Ortho prices with and without dental insurance

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#1 Post by **sharpie00** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:17 pm

So do you think orthodontists will lower the prices for patients without coverage compared to if patients do have coverage in ontario, canada? I mean, even 50% coverage is a big deal for a treatment that costs $6000.

#2 Post by **Higgy** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:47 pm

I'm not from Canada, so I don't know...but I've never encountered an orthodontist here that reduced treatement just becuase of lack of dental insurance.

#3 Post by **tinseltownusa** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 2:52 pm

I don't have dental insurance, nor do I have a reduction on my rate.

#4 Post by **platinum** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:05 pm

I will get my insurance going on next year. I have been visiting general dentist this year quite a lot and I got my treatment with reduced price, because I did not have an insurance.

My new insurance will cover some of my orthodontic treatment costs.

#5 Post by **hippyhippo** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 4:36 pm

Very doubtful. Whether or not you have insurance does not impact how much time and money it will cost the ortho to treat you. Plus, most dental insurance in Canada does not even cover adult orthodontics, so probably 80+% of adult patients are without insurance. Obviously orthos can not be giving such a high number of people a discount.

But it never hurts to ask, and some orthos are willing to work out other deals. For example, I was given a 5% discount for paying for my treatment up front instead of on a payment plan.

#6 Post by **platinum** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 7:18 pm

Hippyhippo:
I was given possibility also to pay everything in once and get the 5% off.
But I don't do it, I rather pay in parts as it may be difficult to get money back...

#7 Post by **ghostmyimag3** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 7:21 am

I have insurance...but it does not cover orthodontics. I got no discount or reduction in price. I put 15% down and i'm just paying monthly payments under 200 a month.

#8 Post by **jennielee81** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 9:04 am

I've not only heard of it, I've benefited from it! We live in Maryland so I can't answer as to Canada, but this is not a standard here, it was a choice my kid's ortho maked on a personal basis.

My kid's ortho lowered their treatment cost by about 35% because we didn't have insurance.

Each time they figured up the cost (very comparable btw) and then asked if I had insurance. When I said, "no", they said they'd rework the numbers and give me another quote.

Then BINGO!! A much lower price is given to me. They're really great about money there! Treatment is technically very good also.

#9 Post by **hathetran** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:09 pm

it depends on your ortho...right now im paying on a plan

#10 Post by **michh** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:04 pm

I have insurance, but not for ortho over the age of 19. However, my insurance did cover some of the xrays etc. that were needed before I began treatment.

#11 Post by **valster** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 4:19 am

My insurance does not cover braces, but my orthodontist's office offered a discount for paying in full at start of treatment (to save the effort of billing/bookkeeping) so I did.

#12 Post by **Dramagyrl** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 12:56 pm

I'm in Canada and do not have dental coverage.

The ortho office flinched for me when I said I still wanted to go through with it, but didn't offer a discount. Like some, they offered a couple hundred dollars off if I paid up front, otherwise they could create a payment plan that had to be completed before my braces came off. Payments would have been around $350 a month so with the up-front discount I ended up paying $6,000.