Seeking Opinions

[bumplett]

Thanks for the comments by the way! I appreciate the opinions!

[mndtrp]

so would you treat it as a debt to snowball, and put baby step 3 on hold til it's paid off, or just pay it off with payments and try to save any extra??

Are you trying to follow the steps exactly, or are you taking the steps, and adapting them to your current needs?

[l8eebugg]

I would nag and nag and nag for a larger portion to be covered since it is not just about crooked teeth. Shouldn't this be covered by major medical. I would keep trying and fighting..you know they will not pay if you don't hound and argue with them.
I agree on the payment plan. Have you had Dr. send report to major medical?

[bumplett]

Are you trying to follow the steps exactly, or are you taking the steps, and adapting them to your current needs?

Thus far, we've been close to exact. The main goal is to stay on task. Adaptation is fine, within reason.

Step 3 is by far the most difficult, as well as the farthest off, so we've already fallen off our wagon and climbed back on.

I don't want this to be a set back mentally.

Does that make sense??

[bumplett]

I would nag and nag and nag for a larger portion to be covered since it is not just about crooked teeth. Shouldn't this be covered by major medical. I would keep trying and fighting..you know they will not pay if you don't hound and argue with them.
I agree on the payment plan. Have you had Dr. send report to major medical?

I'll keep trying.

I did win a huge battle over an oral surgery recently!! They didn't want to cover any of it & the doc "tweaked" the coding & wrote a letter & they ended up covering almost ALL of it!!

I know I won't win them all, but you're right, I'll ask again. I don't want to be pushy about it, it does clearly state what the max covers.

Yes, I have a whole print out with xrays showing that it's cleft related. Insurance ortho only covers $1000 max. They can't see past the "ortho"

[Greebo]

I'm guessing that the ortho doesn't break down the cost of braces and the appointment cost - annoying isn't it?

If you pay up front and something goes wrong (they screw you, they fold, etc) then you've got no leverage, so I'd set the money aside and go ahead with their payment system.

[joyofsix]

I would choose (and have) payments if no interest. Then I would pay extra and get rid of it as quickly as possible. It's what we've done for braces/ eye therapy/etc. I usually make double payments but if I can't the world won't end.

[OOwl]

If you look at it like you're making A PAYMENT for each "service," like you pay AT his appointments, which is what I did with my daughter's braces, then, you're really cash-flowing it, with the added advantage of knowing what the total cost will be.

Yes, my daughter thought it was pretty painful at first, too. I hope your son feels better soon.

[bumplett]

Great point.

Then I won't have to feel bad for owing the 'debt' if I use the mindset that I'm paying for the 'service'

I like that.

thanks!!

[Frugal Sooner]

Agree with the others...make payments and try to pay off early. Keep the savings for an emergency where payments aren't an option!

[miss_cas]

I would make the monthly payment. Put any windfalls such as gifts or tax refunds toward this when possible.

[Debbie-cat]

I agree with the payment plan. I hope he feels better soon. My DS went through alot of pain as well.