braces and moving

[coastiewifern]

My nearly 13 year old is ready for braces. We had a few consultations average cost in our area is 5600. Our dental insurance will pay 1700. My husband will be leaving his job early 2013 and it is likely we will be moving since the job market and pay in this area is not good. One friend told me that she moved in the middle of a braces treatment and it ended up costing her more. Anyone else experience that? I plan to use the monthly payments here instead of pay up front. Also if I put them on now and use the 1700 for insurance and then DH gets a new job with braces coverage can I use it again with the new insurance or will that be pre existing?

 

[littlezar]

I don't know from personal experience, but I have 2 friends that moved during treatment and both ended up paying just over $1500 extra per kid (one had 2 in braces...that's painful!) with the transfers. I have one that is waiting to get braces until we move in 2013 and one that will be looking at braces in a few years.

 

[coastiewifern]

I don't know from personal experience, but I have 2 friends that moved during treatment and both ended up paying just over $1500 extra per kid (one had 2 in braces...that's painful!) with the transfers. I have one that is waiting to get braces until we move in 2013 and one that will be looking at braces in a few years.

Did she explain why there was an extra cost? Did the new ortho want to put on new braces or something?

 

[tinkerbell313]

DD8 got her braces in March. We also are fortunate to have insurance which provides a one time per person use of $1500.

We were advised by our orthodontist office that if DH were to leave his job in the middle of the year that the insurance company will cancel some or all of that benefit and then we would be responsible for that amount.

Also, although our orthodontist subtracts out the total benefit straight off the top, the insurance company sends payments quarterly to the orthodontist.

Since all insurance companies and policies work differently you should call the insurance company directly.

 

[coastiewifern]

DD8 got her braces in March. We also are fortunate to have insurance which provides a one time per person use of $1500.

We were advised by our orthodontist office that if DH were to leave his job in the middle of the year that the insurance company will cancel some or all of that benefit and then we would be responsible for that amount.

Also, although our orthodontist subtracts out the total benefit straight off the top, the insurance company sends payments quarterly to the orthodontist.

Since all insurance companies and policies work differently you should call the insurance company directly.

Who knew? Great information keep it coming!

 

[Irin997]

What you're paying for is the entire course of treatment. Putting on the braces, every observation appointment, every new bracket, wires, etc they put on, in advance. So you're going to be paying for a benefit that they won't be providing you when you move.

Therefore, once you move, you now have to pay a new ortho for all these additional appointments. We go to the ortho about every 6-8 weeks depending on what they've done. Every appointment they have to do something, replace something, move something, etc.

Can you sit down with them and let them know what's going on? Perhaps they can give you a more accurate quote on the actual time you spend with them.

DD11's treatment for Phase II (full braces) began a year ago and will continue until she gets them off and covers her first retainer and subsequent observation appointments. Basically we're paying for this in advance. Make sense?

 

[littlezar]

Did she explain why there was an extra cost? Did the new ortho want to put on new braces or something?

No, it was the consultation, transfer of files/paperwork and difference in treatment - like I know one didn't have rubberbands in Florida but the ortho in Virginia wanted them. Both families are active duty, one came from Florida, the other from Connecticut and both are using different orthodontists here.

The one from Florida, her son ended up being in braces about 4 months longer than the ortho (in Florida) told them. When she got her daughter in braces right after moving to VA, my friend realized she was much happier with treatment plan/results at her Va ortho.

The one from Connecticut has her son in his 4th year of braces here so he definitely has more issues than her son who got his braces on after moving here and off in 18 months. (That probably has something to do with the extra amount she's paid out of pocket.) She also has her two boys at two different orthodontists here.

Sorry, that's long and rambling and I hope you could follow. We have decided (husband, myself and 15 yr old) to wait and have braces done at one place instead of having to move during treatment. His dentist does not see a problem with us waiting, either, and it definitely would be a consideration if he advised us to get them now.

 

[stacieps]

although our orthodontist subtracts out the total benefit straight off the top, the insurance company sends payments quarterly to the orthodontist.

This is how ours worked too. If our insurance (premiums, eligibility, etc) isn't current, I don't expect the payment would be made.

 

[MineMail]

Wait until you've moved and find an orthodontist near your new home. It'll be less expensive because you won't have to repeat tests. I've found that orthodontists have their own preferences - some like to start very early, before puberty, others like to wait until the child is a teenager. One might recommend extraction over a palate expander.

Six months isn't a long time to wait and you'll have time to research orthodontists in your new city and find out who's the best for you.


We found out that dentists, orthodontists and even medical doctor/GP's will transfer your records to a new provider so that you don't have start over with the "new patient" items like current x-rays and blood tests.

 

[angierae]

This is how ours worked too. If our insurance (premiums, eligibility, etc) isn't current, I don't expect the payment would be made.

This is how ours was too - although the Orthodontist subtracted the $1500 my insurance paid off the top when we (prepaid) her braces, the insurance company sent them a payment monthly until their portion was paid off.

Had I lost that insurance, they would have not made the remaining payments, and we would have been liable for them.

 

[HM]

Wait until you move. We moved in the middle of my treatment and the new guy said the first guy didn't know what he was doing and started over basically. My parents were peeved about all the extra money they spent on my mouth. I ended up in braces for 3 1/2 years.

 

[ceecee]

Wait until you move, they do things differently. One ortho in our town ALWAYS does phase I and II. I work at a dental office and we quit referring there because not everyone needs two phases. At 13 all of her teeth except the 3rds should be in so she should do fine with waiting and not needing the extra.

