Affording braces

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

We went to an orthodontic consultation last night. Everything went as I expected - braces on DD for two years, extraction of four teeth, two top & two bottom. Nothing unusual.

We next meet with someone in the finance dept. I have Delta Dental through my employer, so I'm expecting a portion to be paid by insurance. I also received a discount for being refered. Anyway, we are the last patients in the office and I expect TO BE TOLD our options. Instead the woman ASKS US how we'd like to pay!

Instantly I had a bad feeling about where this is going, because the friend that refered me told me how she had $0 down and no interest for her DD's braces. What about my insurance? You're not covered. (actually she should have said up-front that there is a 12 month waiting period and that is until January of 2007). This I did not know and I was surprised to hear it. I figure the waiting period ends at the end of the year because our company had switched plans at the beginning of the year. I wasn't aware of a waiting period.

So we asked about their financing, the All Care plan specifically. She asks for our credit scores. Huh? I knew mine because we had just refi'd our car, but didn't know DH's so she asked if she could pull it. Okay, our scores are not great, we've been trying to raise them for two years and haven't been too succesful - but they are going up. She proceeds to runs the app through Capital One for other financing, not the $0 down )% interest that is available. Of course we are denied financing through Capital One, which was no surprise.

Now what? Well, can you come up with about $900 downpayment? The payments would then be about $107 a month (still considering we are not covered by insurance). Since we would be covered by the insurance in January, we said we'll be back at the beginning of the year to schedule DD's appointment to get the braces put on. (I really did like the ortho and the rest of the staff and will no doubt go there for treatment once I get over this woman's demeanor). I was so infuriated when we left that office, it even carried over to the morning she had me so mad.

Why couldn't she simply said from the very beginning that there was a waiting period until Jan. '07, instead of dragging us through a credit app that I was almost certain would be denied?

And why did she fail TO TELL US OUR OPTIONS, instead of putting it on our plate to tell her how we'd like to pay. I discussed this with the girl who refered me. She met with someone else in the office about financing, and he did exactly what I would have expected - laid out the options, how much the total was and the different payment plans available. She suggested I call the office manager and tell them about our experience. I certainly will, I just don't want to have to do it from work.

If you made it this far, thanks for (listening).

 

[hlbtimes2]

Sorry it didnt go well. Even though you like the ortho, you might get a 2nd opinion (unless you already did). I had braces for myself a couple years ago. My 2nd opinion ended up being more and I didnt like the office, but I was glad I had gotten the other opinion anyway. When I got mine, they sent me a letter with the price quote and my options. The payments they wanted were more then I could afford- about $230 a month. They wanted them paid off way before treatment ended. And the down payment was pretty high as well. So, I went thru capital one. I had bad credit (bankruptcy on our record), and was quailified for the high rate loan. I was paying something like 16% interest. It was expensive, but it was my best option. I would have been paying on them for about 4 years after they came off! We ended up refi'ing our house and paying it off early.

Anyway, real advise other then- wait until Jan when you insurance kicks in. Work on improving your credit for the next few months- even a couple months can make a difference. And lastly think of other ways to pay- credit card? Use your tax return to make a bigger down payment?

 

[We4mickey]

I would certainly check around. We had both DS's go through braces. We had a down payment of I believe 10% and then the balance was spread out through there treatment time. (2 years). There was no interest and no credit application.Our payments were about 110 dollars a month.

 

[Sherri]

I would keep checking around. We didn't like the finance options so we used the line of credit on the house for both kids braces. It was a better rate.
I would check with your bank. I think the finance plans they offer are just awful. I know some people who have used their credit cards as well.
Good luck.

 

[clh2]

If you would have ortho insurance starting in January, I would just wait, as it is less than 3 months away.

Also - if you have any out of pocket to pay with your insurance, if your employer offers a "flexible spending plan" you can essentially use pre-tax dollars to pay your portion of the braces.

Good luck with the office staff. There is never any reason to be rude or demeaning, which it sounded like she was.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We just had braces put on DS10 last month.

We have Cigna dental insurance. We went for a consult, they told us the price was $4600. After insurance and the "discount" for using a network provider our portion was $2350. We had to pay $200 the day they put the braces on, and we pay $109 per month until it is paid off - no interest. They did not run a credit check on us. The lady in their financial office was very nice.

Definitely wait until your insurance is valid to cover a portion and then have them run the numbers for you again. We had a consult with a different orthodontist 2 YEARS ago and he told me we should wait more than 6 weeks to get DS in braces. The orthodontist currently treating him said his teeth are not that crowded and we actually could have waited for his last baby tooth to fall out before we put them on.

 

[Tjaleks]

First I would also wait until January, but I would shop around as well. As other posters said we also had to put a down payment and then monthly payments. However, our ortho just broke it up the balance into managable amounts, no financing. He did not charge interest as long as we made our payments on time. Even when I had to make payments for two they told me if the payments ever became too much just to let them know and they would work with me.

 

[mamacatnv]

I agree to wait til January every penny helps, these darn things are spendy.

Do you have access thru your or DH's employer to a Medical Flex spending account? If so, utilize it, you will save same tax dollars here.

We asked everyone we knew who their ortho was, then we narrowed it down to 2 based on whose opinions we valued most. We received 2 totally different treatment options & cost.

One office felt like an infomercial and they had every question answered before we even thought to ask, the other said the same thing "How do you want to pay" and their presentation was not all that impressive.

