How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
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Anonymous
| 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. |
Anonymous
| They offer low interest loans or they put it on a credit card. I would fall into that category (at least on DCUMs!) and most months, I pay the $200/month from my checking account. Some months, I end up paying it on a credit card. It is a temporary cost and my mother (who was in the same position I was a single parent) did it for me and my brother. Thankfully, my DD only needs them for 18-24 months. |
Anonymous
| They struggle |
Anonymous
| Credit cards, Sliding scale doctors and maybe some other expenses like mortgage etc is less (or they rent) |
Anonymous
| They pay for it before retirement, 529, etc. - the other places you are putting your money. |
Anonymous
| Most offices allow you to pay monthly. |
Anonymous
| Teens? I work in an elementary school and I see lots of third graders with new braces. Didn't work that way when I was a kid! |
Anonymous
| They probably get it for “free” (#yourepayingforit). |
Anonymous
Nobody is getting braces for free. |
Anonymous
| Not everyone needs braces. Budget conscious people also get a better deal getting braces at a dental school. |
Anonymous
|
Some schools of dentistry have clinics where the student dentists do the work under supervision. So, people with less means get good dental care for low cost and the students get good training opportunities. Win-win.
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Anonymous
| We did a monthly payment plan. It was still a strain. |
Anonymous
Wow. Just wow. I hope you are not a parent on my team. Your entitlement ... |
Anonymous
| Maybe they budget and save better than you do? |
Anonymous
| I simply pay a few airfairs back to my home country and have my son's braces done there for 1/2 of the cost here. Tickets, meals and fun included. |