 

[mommagoof]

Dd got her braces off 2 weeks ago, the insurance company still has 2 more payments to make to the ortho. They did not pay all $1500 at one time they made monthly payments.

We were told that if Dh ( insurance from his job) was no longer employed at current job we would need to "finish off" what the insurance company owed.

 

[mommagoof]

Wait until you move, they do things differently. One ortho in our town ALWAYS does phase I and II. I work at a dental office and we quit referring there because not everyone needs two phases. At 13 all of her teeth except the 3rds should be in so she should do fine with waiting and not needing the extra.

I agree, I don't understand the whole Phase I and II thing, we were told dd needed braces around age 9. We decided to wait a few years.

By waiting it saved thousands of dollars and dd only had to wear them for 17 months not years.

 

[descovy]

I agree, wait until you move.

When we went for the ortho, I took 3 kids to 4 different orthodontists for consultations. I was stunned when all 4 had different courses of treatment. Some wanted braces now, some wanted to wait. Some wanted to pull teeth, others did not. One wanted an expander, one wanted head gear and to create his own custom appliance. As you can imagine, the prices varied widely as well.

All these orthos have high reputations in my area and were recommended to me by friends who used them. None of them were "quacks."

I was extremely confused, so at my kids' dentist appointment, I asked her for opinions. Without naming names, I described the course of actions for each kid. I was willing to see different orthos for different kids if I had to. The dentist actually agreed with the same course of action for all 3 kids with the same ortho (remember, I didn't let her know what ortho said what) At the same time, she said none would have been a "wrong" decision, they were all just different.

So wait until you move. It isn't as simple as one ortho to put on braces and another to take them off. They each have their own way of doing things. You will essentially be starting over with the new guy, and waste all the money you paid starting off with the old guy.

BTW in terms of phase 1 & 2 vs braces all at once... one of my kids was to wait, the other got phase 1 & 2 (same ortho) Actually the Phase 1 & 2 kid will be cheaper than the all at once kid. And the price is spread out. $1500 now and $2000 later at phase 2. Compared to the all in one kid at $4200, that is quite a bargain! Kid #3 had a tooth that would not come down on its own and required oral surgery (bracket & chain) to force it down. This meant braces earlier than planned.

I guess my point is, don't dismiss phase 1 & 2 as an automatic rip off either.

 

[coastiewifern]

Thanks for all the advice. Now I need to research cost of waiting. Currently our dental insurance doesn't cost that much and we have a 1700 ortho benefit. I need to find out the cost of our dental insurance when we retire from the military(I hear it is a steep hike) and if they still over the benefit. I am sure my husband will get a new job but if and what their dental benefits are will be an unknown. Certainly thinking we should wait to get the braces. His teeth are not bad and there is no harm in waiting for him.

 

[Doodlebug939]

My husband is retired military so I see where you are coming from. If he is retiring then you are eligible for Delta Dental Program. A family rate is about $119.00 at least in our area. I think regional areas could be a little different. We didnt take the insurance when my husband retired so I dont know all the details. However I did find this website. http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare/retiree/tricare-retiree-dental-program-coverage.html

It provides you links to delta dental so that you can check it out. I would call them and ask if there is a requirement of 12 months of continuous payments before they will cover braces as the link states. (I dont know if they consider active service as part of that continuous time because when my husband was in the service it was not delta dental for active duty) If so then that could put you a lot longer out before braces are covered. Like I said I dont know the details because we didnt use it but it is better to know now if you have to wait or not.

 

[littlelulu33]

Hello I do Ortho billing so I can help a little. First MOST ins. co do not pay the full $1700 at the start and they pay a down payment and then monthly or quarterly payments for the length of treatment.
When you move what should happen is the current dr should look to see how much has been completed and come up with a fee that needed to be paid to cover cost (this should be what you paid and ins paid) --then they would decide if its even, give you a refund or ask for more $. Then when the new Dr see her and the records then then will come up with the fee.
When you move and get new ins. ---It will all depend on the plan some will pay for in progress treatment and some will not. It depends on the jobs plan. Any more ???'s just ask

 

[coastiewifern]

My husband is retired military so I see where you are coming from. If he is retiring then you are eligible for Delta Dental Program. A family rate is about $119.00 at least in our area. I think regional areas could be a little different. We didnt take the insurance when my husband retired so I dont know all the details. However I did find this website. http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare/retiree/tricare-retiree-dental-program-coverage.html

It provides you links to delta dental so that you can check it out. I would call them and ask if there is a requirement of 12 months of continuous payments before they will cover braces as the link states. (I dont know if they consider active service as part of that continuous time because when my husband was in the service it was not delta dental for active duty) If so then that could put you a lot longer out before braces are covered. Like I said I dont know the details because we didnt use it but it is better to know now if you have to wait or not.

Wow I hadn't even considered having to wait. I don't want to put it off longer than a year. He won't retire from active duty until Feb and you are right we don't have delta dental.....they recently switched to Prudential

 

[coastiewifern]

Hello I do Ortho billing so I can help a little. First MOST ins. co do not pay the full $1700 at the start and they pay a down payment and then monthly or quarterly payments for the length of treatment.
When you move what should happen is the current dr should look to see how much has been completed and come up with a fee that needed to be paid to cover cost (this should be what you paid and ins paid) --then they would decide if its even, give you a refund or ask for more $. Then when the new Dr see her and the records then then will come up with the fee.
When you move and get new ins. ---It will all depend on the plan some will pay for in progress treatment and some will not. It depends on the jobs plan. Any more ???'s just ask

thanks much