I called our dentist to make the final decision. We opted for the non teeth pulling non palette spreading option that utilizes a brace system called "Damon", more expensive, but our dentist really likes the overall results.

We went with the informercial matching suits office. We put $500 down and will make payments for 20 months. This is with no interest. Their paper work listed the option to check our credit but they didn't. I paid the down payment and the monthly payment is on automatic.

Good luck

 

[LisaNJ25]

I agree.. I would wait until January and start over.

We had to pay $360 for the consultation. This included molds, xrays and so on.
If we decided to go elsewhere we were the money.. if we used them it went towards the total.

We started with the pallette expander and $540 was due than. So basically $900 down.

DS had 4 teeth pulled 3 weeks ago but that was covered 100%..

We are paying 65.00 a month. We started this whole thing in June I believe and I now owe a little under $1100. I just make the monthly payments to the office with no interest charges.

 

[my3kids]

The finance person may have no way to know you just had to wait until January. She most likely called the company who pulled you id number and said "not covered," because on the date the inquiry was made, that's what it would have said. Computer screens rarely relay other information like go back in 3 months and try again.

 

[AKLRULZ]

Wait until January is my advice, too. We had braces put on my oldest son in Aug 2005 and it cost me $3400 out of pocket. Fortunately was able to pay cash, but I feel your pain in my wallet, too. Good luck.

 

[noodleknitter]

Wait until January and shop around. I found by driving 1/2 hour that I saved a third, and liked the orthodontist much better, anyway.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Check around in your area. I went to 3 free consultations. The prices varied by $1000. All 3 offered a payment plan with NO INTEREST. Your area may be different but I would shop around. See if your company offers flex spending for medical. We saved over $800 in taxes.

Wait for the Delta Dental. They have been great for us. We pay the ortho. and DD reimburses us for a set amount each month.

Lori

 

[barkley]

also watch out for offices that do their financing by having you float a loan from an outside lender which is then forwarded in full to the office (the office says you are making payments to them, in actuality they are accepting the payments and paying them 'as a courtesy' to the lender for you). there has been a scam running around here wherein some disreputable orthodontists have collected the entire amount from the loan as well and the insurance carrier, filed b/r on the practice and left the patients high and dry-still owing to the lenders. the bad orthos then reopen under a new corporation name and refuse to provide any services to patients of the now defunct prior practice.

a co-worker lost thousands this way in addition to her entire years ortho coverage for both her kids.

ps-i've got double delta dental-and no ortho coverage at all

 

[Skatermom23]

Definitely wait till January. Be prepared to have to make a downpayment even with the insurance. I think we had to put $500 down on each child even with 50% insurance coverage. We did get interest free payments. Don't be afraid to call around and ask who does free consults. Most do and you will be surprised at the difference in treatment plans as well as prices.

 

[mickeyfan2]

The fact that your insurance does not go into effect until 1/07 is not thier fault. That was for you to know. I would not have gone for a consultation until it was in effect. I hope this consultation does not let the insurance company out of paying.

But she was wrong in not spelling out how much it would cost and then telling you about the options based on credit scores.

I would definitely get a second opinion after the new year.

 

[laurie31]

DD10 just got braces yesterday!!

We have blue cross dental insurance, so I was expecting them to cover well (they pay for 100% of cleanings, no deductible, and 80% of work like crowns and fillings). However, they only pay $750 for braces - that's a lifetime cap! Where can you get braces for that? Or even twice that?

Anyway, our quote was $3900, and the $750 will come off that, but we had to pay $600 down regardless. Also (and I thought this was odd) was had to pay cash. From now on, our payments will be $140/month (no interest) and we can use a credit card. I thought it was strange that I could use the card for everything else but not the down payment Anyway, the staff were all very nice and we just loved the doc. He was great with DD. So I didn't sweat their cash downpayment rule. (We do have a medical spending account, so it came out of that). I just prefer using the credit card and then getting reimbursed from the flex account because then I get the air miles on my card. We don't carry a balance.

I would definitely wait until Jan to start your DD's treatment. Three months isn't going to make that much difference in the long run.

 

[Luv'sTink]

We were told all our options at the consult appt. Approx. $4000 total. We could pay $1300 down and then make payments of $140 a month, no interest or we could pay in full and recieve a discount, 5% I think, we took this option.

Our insurance pays $1500 life time. However, we had to pay in advance and then when they recieve a payment from the insurance co. they refund us what the insurance co. paid them.

Oh yeah this is phase 1!

 

[debbi801]

Sorry I am late responding to this...

We are also on Delta Dental. With my company, in order for Delta Dental to cover orthodontia, you need to purchase the orthodontia plan. Otherwise, Delta Dental doesn't cover it.

That being said. I would go elsewhere for a second opinion. I have 2 kids in braces (we elected to do both at the same time to get it over with). The orthodontia practice was very willing to set up a payment plan with us, they said the majority of the patients have payment plans. The payment plan is interest free and we pay a specific amount each month. It is set up so that we're done paying by the time he kids get their braces removed. They never looked at or asked for credit scores.

Good luck.

 

[taximomfor4]

I can share our braces experience with you -- Total estimate: $4100 , can'[t remember if that's before or after insurance (only covers a fraction). $500 down payment, the rest divided into payments of $159/month. Has to be paid off before the braces will be removed, so he actually figures payments to stop about 3 months before he thinks braces will come off. I didn't realize that one could finance braces, our ortho broke all this down for me, and it is no-interest. Perhaps ask around, or just wait till January, but your insurance probably won't cover much. VERY Few (if any) do.