For those self-pay ortho patients

[TechChick]

I also had the option to pay upfront and receive a discount, but I put about $1300 and then I have monthly payments of $117.

I'm actually kind of excited, I only have 1 more payment left

[shaynesgirl]

The ortho I finally went with is at a well-established, busy practice. They are all specialist orthodontists (not dentists). After 2 consults, and application of my separators (spacers) I decided I would pay up-front with a 5% discount. Otherwise, they asked me to pay $1650 up-front and $200 per month, over 20 months.

I am happy and comfortable enough with my ortho to have taken the up-front option. I liked the discount and I liked that I wouldn't have to worry about organising payment every month.

[Indy]

I had the option to pay the total cost and get a 4% discount (that's kinda low) or pay a deposit of $1858 (includes my upper ceramics) along with monthly payments of $147. I chose the latter.

I'm a student so I don't have money to pay it all at once, plus I don't think I would if I could.

Lastly, I'm paying out of pocket so there is no interest. If I used a plan like Capital One Orthodontics then I'd also pay interest!

[Way Too Old For This]

It has happened that ortho offices have just closed up and people have lost their money. You can sue all you want, but if the practice is bankrupt, you won't get anything.

I didn't fear that but I'm glad I decided to pay payments. I started treatment in September, then in January my insurance was changed and I am now covered for 30% of my braces, beginning Jan 2006. So they wouldn't pay 30% of anything I paid in 2005.

If I knew the insurance was going to change, and I could have paid up front with a discount, plus 30% from insurance, I certainly would have thought about THAT! I don't think the discount was all that much for paying up front though, only about $500.

[KJM]

I wasnt really given the option to pay upfront ( but I suppose I could have) I did the interest free financing.

$995 upfront and $200 a month for 22 months.

Good news is that my insurance just picked up ortho coverage ( even for adults, and yes it will cover already in progress!) I get almost $2000 covered... so I have to talk to them at my next appointment and find out how much remains so I can pay it off.

[sjsarre]

I paid a 50% deposit and will pay the remainder monthly over the duration of my anticipated treatment time.

[missingu]

Thanks so much for the input from everyone. I am relieved to know that others who believed they could trust the ortho and office opted for paying up front, as I did.

As I commented on other threads, when I had the Damons removed, having already paid in full, the office refunded all but about $500 which would have covered the hardware. It worked out well, so I have paid in full (plus netting something leftover as the new braces and ortho are cheaper) with a little leftover.

Thanks again for your info.

[LizzyG]

I had the option of paying in full and getting a 5% discount, but instead I decided to pay in three instalments. so far I've paid one third, not sure when i will have to pay the rest! Somehow I just didn't feel comfortable with paying them all the money up front. I know it isn't the same, but I had a bathroom (semi) fitted, paid up front, and the firm went bust so I had to pay someone else to finish my bathroom!

[ingyandbert]

We paid in full because the ortho offered a pretty large discount for it. Plus, we had the money sitting in a medical savings account and it has to be used by the end of the year or you lose it. So for us, there was no reason not to pay in full.

[ChrissieWhissie]

I had the option of either a 10% discount by paying up front, or interest-free monthly payments. I chose the 10% discount as I used money which I saved up.

Cx

[bckydgardnr]

I paid $1200 up front with monthly payments of $170 for 30 months. Just last week I took my son in for his consultation and my ortho waived all records fees (which I think mine was about $150) His braces are on for a shorter amount of time and he is getting standard kid braces - no ceramics, not self-ligating. So our down payment is $600 and monthly payment of $200 for 24 months. I can put down as much as I want, but I am going with the payments as I can't afford $5800 in one payment.

I joked with my son that my first car cost as much as his braces. I told him he could consider this his first car! He didn't appreciate that very much!

gardnr

[katmc_tx]

My husband and I are on the debt free Dave Ramsey plan so we paid my braces in full over two months 5100us. It did cross my mind that maybe it was a bad idea to pay in full. I mean what if I had a major problem or if my ortho and I didnt see eye to eye or if they went under .
But I've known three people who had their ortho treatment at the same place and figured she wasnt going anywhere and the other three people were very satisfied with their end results. So far everthing is going good and the staff and ortho are very nice, helpful and great...

[mtbrncofn]

I paid all mine up front to get the discount as well. I'd rather just have it out of the way. I have no problem with paying up front.

[JoeMama]

I paid up front too for the discount. The ortho's been around for a long time and got great referrals. At the time I hadn't even thought about the ortho closing shop and disappearing, so that's a good point. For me, I didn't want the burden of writing a check every month or having to think about the $ aspect that often. Paying up front also gave me a little more bargining power when it came to the final price and some of the items in the "contract", (early de-bracing, broken bracets, etc).

[jennielee81]

Meryaten

Paid up front to get the discount. I'm trusting this guy with my dental health - that's a bigger deal than trusting him with mere dollars in my opinion.

I paid up front to get the discount also. I totally agree with Maryaten's comment above.

I did have quite a start when I read here not to do that...there is a clause in my contract saying that if I leave the practice before my teeth are finished, I will receive a refund of part of my cost.

About any trust issues I would have with the Dr. and my money, he's been in practice here in my town for quite a long time, I am quite comfortable that he won't be running off with anyone's money!!