Chapter 7 and Orthodontics (Braces)

[LuciluS]

I agree with OhioFiler again LOL!

You are required by the Bankruptcy Code/Laws to list ALL debts in your Creditor Matrix. Yes, I understand you may feel some humiliation in doing so, but, it's better to list them rather than take the chance of a Complete dismissal of your Chapter 7.

Medical debts are usually not reported to the Credit Bureaus. Therefore, they do not appear on your Credit Report. We have plenty of medical debts and know of some who have not filed with our insurance company as hubby was hospitalized on April 8th for a week. I look at his insurance claims everyday as our Chapter 7 is coming up in Sept. The ambulance company has not filed a claim yet. There are several others who haven't.

I'm a very cautious person. If at time of filing, I do not know the $ amount of the debt, I plan on listing the Creditor and either putting value as unknown or $1.00. Better to be Safe than Sorry (dismissal of Chapter 7).

[mike258]

My wife has to go to the orthodontist once a month for a checkup/adjustments and pays each time she goes.
She is paying for services rendered at each visit. If she never went back for adjustments, she wouldn't have to pay anything (not that she can or would do this).

Her bracers were $2,000 and $125 for each monthly checkup.

Its like getting service done to your car, you don't list future oil changes as debt, you list them as a monthly expense.

Keep in mind, we have no credit agreements and/or contracts with the orthodontist. Some use third party financing like Care Credit. That's a different story.

I am not telling you what to do, I am just telling you what I did...

[LuciluS]

My wife has to go to the orthodontist once a month for a checkup/adjustments and pays each time she goes.
She is paying for services rendered at each visit. If she never went back for adjustments, she wouldn't have to pay anything (not that she can or would do this).

Her bracers were $2,000 and $125 for each monthly checkup.

Its like getting service done to your car, you don't list future oil changes as debt, you list them as a monthly expense.

Keep in mind, we have no credit agreements and/or contracts with the orthodontist. Some use third party financing like Care Credit. That's a different story.

I am not telling you what to do, I am just telling you what I did...

I wholeheartedly agree with your scenario. I am required to see a Pain Management Doctor each month. My co-pay is $35 and they require the Co-Pay before I see the doctor.

OP used a scenario in which money was owed for services already rendered.
That is a Debt Owed and Dentist became a Creditor because of debt owed.

[killinstinct]

Hey everybody...wanted to update my experience with this issue.

My stepdaughter has braces with Gentle Dental (kind of a corporate outfit)...we still have about 6 payments or so left and she is getting more work done next week. Our lawyer said we HAD to list it as a debt and we did so. I just spoke with their billing people and confirmed there will be NO problem and we just continue to pay monthly. No need to reaffirm, etc. Nice to know. The gal in the billing department said they've run across this quite a bit lately, and didn't seem particularly surprised and/or concerned about it.

Like most things, I suppose they just want your money, however it comes. This turned out to be a non-issue for me.