Many practices have realized that incorporating the best dental membership plans is the best way to optimize payer mix, and maximise production and visits from uninsured patients. In exchange, patients get clear, transparent pricing, and discounts on their oral care. The practice is setting their own fee schedule, and marketing the plans, just like an insurance plan, except (and this is a big exception), the practice keeps 100% of the collections. Practices are searching for the best dental membership plan partner to help determine profitable plan pricing, assist with marketing the plans, and train the front office to convert uninsured patients to members. Here’s what to consider when exploring the best dental membership plans and the software that supports them.
What You Need to Know About Membership Plans
Before diving into the features of dental membership plan software, it’s helpful to understand what makes a solid membership plan. Typically, these plans allow patients to pay a flat, transparent fee—annually or monthly—that covers a range of services. This usually includes a bundle of preventive care, like cleanings and exams, and also includes a discount on restorative treatment and emergency services. Of course, they are 100% custom and the best membership programs will find the right plans for you. The goal? To create a win-win: patients gain affordable access to dental care, while dentists can grow patient loyalty and secure steady revenue.
Automation & Simplicity
First up on the list of must-haves is a simple interface for your dental membership plan software. Why? Because it makes life easier for both your staff and your patients! An easy-to-navigate design means that your team can efficiently handle administrative tasks, letting them focus on what really matters—your patients.
Automated renewals, patient notifications when a billing fails or a card expires, and all the payment processing, allowing the patient to pay via credit card, ACH, cash or check, is all managed by the platform.
Customization is Key to Your Success
Every dental practice is unique, as are its patients’ needs. The best dental membership plans should offer customizable options that let you tailor the plan to match your practice’s specific needs. Here’s what to look for:
Flexible and Unlimited Plan Options
Having the flexibility to create different membership options allows you to cater to various patient demographics—think Adult, Child, Perio (3 visit or 4 visit), Senior, Family etc.
Offer different plans/pricing in different locations in your group
If you have multiple locations, and want the flexibility to offer different plans/pricing at different locations that serve different patient demographics, then you are leveraging the power of technology.
Reporting Features You'll Appreciate
Having solid reporting and analytics is a game changer when it comes to assessing the performance of your membership plan. Look for software that provides insights into:
Patient Enrollment Trends
Identify which plans resonate most with your patients and why.
Revenue Metrics
Track gross & net production your membership plans are generating compared to traditional fee-for-service models.
Patient Volume
Understand how membership changes the number of times patients visit your clinic for both hygiene and treatment.
Smooth Integration with Existing PMS Systems
It’s much easier if the software integrates with your existing PMS, or if your membership plan partner can work with your patient engagement software. While the PMS remains the database of record, a membership plan partner that can utilize that data to show you the ROI and help track services, makes your life easier.
Marketing and Engaging Your Patients
A membership plan won’t do much good if your patients don’t know about it! Look for software that includes marketing tools to promote your membership options. Features might include:
Email Templates
Use pre-designed templates to send newsletters, appointment reminders, and promotional offers to current and prospective members.
In-office Brochures / Website landing page
Custom in-house brochures and a page on your website reflecting your membership plans and information on savings and benefits helps patients become educated.
Cost Matters
Cost is a big factor when selecting dental membership plan software. Aim for platforms with transparent pricing that won’t leave you guessing about hidden fees. Quality software should enhance your practice’s efficiency while improving patient satisfaction in a way that justifies the expense.
Reliable Customer Support and Training
Lastly, don’t overlook customer support. Choose a software provider that offers comprehensive onboarding training for your team and continues to be available with ongoing support. Access to knowledgeable support staff is invaluable, especially when you run into technical issues or need system updates.
Implementing an in-house dental membership plan is a smart move for your practice, and the right software can significantly enhance its success. By focusing on user-friendliness, customization, seamless integration, detailed reporting, marketing tools, cost-effectiveness, and solid customer support, you can find the perfect solution to manage your dental membership plans.
As you work on enhancing your offerings and better serving your patients, remember that the right software streamlines operations and boosts patient satisfaction and retention. By investing time in selecting one of the best dental membership plans, you’re setting your practice up for future success and ensuring the well-being of your patients.
For more insights and to explore your options for dental membership plans, get in touch with Plan Forward. Our team of experts is ready to guide you through the complexities of membership management and provide you with the tools you need for your practice to thrive.
