According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of Americans haven’t seen a dentist in at least one year. The most cited reason for not going? Cost. Some dental practices implement in-office membership plans to help make dental care more affordable and transparent for uninsured patients. We all know the benefits for dentists and their practices, but how do patients benefit from membership plans?
Here are five specific benefits patients receive from in-office dental membership plans:
- Easy-to-Understand
Insurance plans are complicated. Membership plans are not insurance. They’re easy-to-understand with transparent pricing. Patients know how much they pay for the plan and which services are included. They also know how much they can expect to pay for additional treatment, and if they’re eligible for any additional discounts. There are no hidden fees. - No Deductible
With a membership plan, patients don’t have to pay or meet a deductible before their benefits kick in. They also don’t have waiting periods that determine when they can get the care they might need immediately. - No Annual Maximum Benefit
No annual maximum benefit means patients are more likely to accept treatment plans above typical insurance plan maximums. Patients requiring an extensive treatment plan save more with a membership plan than they would receive in benefits from a traditional dental insurance. On average, membership patients spend 3x’s more than uninsured patients. - No Claims or Prior Authorizations
In-office dental membership plans are designed so the dental practice gets paid directly. Because the practice offers the plan not an insurance company, there is no need for prior authorizations or claims to be processed—and potentially denied. - Fewer “Emergency” Visits
Because patients are keeping up with routine preventative care, they can receive restorative treatment before it gets to the point of being an emergency dental visit or even worse—an ER visit, which can cost $1,000 or more.
While these are not the only benefits patients receive from dental membership plans, they are certainly important ones. These benefits would be particularly important if a patient had dental coverage and recently lost it. When you have a membership plan already in place to meet your patients’ needs, it’s easy for your existing patients to have peace of mind when they experience life changes. You already take care of their teeth, now give them the complete care they need.
