November Braces Poll

bbsadmin · **Posted:** Wed Nov 05, 2008 5:00 pm

Braces are expensive, and many adults pay for the treatment out-of-pocket. Has the recent downturn in the US and world economy affected your ability to pay for your treatment, or your plans for orthodontic treatment or jaw surgery?

my3sons · **Posted:** Wed Nov 05, 2008 7:27 pm

We're paying for more and more out of pocket to keep up with monthly maintenance for the kids' & my asthma, as well as seeing a rise in our grocery bill and such. We've altered our lifestyle quite a bit to stay ahead of the crisis, but we're still saving less liquid assets, which is what we'd be using to pay for my treatment.

catfish · **Posted:** Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:29 pm

We've had to make adjustments in our spending, but so far it hasn't impacted our ability to make my orthodontic payments. We're putting less into savings each month, eating out less, driving less, that sort of thing.

Oddly enough, one of the biggest impacts I've noticed other than gas prices, is the increase in the cost of bird seed. We're still feeding the little guys (wild birds), but it's taking more of the budget than it used to.

iBorg · **Posted:** Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:54 pm

My treatment is paid for after my 16 installments. I am very aware of medical expenses now and am quite glad that we will be able to stay with my parents after my jaw surgery.

With that being said, it would affect my decision to start if I wasn't already wired. If my insurance wasn't covering my surgery, I'd be looking at a compromise outcome.

Mike

Candy · **Joined:** Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:57 am **Posts:** 29

The decision to get braces was a hard one financially, I have wanted them for many many years, and after having 3 kids, I felt as if there was never a time to justify spending that much money on myself. I am now taking the plunge and hoping for the best. On Jan 1st, our paychecks will be less because we are electing half of the money on our medical spending account. I am a little nervous about that, as it is not NOT CHANGABLE!! Definite incentive to go through with it! The rest of the money is coming from the tax refund. We are needing to pay for the cost in full (dental insurance does not cover braces) so that our wonderful Orthodontist can give us a 7% discount, along with the family discount (our daughter just got hers off!). It is going to make things a little harder next year, but can't wait any longer, the more years I wait, the longer I will be away from the beautiful smile I dream of!
31 years old--getting braced in JAN 09! wahooey!

Lisa65 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 01, 2006 12:12 pm **Posts:** 3490

Fortunately I finished paying for my treatment a year ago.

dimeech · **Posted:** Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:09 pm

NO. I take advantage of my Flexible Spending plan from work, so I know I will get reimbursed and get the tax benefits, too.

Meryaten · **Joined:** Mon May 02, 2005 11:51 pm **Posts:** 19179

Mr. Aten and I are very careful about money, and tend to live below our means. With that in mind, I am sure that despite the economic woes, my decision would have been unchanged. That said, October sees our company's Giving Campaign, and I did do a little soul-searching before renewing my pledge for the next year. (But, in this case the way I saw it was if it made things a bit tight for us, then more likely a lot of other people might not be able to give to these charities at all, so in the end I upped my pledge by 5% over that of the previous year)

landela · **Posted:** Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:39 pm

Currently I am doing fine with my ortho payments, last payment should be in January. However, in August I dropped my insurance and picked up my husbands (we work for the same company, so same plan, same coverage) because I went part time to go back to school. The financial person at my ortho quit, and they just hired someone new this month. Originally, we signed to be responsible for only $1500 of my treatment and my insurance is supposed to be responsible for the rest. My ortho said they will bill insurance for my braces, but they have to do it from my original banding date, so i don't know if insurance will notice they already paid April - August for my braces and deny the claim, or if they will just pay the remaining balance. If insurance doesn't pay for the rest of my braces, then that is another $1500+ my husband and I will unexpectedly be responsible for, and will honestly have to struggle to pay.

ldbraced · **Posted:** Thu Nov 13, 2008 4:52 pm

My partner and I pretty much budgeted to get the braces. I was going to purchase a new vehicle this Fall but opted for the braces instead. We already run a pretty tight ship so it isn't cutting into our savings at all. While insurance doesn't cover the cost, I am blessed with a very good job and a stable income.

PiscesFish1969 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:08 pm

No - before i decided to do this, a set up a specific savings account for nothing but ortho payments. In 2009 I will take advantage of a flexible spending account for the first time, which will actually result in a net savings of my costs.

Toni · **Posted:** Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:18 pm

I said no but because of the economy my husband and I are cutting back on other thngs for the next year while my braces are being paid for.
For example, I have pretty much given up driving my car and now walk or bike everywhere except for the once a week trip to the grocery store.
We also took advantage of the fexible spending program as well.

dangerdude · **Posted:** Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:31 pm

I am finally getting around to having braces because of the terrible state of our economy. I figure I better do it now while I still have a good job. Iâ€™m getting mine at the start of the new year once the FSA kicks in. Iâ€™m going to pay for it all upfront so whatever happens, Iâ€™ll have decent teeth

jaks · **Joined:** Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:43 am **Posts:** 1

I've wanted braces for a long time, so I planned for it and fortunatley I'm single so with the economic situation being what it is I can still comfortably afford my ortho payments..

together · **Joined:** Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:32 pm **Posts:** 4

No. I just got braced. Paid in full. Have one to two surgeries coming up and will pay for those in full. No insurance.

Strangely, I am putting off buying a new TV and sofa even though I have the money. I might save a bundle on going out of business sales.

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