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

[Anonymous]

My family and I were refugees. I have crooked teeth. No braces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

My DD is getting Invisalign next week. She'll wear for about 18 mos. We have insurance that covers some of the cost. Our out of pocket is about $3000. This includes a follow-up retainer. Not sure how you're being charged $7,000.

Well we are. How is anyone charged any amount? What a ridiculous thing to say... Our insurance does cover part of it, but not all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Nobody is getting braces for free.

Oh yes they are. Dentists are defrauding Medicaid. It's rampant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Medicaid and CHIP cover kids’ braces in some cases. Depends on the state and severity of the issues. There are also charitable organizations that fund braces specifically.

Which dentists just lie about to milk taxpayers for $10,000 per kid, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Nobody is getting braces for free.

Medicaid does pay for dental care until age 21

Which is how you'll see so many financial aid students at universities with braces. It's too coincidental all these 18 and 19 year olds suddenly show up with braces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

If it is medically necessary, yes they do pay.

"medically necessary" i.e. leaving it to the "professional" interpretation of the dentist who gets to milk taxpayers for $10,000 per kid he determines is necessary. Gee, I wonder which way dentists sway 100% of the time.

[Anonymous]

They may have grandparents or other family members paying for the braces. My grandmother payed for my cousin's braces because he desperately needed them.

[Anonymous]

My dad was so cheap and refused to pay for braces when I was a kid as my teeth were straight but I had a slight overbite

My orthodontist took some X rays and wrote the state that my braces were medically necessary and they approved me for dental Medicaid until age 21.

Even though we had Kaiser for health
insurance .

This was in the late 90s . I regret getting the braces as the 4 molar extractions the ortho did kinda narrowed my face . My teeth were perfect before. My dad was right. My mom insisted I needed braces even though my teeth were straight . The extractions, rubber bands, and retainer were all too much and my parents didn’t pay a cent for any of it.

[Anonymous]

Orthodontists absolutely know how to play the Medicaid game.

[Anonymous]

I know this is super old, but my mom was a single mom and we grew up super duper poor. She still prioritized my health. She made sure I always went to the eye doctor, dentist, and got me orthodontics (not just braces but more). I'm so grateful she did this.

[Anonymous]

MEDICARE

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Orthodontists absolutely know how to play the Medicaid game.

Doing the great recession 2008-2012, we were low income and on food stamps and Medicaid.... My kids were born between 1996-2001, they all ended up getting braces. Only one of them needed it, the other 2 not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is super old, but my mom was a single mom and we grew up super duper poor. She still prioritized my health. She made sure I always went to the eye doctor, dentist, and got me orthodontics (not just braces but more). I'm so grateful she did this.

You weren't super super poor.

[Anonymous]

Second job and third job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is super old, but my mom was a single mom and we grew up super duper poor. She still prioritized my health. She made sure I always went to the eye doctor, dentist, and got me orthodontics (not just braces but more). I'm so grateful she did this.

You weren't super super poor.

I don't think that's really for you to say.