Why Membership Plan Patients Are Your Ideal Dental Patients

Insights from 2024 Patient Data

It’s the perfect time to reflect on what’s working best for dental practices – and membership plans are proving to be a game-changer. At DentalHQ, we’ve analyzed 2024 patient data, and the numbers speak for themselves: membership plan patients are more loyal, show up for appointments, and accept treatment at significantly higher rates than traditional cash patients.

If you’re still on the fence about offering or optimizing a membership plan, here’s why you should make it a priority this year.

Membership Plans: Not Just a Discount, But a Loyalty Builder

First things first – let’s clear up a common misconception. A dental membership plan is not a discount plan, and it’s not an insurance network. Instead, it’s a direct primary care model that connects patients directly to your practice on your terms – based on your fee schedule and the services you offer. Whether you call it a concierge plan or an in-office plan, the result is the same: a stronger, more loyal patient base that stays with your practice for the long haul. And now, the data proves just how valuable these patients are.

Membership Plan Patients have a 95%+ Retention Rate

The average retention rate for cash patients in a dental practice typically falls between 60-70%. That means 30-40% of your patients aren’t returning, which is a massive loss in potential revenue.

Membership plan patients on the DentalHQ platform renew at over 95%.

That’s a HUGE difference. When a patient commits to a membership plan, they’re not just choosing a one-time service, they’re commiting to ongoing preventative care and long-term loyalty to your practice.

Cancellations & No-Shows Drop to Less Than 3%

Missed appointments cost your practice time and money. In most dental offices, the average no-show and cancellation rate hovers between 12-15% – a frustrating challenge that disrupts scheduling and leads to lost revenue.

Among DentalHQ’s dental membership plan patients, cancellations and no-shows drop all the way down to less than 3%.

Why? Because members feel invested in their care. When patients prepay for services and know their cleanings and checkups are already covered, they are far less likely to skip appointments.

Treatment acceptance is 2.5x Higher for Membership Plan Patient

One of the biggest obstacles in dentistry is case acceptance. Patients often hesitate due to financial concerns, lack of understanding, or fear of out-of-pocket costs.
Membership plan patients, however, accept treatment at 2.5 times the rate of typical fee-for-service patients.
When patients are already engaged in a membership plan, they trust your recommendations and are more willing to invest in their oral health. The financial stress is removed, making it easier for them to say “yes” to additional services.

And, on top of that, the delinquency rate for payments is less than 1%.

What This Means for Your Dental Practice

The numbers don’t lie – membership plan patients are your most reliable, engaged, and committed patients. They show up, accept treatment, and stick with your practice.

If you’re ready to:
– Increase patient retention
– Reduce no-shows and cancellations
– Boost case acceptance and revenue

Then it’s time to launch or optimize your in-house dental membership plan.

At DentalHQ, we make it easy to customize, automate, and scale your plan so you can focus on patient care instead of admin work.

Ready to get started? Watch a sneak peek into our platform, or schedule a one-on-one session with our team today. Let’s make this your best year yet!