Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:47     Subject: How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
I see the signs advertising braces with your Medicaid card in another language I speak. I do not have personal experience so don't know if it really pays or not.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:47     Subject: Re:How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They probably get it for “free” (#yourepayingforit).


Okay, how? I don’t want to pay another $7k.


The same way they qualify for their food stamps. They don’t work.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:44     Subject: Re:How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
Anonymous wrote:They probably get it for “free” (#yourepayingforit).


Okay, how? I don’t want to pay another $7k.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:42     Subject: How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
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.


I'm struggling to understand how you can't come up with $3K - before insurance.

If you have two incomes, and decent careers - where is all of your income going.


Two years of braces and everything is not $3k - more like $5k+. And even if it was, that’s more than their car is worth, in some cases.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:41     Subject: Re:How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
Anonymous wrote:They probably get it for “free” (#yourepayingforit).

Yep. This.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:40     Subject: How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
In my nephew's case (mom is a single parent making $40K in a high col area), his ortho uncle did it for free.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:40     Subject: How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
Anonymous wrote:Maybe they budget and save better than you do?


So working poor parent(s) making very low income, can’t afford the $80 fee for the sport their children play (YMCA waives it under certain income), but they can afford $4,000-10,000 for orthodontics per child? Some of these very low income teammates themselves have braces and have a sibling in braces. That’s an absurd amount of money.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:39     Subject: How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
I think it depends heavily on which orthodontist you are seeing.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:38     Subject: How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
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.


I'm struggling to understand how you can't come up with $3K - before insurance.

If you have two incomes, and decent careers - where is all of your income going.


I wonder that too.


They probably overstretched on their house and other expenses combined with having more kids than they can afford.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:32     Subject: How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
Payment plan, go without. I don't see where two college educated working professionals cannot afford braces. Or, do you claim $150K is low income? Even at $90K, its something you know is coming up and you budget it.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:30     Subject: How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
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.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:22     Subject: How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
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.


I'm struggling to understand how you can't come up with $3K - before insurance.

If you have two incomes, and decent careers - where is all of your income going.


I wonder that too.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:21     Subject: How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
Flexible spending account
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:20     Subject: How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
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.


I'm struggling to understand how you can't come up with $3K - before insurance.

If you have two incomes, and decent careers - where is all of your income going.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2019 13:17     Subject: How do so many lower income families afford braces for their teens?
Anonymous wrote:They pay for it before retirement, 529, etc. - the other places you are putting your money.




This. Chances are, they aren't saving for retirement or putting money into emergency savings or a college savings account. Low interest loans or monthly payment plans make it easier too.