When it comes to maintaining overall health, dental care often takes a back seat. However, the importance of oral health should not be underestimated. A bright, healthy smile not only enhances your appearance but also can affect your overall well-being.

Open enrollment periods offer a unique opportunity to access affordable and comprehensive care, including dental care. Dental open enrollment is a specific window of time allocated each year where individuals and families can enroll in dental insurance plans, make changes to their existing plans, or explore new options. These open enrollment opportunities are typically offered by employers, private insurance providers, or government programs like Medicaid and Medicare. It’s a crucial time to assess the dental needs of your patients and ensure your office has the right coverage in place.

Use these annual enrollment periods to offer affordable and comprehensive dental coverage alternatives that caters to your patients’ needs. A review of various dental plans and financing opportunities today can help you to increase your new patient numbers and grow those that are loyal to your office.

At Wellfit, we offer dental plans, alternate financing, and payment processing options for your office. These can be extended to your patients. It’s not insurance, and these plans and options may provide greater coverage than the insurance you currently accept.  Depending on treatment needs, it may be the perfect time to share these options with your patients as they are evaluating their coverages.

Why Dental Open Enrollment Matters

• Preventative Care: Dental insurance or alternate financing options can make preventive care more accessible, including regular check-ups and cleanings. Preventing oral health issues can save money in the long run and help maintain overall health.
• Cost Savings: Dental treatments can be expensive. Having the right coverage can significantly reduce patient out-of-pocket expenses. During open enrollment, offering plans that fit their budget and dental needs can be compared directly to their insurance costs and coverages. Educate your dental office on other options such as dental plans or alternative financing.
• Emergency Preparedness: No one plans for dental emergencies, but they happen. Make sure you have alternative options for your patients, so they have access to the treatments they need when they need them.
• Overall Health: Oral health is closely linked to overall health. Untreated dental issues can lead to more severe health problems. Proper coverage ensures you address dental concerns promptly, promoting the patient’s well-being.

If you already accept dental insurance, assess your current plan(s). Consider whether it meets the needs of your patients and if any changes are required. Be aware of any changes to coverage, premiums, or providers that may have occurred since the last enrollment period and what that means for costs and coverage for your office. Traditional insurance is “portable” meaning patients can go to any in-network insurance provider.  In-office plans are usually office-specific and therefore more “sticky” meaning the patient stays loyal to that dental office for all procedures and treatments.

Insurance typically negotiates rates at around 40%. Your office can decide if this is sufficient service cost or provide alternative plan options (at a discount of your choice, 10-25% for example). The more patients that choose the plan, the more money the office makes not only from the sale of the plan, but also from the additional treatments the patients utilize.

Take the time to evaluate your patients’ dental financial needs. Consider factors like age, dental history, and family requirements. As their dental health needs change over time, ensure your plan options adjust with those changes.

Explore different providers and options. Compare coverage, costs, and availability to find the best fit for your office. You may be surprised that dental plans or alternative financing options like those Wellfit offers, may be cheaper and more accessible than staying with insurance.

Dental open enrollment opportunities are the gateway to maintaining a healthy smile and overall well-being. Don’t underestimate the significance of offering alterative dental care financing options.

Interested in plan details, payment plans or alternatives to insurance? Contact Wellfit for a demo.