Monthly payments to ortho

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GiverSSJ
Posts: 104
Joined: Sun May 03, 2009 2:35 pm

Monthly payments to ortho

#1 Post by GiverSSJ »

My mom and I are having a disagreement. She's telling me to pay him up front most of it this month while I'm telling her to pay him little by little since that's what this site says. How did you do it? Pay it up front or pay little by little?

UGHBRACES
Posts: 449
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:56 pm

#2 Post by UGHBRACES »

Does the ortho offer a discount for paying up front in full?

GiverSSJ
Posts: 104
Joined: Sun May 03, 2009 2:35 pm

#3 Post by GiverSSJ »

UGHBRACES wrote:Does the ortho offer a discount for paying up front in full?
Yes

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theKurp
Posts: 96
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:07 am
Location: Oviedo, FL

#4 Post by theKurp »

I paid up front given that the ortho discounted by $800 for doing so.

Another reason I paid up front was for tax purposes. Had I paid out monthly over two years I would not have reached the amount allowed for medical deductions in any one year.

Audra
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#5 Post by Audra »

I paid the entire amount up front and got a 10% discount.
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mmaynard
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 6:03 pm

#6 Post by mmaynard »

I pay monthly. My employer gives a yearly allowance for anything medical. The allowance won't cover the full cost so with a 2 year estimate on braces I can use 2 years worth of that to help pay. I also put pre-tax money in that allowance. At least for me - I pay less out of my own pocket by doing monthly. Just wanted to say keep stuff like that in mind when deciding.
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Brackets top/bottom. Estimated 2 years.

Laura1985
Posts: 59
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:32 am

#7 Post by Laura1985 »

I have been paying monthly payments after taking out a loan. If you have the money already then paying it off and getting a discount seems to be the most logical. A lot of people just do monthly because that's what they can afford.
Upper: Damon3mx on 6/1/2009
Lower: 7/27/09
4 extractions done in May
Canine exposure eventually

Snowglobe32
Posts: 1224
Joined: Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:05 pm

#8 Post by Snowglobe32 »

I pay monthly for many reasons:

1) I don't have the total amount I owe (over $5,000) just lying around to pay it all up front
2.) My ortho doesn't charge interest so no need for me to take out a loan and pay interest.
3.) My insurance company pays me and not the ortho so I know my 3rd and 6th payments are coming from the insurance company.
4.) I would rather not give away all my money in case something happens down the line..
5.) I would prefer to pay as I go, what if I am not happy with the service and care I am getting?

In the end, it depends on how much money you want to part with, how stable your income is...you need to know you have to make a payment every month.

dawnmarie
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 10:46 am

#9 Post by dawnmarie »

I paid as much as I could up front. It's nice to walk in and out of the ortho office with just a slip with my next appointment on it. I'll need to make another payment in February since that's how far I had paid in advance. It worked for us.
upper and lower expander - August 6th, 2008
Damon braces - February 19th, 2009
upper and lower expander removed - April 2nd, 2009
Next appointment - March 3rd, 2010

Takako
Posts: 279
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:50 pm

Re: Monthly payments to ortho

#10 Post by Takako »

GiverSSJ wrote:My mom and I are having a disagreement. She's telling me to pay him up front most of it this month while I'm telling her to pay him little by little since that's what this site says. How did you do it? Pay it up front or pay little by little?
I paid a large chunk up front and am now paying in installations. I suggest paying as much as you can up front so you don't have to worry about it!

Margie
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Location: Canada
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#11 Post by Margie »

I paid a large amount at the beginning and now I am paying monthly. I don't think my ortho gives a discount if you pay it all up front, but if he did I might have paid it all up front.

bbsadmin
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#12 Post by bbsadmin »

The risk of paying it all upfront is this: there have been a few cases of unscrupulous orthodontists closing their practices without notice and disappearing. Most dentists and orthodontists are honest and would not do this. However, you should know that it HAS happened, and the patients were left holding the bag with no recourse.
I'm the owner/admin of this site. Had ceramic uppers, metal lowers ~3 years in my early 40's. Now in Hawley retainers at night!

SDFD TSchott
Posts: 1680
Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:36 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

#13 Post by SDFD TSchott »

bbsadmin wrote:The risk of paying it all upfront is this: there have been a few cases of unscrupulous orthodontists closing their practices without notice and disappearing. Most dentists and orthodontists are honest and would not do this. However, you should know that it HAS happened, and the patients were left holding the bag with no recourse.
Well said here I was already done with treatment and such and called to have my 1 year retainer check done well the office is no more they closed there office unexpectedly

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Adjustment Sept 14th, 2018
Braces back on August 06, 2018
Braces off April 02, 2008

yj207
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#14 Post by yj207 »

I pay monthly cuz that's how I can afford it. But getting a discount would be nice!
Braced for 23 months 1 week and 3 days!
I had 4 extractions and all my wisdom teeth removed.
I decided to get removal retainers so it will be easier to floss.

GiverSSJ
Posts: 104
Joined: Sun May 03, 2009 2:35 pm

#15 Post by GiverSSJ »

SDFD TSchott wrote:
bbsadmin wrote:The risk of paying it all upfront is this: there have been a few cases of unscrupulous orthodontists closing their practices without notice and disappearing. Most dentists and orthodontists are honest and would not do this. However, you should know that it HAS happened, and the patients were left holding the bag with no recourse.
Well said here I was already done with treatment and such and called to have my 1 year retainer check done well the office is no more they closed there office unexpectedly
Wow. What happened?

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