A Center for Disease Control and Prevention report found a primary indicator of access to dental care in the United States is dental insurance. Previous studies have shown that persons with private dental insurance have more dental visits in the previous year than persons without private dental insurance.
The Wealthy Dentist conducted a survey asking dentists if they actively target new insurance patients as part of their dental marketing.
69% of the dentists who responded do not target new dental insurance patients, while 31% do target them.
Location was not a factor in this survey.
Here’s what the dentists had to say about targeting dental insurance patients –
“How do you target new insurance patients?” (North Carolina dentist)
“We choose to remain fee-for-service even in this economy.” (New York dentist)
“We belong to few networks. We do advertise that we take and file most insurance coverage. It makes no difference in our treatment plans.” (Texas dentist)
“We did not participate in any dental insurance plans until very recently, but had too many patients calling to say that, although they didn’t want to leave the practice, they were forced to, as they couldn’t afford to pay the difference for “out of network” any longer. In Illinois, thanks in part to higher taxes on individuals and much higher taxes on businesses, the economy is as bad (or worse) than ever. Even the CHICAGO Mercantile Exchange is talking about leaving Illinois!” (Illinois dentist)
“Yes. If they are in a difficult contracted insurance benefit company and are a business owner or an executive who can make decisions on plans, we encourage them to look at other plans that are less expensive for the employer, better benefits for the patient and better reimbursement for the provider. If they are employees, we strongly encourage them to discuss changing to another plan that benefits the employee, the employer and the Dr. There are many benefits that work so much better. Why should an employer and employee contribute their monies to a insurance benefit that is primarily interested in taking money out of the middle rather than benefit the employer and the employees?” (Minnesota dentist)
