How much do orthodontics cost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just palate expander is going to be $4k. NW DC

Same here. Estimate if they need braces for phase 2 is $7500.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the language of dental plans work. I don't understand.

The coverage for GEHA is "you pay 30% of the allowable charges" but it also says there is a $2500 lifetime max. So, in practice, let's say the orthodonist cost is $6000 with $5000 being the "allowable charge."

How does the 30% and the $2500 fit into this?

GEHA will not pay more than $2,500 on your behalf. Switch to met life once you've hit that number.

[Anonymous]

Get estimates from 3 different places and avoid Rad Orthdontics.

[Anonymous]

We paid $3500 for a fairly run of the mill case needing full braces and then retainers. Insurance covered the other half - it was $7000 total.
In northern Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get estimates from 3 different places and avoid Rad Orthdontics.

David Rad did a great job with my child’s teeth.

However, I think his brother’s personality is a bit lacking……

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My insurance pays $1000 max lifetime. Son's palate expander is $3,000. Not sure how much braces will be in a few years.

Same here. This is standard for dental insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just palate expander is going to be $4k. NW DC

Same here. Estimate if they need braces for phase 2 is $7500.

Yikes! Y'all should move out here to the suburbs. Literally every last thing is way cheaper out here. By like 30%!

[Anonymous]

First kid was $6000. Second kid 5 years later $6500 but got 10% family discount.

[Anonymous]

Switch insurances mid way and get the max twice if you have a high estimate.

One kid was $10k and one kid was $7500, but out of pocket was $3k (phase 1) and less than $100 (not a typo) phase 2. We used three total insurances (switched between phase 1 and 2, and second parent added dental coverage) and could stack the contributions. The second kid had two insurance coverages and a family discount so it was $1500 out of pocket.

It pays to pay attention at annual enrollment. One parent is a fed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Switch insurances mid way and get the max twice if you have a high estimate.

One kid was $10k and one kid was $7500, but out of pocket was $3k (phase 1) and less than $100 (not a typo) phase 2. We used three total insurances (switched between phase 1 and 2, and second parent added dental coverage) and could stack the contributions. The second kid had two insurance coverages and a family discount so it was $1500 out of pocket.

It pays to pay attention at annual enrollment. One parent is a fed.

Many insurances require 24 months of enrollment to get the max benefit to prevent people doing this. No surprise Feds have better insurance than most other people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't you all have dental insurance that pays at least half?

Lol, lots of us are Feds here. What is this dental insurance of which you speak?

Well.... we use fed-based insurance for dental.... I'm pretty sure they have 12-15 plans. Maybe you should look into it.

I have the fed BCBS dental and it covers 50% of the orthodontics.

Also regarding the cost of orthodontics our orthodontist automatically spaces the payments out monthly so it ended up being about $65 a month for a couple of years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the language of dental plans work. I don't understand.

The coverage for GEHA is "you pay 30% of the allowable charges" but it also says there is a $2500 lifetime max. So, in practice, let's say the orthodonist cost is $6000 with $5000 being the "allowable charge."

How does the 30% and the $2500 fit into this?

GEHA will not pay more than $2,500 on your behalf. Switch to met life once you've hit that number.

Will Metlife pay for treatment that has already started? Usually plans won't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Switch insurances mid way and get the max twice if you have a high estimate.

One kid was $10k and one kid was $7500, but out of pocket was $3k (phase 1) and less than $100 (not a typo) phase 2. We used three total insurances (switched between phase 1 and 2, and second parent added dental coverage) and could stack the contributions. The second kid had two insurance coverages and a family discount so it was $1500 out of pocket.

It pays to pay attention at annual enrollment. One parent is a fed.

Many insurances require 24 months of enrollment to get the max benefit to prevent people doing this. No surprise Feds have better insurance than most other people.

The federal insurance is incredibly expensive. You have to pay 100% of the cost, no subsidy from the gov't. While GEHA and Metlife have high options that look like they pay out decently, the premiums are so high that at least for us it was not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$8,450. Ins covered $1k. My daughter needs 4 teeth minimum pulled, has an expander and braces on the bottom. We hit the jackpot :/

Teeth pulled plus expander?! I thought it was usually one or the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I realize it varies by type of braces, etc but I'm just trying to get a sense of the range. Thanks!

$5K-10K depending on complexity and compliance but it needs to be done no matter how expensive and how inconvenient.