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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re a two parent house, college educated, decent careers. Even with supposed good insurance we really struggled to pay for braces for our two oldest. My youngest daughter plays on a cheap YMCA sports league and it seems basically every lower income teen her age has braces. Meanwhile we’re still saving $ to put her in braces. Where do they all find the $ for orthodontia? I’m at a loss as to how this is possible.

Wow. Just wow. I hope you are not a parent on my team. Your entitlement ...

There is no entitlement in the OP's question. Just curiosity. I've often wondered the same thing myself. Personally I think this kind of stuff should be covered by medicaid, otherwise how would anyone struggling afford braces?

It’s only covered if they are medically necessary not just cosmetic.

Sure, so the dentists lie en masse and make millions. Medicaid fraud.

Just because you “feel like” something might be true doesn’t mean it is. Moron.

[Anonymous]

1. Paid for by relative
2. Drive out of the city where prices are less
3. Go to foreign born doctors with not the best English language skills you would not consider
4. If from another country, done there
5. Dental school student
6. Payment plan or credit card
7. Very, very, very few have problems covered by insurance, Medicaid, etc. (this has to be a severe functional problem)
8. Not saving or paying for all the typical extras (organic food, brand name anything, travel, electronics)
9. Plenty more use your imagination

Parents realize American society views “nice” straight teeth as part of the middle and upper class aesthetic. Parents want to give their kids a leg up.

Price of braces varies greatly. Highest cost in the area is in the city and close in suburbs.

I know an MD who lives in Potomac who took his kids(3) to Baltimore for braces because he thought the prices in the area were too high.

[Anonymous]

Finance plans and prioritizing. Straight teeth and an attractive smile are a good investment. Studies show that Americans perceive people with straight teeth to have more desirable personal qualities.

[Anonymous]

My kid had pain from poor alignment. Was grinding his teeth. Hurt to chew on molars. We invested now to help him both now and in the future. Within a couple of months of treatment he started feeling better.

Looking at another 6 months and will be so glad to get these almost $300/months payments out of the budget!

[Anonymous]

Military families. It is a perk.

[Anonymous]

This post is six years old. I just read the first page. I’m wondering how these “good job” people know what kind of job these other people have that they have determined them to be low income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re a two parent house, college educated, decent careers. Even with supposed good insurance we really struggled to pay for braces for our two oldest. My youngest daughter plays on a cheap YMCA sports league and it seems basically every lower income teen her age has braces. Meanwhile we’re still saving $ to put her in braces. Where do they all find the $ for orthodontia? I’m at a loss as to how this is possible.

They don't go to Starbucks everyday or try to keep up with everyone else.

[Anonymous]

It’s free. Middle class are just tax cattle. Rich dodge taxes, poor & immigrants get all the gimmes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s free. Middle class are just tax cattle. Rich dodge taxes, poor & immigrants get all the gimmes.

Nothing in your comment applies to people paying for braces. Are you a bot or just an incredibly ignorant person

[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.

Just bc you get a fee waiver, doesn't mean you have no money. It just means you qualify for a fee waiver.

They prob get braces from Medicaid. Don't be dumb.

Your non-Medicaid insurance is surely better than theirs, as is your house and bank acct etc.

Trust they would rather be in your financial position than have the braces.

Your white privilege and entitlement is screaming. Please get over it.

[Anonymous]

I'm a single mom and I managed braces for my daughter. It cost close to $6k, insurance kicked in $2k, and I did a monthly payment plan and paid for it with FSA money so it was pre-tax. Tha all helped, but it was a strain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Military families. It is a perk.

Military or Tricare does not pay except rare exceptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Military families. It is a perk.

Military or Tricare does not pay except rare exceptions.

Actually, the Tricare Dental Program covers 50% of orthodontia, up to $1750 lifetime allowance. Not huge, but a nice benefit.

[Anonymous]

Monthly payments. The same way low income people afford a lot of the expensive things the rest of us have, like new iphones and cars.

[Anonymous]

they don't go on vacation. they don't eat out. or any number of things. they are on a monthly payment plan with no cash/lump some discount or maybe even interest...so they are paying more.