lane). For one of them, this is about what we paid. It's been a few years but I have no doubt he'd work with you to come up with a plan that met your needs.

Ours is in Bethesda. We paid around $3K, if I recall - that was about 4 years ago. Drs. Gillespie & Gillespie. Great practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still waiting for the name of the ortho doing braces for $2,500.

My kids went to Dr. David Hughes in Springfield (Traford Lane). For one of them, this is about what we paid. It's been a few years but I have no doubt he'd work with you to come up with a plan that met your needs.

Ours is in Bethesda. We paid around $3K, if I recall - that was about 4 years ago. Drs. Gillespie & Gillespie. Great practice.

+1 on the Drs. Gillespie.

[Anonymous]

My kids have Medicaid and one of them is about to get braces. The orthodontist submitted the claim and Medicaid ruled that the braces are not medically necessary so they will not cover any of it. We expected that. The orthodonist said she will charge us the same amount that she would have gotten reimbursed by Medicaid - $3,700. We will make monthly payments. One of us has a second job on the weekends to earn money to pay for things like this.

[Anonymous]

I admire the parents who are sacrificing to pay for braces, and I also am fine with Medicaid paying for braces.

In today's economy, having crooked teeth sends a bad message to a prospective employer. It says "I came from poverty," which may make some prospective employers wary.

So I believe all kids who need them should get braces, even if it means providing greater Medicaid funding.

Straight teeth are as important as a good education and a presentable appearance.

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t every orthodontist have payment plans? We’re making payments because the difference was $30 total, and I’ll earn points on the CC with the charge every month.

[Anonymous]

We pay alot for our kids braces. I am happy others can get them on Medicaid. We are doing a monthly plan. I do not begrudge anyone’s child braces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Why not? Do these kids go to a university with a dental school? Maybe they are getting them done there. You just never know.

The average college freshman doesn't know how to re-new a prescription on their own but you think all sorts of low-income kids hit the ground running and head to an orthodontist in their college town on their own? Sounds far fetched.

Maybe on your privileged world...most normal, non helicoptered young adults can certainly due this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Why not? Do these kids go to a university with a dental school? Maybe they are getting them done there. You just never know.

The average college freshman doesn't know how to re-new a prescription on their own but you think all sorts of low-income kids hit the ground running and head to an orthodontist in their college town on their own? Sounds far fetched.

Maybe on your privileged world...most normal, non helicoptered young adults can certainly due this!

^ do not due

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Why not? Do these kids go to a university with a dental school? Maybe they are getting them done there. You just never know.

The average college freshman doesn't know how to re-new a prescription on their own but you think all sorts of low-income kids hit the ground running and head to an orthodontist in their college town on their own? Sounds far fetched.

Maybe on your privileged world...most normal, non helicoptered young adults can certainly due this!

Yes, lower-income students tend to be far more resourceful than their wealthy counterparts who need to call Mommy for how to renew a prescription.

[Anonymous]

Bergman and lee in falls Church. My child had pretty standard braces, 18 months on. With insurance (MetLife) it was $3300. You could pay payment plan or all up front.

[Anonymous]

OP, thanks for raising this important question.

There are some terrific charities out there that help the poor with dental care.

Here is one if any of you posters want to donate or get involved, or to pass this along to a family you know who needs orthodontic work but can't afford it.

https://www.smileschangelives.org/