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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who freaking cares if it's Medicaid or not???

If you are not poor, your life is great.

Give these people a break and a chance. Jeez.

Seriously! Begrudging a teen braces? What the heck is wrong in your life you have time for this?!

teeth are a way to weed out the non affluent when dating

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who the heck in DC is putting on braces for $3K?

Our DC needs 18 monthe of simple realignment and we were quoted $8K in NWDC

That is about what my DC needed. We were told 12-18 months, simple realignment. And we spent in the neighborhood of $2500-$3000. Flat rate quoted up front, including retainers and follow ups after the braces came off. The only extra money we spent was to have a second retainer made at the same time in case the original was lost or broken. Paid monthly over a year. Fortunately, half covered by insurance. We would have just paid up front, but we we got more reimbursed by insurance by spreading it out over 2 fiscal years. Second DC had more significant issues. Not terrible. But was in braces 2-2.5 years. Came in under $5,000. We used Dr. Crutchfield in Western Fairfax Co for both kids. Most of their friends also used him. Everyone O know has been very pleased.

You’re getting gouged PP.

To the poster who said grades 3-5 were the bes time, huh? Both of my kids had to wait fo wait until MS, when their adult teeth were in. Some of their friends had to do a Stage 1 in late ES. But most kids wearing braces in the same time range as mine. mA and easily HS.

[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!

+1. My ADHD junior recently started refilling his ADHD medsbecause he started driving. It’s not that hard. Take the prescription in. Wait 10 minutes. Pay with his debit card. He’s been watching me do it for years.

He’s going to be heading to college in 18 months and will have to be able work take care of his health.

[Anonymous]

Newsflash for some of you ... the braces you see on poor kids are NOT the same quality ( nor are they always maintained at the same rate) as the ones you pay out of pocket for.

Some of these dental practices are also ripping you off because....they know you can pay for it.

[Anonymous]

My 12 year old DS has invisalign for $7000 over 18 months
In 1980 my parents paid $3000 for me to have train tracks over 24 months.

Given the number of years between these two encounters and that $3000 in 1980 money is now worth almost $9000 in today's money, I'd say this was exactly as expected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Literally 80-90% of low income students fail out of undergrad. But in your imagination they have it all figured out and call up a college town orthodontists during welcome week?

Low income kids also aren't exactly going to four-year colleges in droves.

The ones who make it into a four-year college with a dental school may be getting them through the dental school at a student discount.

[Anonymous]

We spent about $9000 for DS. I would be glad to know if ortho is doing some pro-bono work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Literally 80-90% of low income students fail out of undergrad. But in your imagination they have it all figured out and call up a college town orthodontists during welcome week?

Low income kids also aren't exactly going to four-year colleges in droves.

The ones who make it into a four-year college with a dental school may be getting them through the dental school at a student discount.

I went to a university affiliated with a large, well-regarded dental school and I got my dental work and braces done there.

[Anonymous]

PP here. As part of the registration stuff, we got information on using dental school dentistry services at a discount and plans. And the dentist there gave me information on orthodontics.

[Anonymous]

OP how do you know that they are not paying for it themselves? My immigrant parents lived in a not so great neighborhood when we were growing up and while they did not have college grad jobs, they saved everything they could. We got thrift store clothes, old used cars, no camps, no expensive after school activities, etc. but they had plenty saved up and would have paid for any essential thing I needed such as braces. (However they would not have been the same braces from the fancy orthodontist's office that you frequent with your kids).

[Anonymous]

It's a medicaid scam. Several states are suing companies who manage approval process and dentists for fraud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newsflash for some of you ... the braces you see on poor kids are NOT the same quality ( nor are they always maintained at the same rate) as the ones you pay out of pocket for.

Some of these dental practices are also ripping you off because....they know you can pay for it.

I am a lower income family and my daughter has braces. She goes to the exact same ortho her rich friends go to. Her braces are the exact same quality as theirs. I was on a payment plan for almost two years, and saved for a year before that, and we did without a lot of things I'd have liked to have given us, in order to give DD braces.

The way things were growing in, DD's teeth would begin falling out when she was around 19 or 20. It's not just about looking good for dating. It's also about not starting your adult life out needing fake teeth, and having the confidence to smile in public, at school, at job interviews, and yes, when meeting someone you may like.

I can't afford insurance for DD's teeth, so I pay out of pocket for all of it. Money will be tight this month and next because DD goes to the dentist today. And she gets her braces off in April, and I'm thinking about buying her Crest White Strips as a congratulations gift for making it through this experience. When things are important, I do what I can to make them happen.

[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.

I'm sure you're happy to know that, despite their families' struggles, the kids are getting their teeth straightened and not suffering with crooked teeth/bad bites/etc. No?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Literally 80-90% of low income students fail out of undergrad. But in your imagination they have it all figured out and call up a college town orthodontists during welcome week?

WTF is your problem? You seem strangely fixated on the idea that these young people could not possibly have figured out how to get braces on their own. Okay, so what? Someone helped them figure out how to do it. Do you have a problem with that?

[Anonymous]

Right now there is a thread on the entertainment board where adults are complaining that they can't enjoy a particular show because they are "distracted" by the less-than-perfect teeth of one of the actors.

But sure, poor kids deserve their crooked teeth.