Your patients are looking for the best possible option to have their dental needs taken care of. And you’re looking for patients who keep coming back to your practice. How do you have the best of both worlds?
Allow us to introduce membership plans.
What is a membership plan? And how does it work?
Your patients pay a monthly or annual membership fee for their plan’s services, and then you provide them with those services. That’s it.
Member benefits are most often preventive care—exams, cleanings, x-rays for the year; all that good stuff. Most practices give additional member benefits, like whitening treatments, fluoride, and members-only discounts on restorative treatment.
Why membership plans are attractive to patients
Pricing and services are transparent with membership plans. There are no complexities associated with insurance claims and coverage limitations. And there’s no second-guessing what kind of care patients will receive, because it’s all in the plan.
With a clear understanding of the costs and services included in their plan, patients have more control over their treatment decisions and the services they receive and can better plan and budget for their dental care needs.
Membership plans help remove the involvement of insurance companies, leading to a more personalized and tailored approach to dental care; something that’s been lacking in the dental insurance industry for some time now.
Getting your patients on board won’t be a problem.
Who are membership plans for?
A dental membership plan is typically designed for individuals and families seeking affordable dental care options—whether they’re uninsured or already have insurance.
Because they enable individuals and families to access dental services at discounted rates, they help subscribers receive the best care at an affordable price.
Don’t confuse dental membership plans with dental discount plans or dental savings plans. Dental savings plans are more like buyer’s clubs—offering discounts on care from various dentists. And they are nothing like dental insurance.
For individuals who don’t have dental insurance—such as self-employed individuals, small business owners who lack access to employer-sponsored dental benefits, and retirees who no longer receive dental benefits from their former employers—membership plans are an easy alternative to traditional dental insurance.
Dental membership plans can also be great for individuals with dental insurance seeking to supplement limited coverage. Because membership plans often provide additional savings on services not covered by insurance—such as cosmetic dentistry or orthodontic treatments—patients enrolled in a plan alongside their insurance may further reduce out-of-pocket expenses and have access to a broader range of discounted dental services.
In short, anyone can benefit from them because there’s no downside.
What can a membership plan do for my practice?
Offering membership plans will likely mean a significant increase in patient membership and loyalty.
Because patients are already paying for their membership plan them through a subscription service, they’re more likely to make it to their appointments. Patients will be more likely to continue using your services and enjoy their accessibility to quality care. This boost in the number of loyal patients means increased revenue for your practice.
Because membership plans run on subscriptions, they simplify billing. If you want to get ahead of the game, you can also automate your plans with membership plan automation software. These platforms can organize your plans, give you insights into your practice’s growth, handle payout reporting, and make the management of your members a lot easier.
Dental membership plans also establish a direct connection between your practice and your patient, which is something insurance can’t do. There’s no awkward, invisible middleman. Just you and the people you want to care for.
Finally, membership plans make it easier to provide preventive care to your patients. You’ll be able to detect issues early on and help patients avoid costly and extensive treatments in the future. Membership plans can help your patients prioritize their dental health, which contributes to their overall health.
In short, membership plans can help you help your patients and make it easier to grow your practice.