By Darrell Pruitt, DDS
Until now, those who sell discount dentistry plans like Delta Dental, BCBSTX and AmeriPlan have always been less than transparent with naïve, vulnerable consumers about how their AmeriPlan-preferred dentists can discount their fees up to 80%, and still make a living.
I am currently having an in-depth, unprecedented discussion on Dental group Facebook about discount dental plans with an AmeriPlan representative.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bdental/1048738138475400/?notif_t=group_comment_follow
After finally agreeing that choosing dentists from a list of preferred providers is actually not freedom of choice, the rep and I are currently discussing, dentists’ overhead versus unsustainable discounts. It’s an informative conversation involving topics that secretive discount dentistry brokers never before publicly discussed – like quality control. If you ever wondered how discount dental plans work, I invite you to join the group and follow our conversation. Transparency is a bitch.
D. Kellus Pruitt DDS – darrelldk2@gmail.com
UPDATE:
Evidently, one of the two AmeriPlan reps left the Dental group Facebook and took our conversation about discount dentistry with her. For those who are joining the group per my invitation on other sites, or are otherwise following the unprecedented conversation about discount dentistry, I saved it:
February 27 at 4:03pm
“Have peace of mind with AmeriPlan’s Medical and Dental benefits!
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Household Medical plan, including Dental, only $49.95 per month. 30 Day money back guarantee!”
For details visit http//www.greatdiscountplans.com/scipolla/healthcareanddentalcombo
Darrell Pruitt: Can patients choose the dentist they prefer?
February 27 at 4:39pm · Like
Yes they can Darrell Pruitt!
February 27 at 8:16pm · Unlike · 1
Darrell Pruitt: You mean patients are not limited to dentists on a list?
February 28 at 11:33am · Like
No they are not
February 28 at 3:19pm · Unlike · 1
Darrell Pruitt What if the dentists your clients choose don’t agree to the discounts you offer. You do offer discounts, don’t you?
February 28 at 5:07pm · Like
Darrell Pruitt I’m still waiting on your answer. You have certainly attracted the interest of other members of this group as well. We like transparency.
March 2 at 5:51pm · Like
I’m sorry for not answering you. I have been very busy today. Yes we offer discounts and if they do not agree with the discount, they need to speak with the dentist directly
March 2 at 7:03pm · Like
Darrell Pruitt And what if the dentist still refuses to honor the discount?
March 2 at 8:05pm · Like
Then you would need to find another dentist in the network
Yesterday at 5:45am · Unlike · 1
Darrell Pruitt You lost me. Four days ago, I asked, “You mean patients are not limited to dentists on a list?” and you replied, “No they are not.” What gives?
Yesterday at 8:38am · Like
I do not understand your question? Please explain?
3 hrs · Like
Darrell Pruitt Gladly. If I were to purchase any of the dental plans you offer, could I see a dentist of my choice, and still receive a discount on dentistry?
2 hrs · Like
Yes, you will be able to see a dentist of your choice. I am sorry that I did not understand your question.
2 hrs · Like
Darrell Pruitt Now we’re getting somewhere. My next question: What if the dentist does not agree to the discount that the plan offers?
2 hrs · Like
The dentists that are in our network agree to the terms, they need to send a letter to our provider relations department if they want to cancel there relationship with us – but other than that, I really do not know to be honest with you, that is the best explanation that I can give you.
2 hrs · Like
Darrell Pruitt Now I’m confused. Didn’t you say that your customers would not have to choose their dentists off a list?
2 hrs · Like
You would still have to choose a dentist that are in our network, they provide you with a list of dentists in your area. I am going to PM you my phone number for us to chat
1 hr · Like
Darrell Pruitt We would be doing a disservice to those who are following our conversation if we took it elsewhere. Let’s continue here.
1 hr · Like
Darrell Pruitt Let’s agree that your customers have a choice of dentists, as long as they are dentists which your provider relations department approve. Am I right?
1 hr · Like
Yes, we do have a network of providers and the network is built on referrals. For example, if you have a provider that is not in our network, we can submit there information for them to become part of our network, that is how our network works. We have over 500,000 providers in our network
1 hr · Like
Darrell Pruitt How much are your discounts?
1 hr · Like
On the low end 20% up to 80% depending on your area and depending on what you have done
1 hr · Like
Darrell Pruitt I have to say, that sounds too good to be true. Do you happen to know dentists’ profit margin? For example, how much out of every dollar that comes into a dental practice is spent on overhead – salaries, electricity, supplies, etc.?
1 hr · Like
We are not dentists – we just provide a service which is our discount plans.
1 hr · Edited · Unlike · 1
Darrell Pruitt It seems to me to be common sense that those who manage any company which sells discounted, intricate handwork like dentistry would be well aware of their providers’ break even point. Otherwise, they risk promoting unsafe dentistry. For example, if a dentist’s overhead runs 20%, and he or she discounts fees by 80%, the dentist makes no profit without cutting corners somewhere.
34 mins · Edited · Like · 1
We have different break downs in your area for services provided or procedures
33 mins · Unlike · 1
Darrell Pruitt Would you say dentists’ overhead runs more than 30%?
30 mins · Like
Does you mean the amount the dentist pays for for the procedure? Our providers provide services at a discounted rate, there is no overhead.
24 mins · Unlike · 1
Darrell Pruitt Let’s imagine that at the end of the month, a dentist has billed out $10,000 worth of dentistry – discount plan or not. How much of that 10K do you think the dentist gets to take home?
22 mins · Like
———–
At this point, the AmeriPlan rep left the Dental group Facebook.
Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to ask her about the “30 day money-back refund”: Does AmeriPlan Corporation promise to refund patients’ out of pocket dental expense, or a refund of the money spent on the discount dentistry plan? Anyone know?
Since your colleague has left, Andrea Brown, can you help us with questions about AmeriPlan’s discount dentistry you also sell? There are still far too many mysteries concerning the value of the plan.
AND MORE:
Wow! That was fun.
AmeriPlan uncovered III
Do you think AmeriPlan® Corporation officials should perhaps discourage their reps from posting ads on social media – particularly dental Facebook sites which mention both transparency and accountability in the headliner?
Did you notice how the rep tried to drag our conversation away from witnesses – just as I predicted? Dentalcare stakeholders’ unimaginative evasive strategies are far too easy to recognize. But then, what else can they do? It’s easy to see that the crap AmeriPlan Corporation sells to naive and vulnerable customers cannot tolerate discerning shoppers. (See: “AmeriPlan USA Complaints and Reviews – 35 COMPLAINTS 0 RESOLVED $71.9K CLAIMED LOSSES $2.1K AVERAGE 37.7K VIEWS.” From “Pissed Consumer”).
http://ameriplan-usa.pissedconsumer.com/
Long before the sales rep realized she was to become frustrated with transparency, I also predicted she would turn indignant right before fleeing accountability:
“Again, we are NOT dentists and do not work for dentists. We provide a service to help people save on their dental work.”
She deleted her final, arguably indignant comment before I had a chance to see it. I only discovered it later in email from Facebook. I wasn’t wrong after all. For dentalcare stakeholders, indignant seems to be a go-to excuse to flee accountability. I’ve noticed they trot it out more and more often these days.
Modern transparency is a bitch for deceptive dentalcare stakeholders. Is that not wonderful?
D. Kellus Pruitt DDS
