A dental savings plan for orthodontics is a membership-based alternative to insurance that provides fixed discounts on braces and aligners for an annual fee. At Village Family Dental, the VFD Membership Plan helps North Carolina families bypass insurance waiting periods, significantly reducing the out-of-pocket cost of orthodontic treatment.
Avoiding the lifetime orthodontics maximum
Most traditional PPO dental insurance plans in North Carolina come with a Lifetime Orthodontic Maximum. The North Carolina Office of Human Resources states that the lifetime orthodontic maximum is $1,500 per person [1] (NCOSHR, 2024). Typically, an insurance company will pay only a specific amount toward braces for the patient’s entire life. Once that limit is reached, your insurance coverage for orthodontics effectively disappears. This is a major concern for parents whose children may require early orthodontic intervention followed by traditional braces years later. The VFD Membership Plan acts as an important safety net. Because there is no insurance, there is no lifetime maximum. You receive a consistent, fixed discount on orthodontic services regardless of how much dental work your child has had in the past. This allows Raeford families to plan for long-term smile transformations without worrying about their benefits being exhausted.
No waiting periods with the VFD savings plan.
A common frustration for families is the waiting period found in private dental insurance. Many plans require you to be a member for 6 to 12 months before they will contribute money toward orthodontic treatment. When a child is experiencing jaw pain or significant crowding that needs immediate attention, waiting a year for insurance is not a viable option. With the Village Family Dental Membership Plan, we prioritize your child’s health over paperwork. There are zero waiting periods. From the moment you enroll at our Raeford clinic, you are eligible for discounted orthodontic evaluations and treatment. This is especially helpful for parents who want to start their child’s treatment immediately following an age-seven orthodontic screening.
How a membership plan simplifies early orthodontics
As mentioned in our guide to early evaluations, children around age seven often need Phase 1 orthodontics to correct jaw growth issues. Because Phase 1 is a specialized, proactive treatment, some insurance companies are hesitant to cover the procedures, labeling them as cosmetic. The VFD Membership Plan removes this ambiguity. We believe that correcting a narrow arch or a crossbite early is a medical necessity that prevents expensive surgeries. By using the membership plan, you receive a transparent, discounted rate on palatal expanders and early alignment tools. This makes the plan financially feasible to address structural issues while your child’s jaw is still developing, potentially reducing the time and cost of full braces during their teenage years.
Comparing savings plans to insurance and Medicaid
| Feature | VFD membership plan | PPO insurance | NC medicaid |
| Ortho discount | Significant | Usually 50% | Medical necessity only |
| Lifetime max | None | Typically 1 – 2k | N/A |
| Paperwork | Zero | High | High |
| Waiting period | None | 6 – 12 months | Months for approval |
The use of membership plans and financing
While the VFD Membership Plan lowers the total cost of your child’s braces, we understand that paying the remaining balance in one lump sum can still be a challenge. To solve this, our offices allow you to layer your financial tools. You can use your VFD Membership Plan to secure the discounted member rate on orthodontics, and then use CareCredit to finance that discounted amount over a set period of time. This double-layer strategy ensures you receive the lowest possible price while keeping your monthly payments low and interest-free.
Financial alternatives for families in North Carolina
Choosing a dental home means you value community and consistency. Unlike national insurance providers who see you as a policy number, our membership plan is a local solution built specifically for families. By choosing our in-house plan over a generic dental discount card, you can be assured that the clinical team knows exactly how your plan works. There are no out-of-network surprises or confusing claims to file. This local approach creates an environment where the financial side of your child’s smile is just as comfortable and familiar as the clinical side.
FAQs
1. Is the VFD Membership Plan good for braces?
Yes. It is specifically beneficial because it removes the “waiting period” found in most private plans.
2. Can savings plans be used if I already have dental insurance?
Absolutely. Many Raeford families use the VFD Membership Plan as a secondary savings tool. Once your primary insurance hits its lifetime maximum for braces, the membership plan continues to provide discounts.
3. Do I have to live in Raeford to use the VFD Membership Plan?
No. While we have a strong community of members in Raeford and Hoke County, the plan is accepted at all Village Family Dental locations.
References
[1] NCOSHR. (2024). NC OSHR: NCFlex: Dental Plan Options. Nc.gov. https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/benefits/ncflex/dental-plan/options#BenefitCategoryTypeI-DiagnosticandPreventive-6467
