How to Talk to Dental Patients About Money With Confidence

The financial conversation is one of the most essential dialogues in dental practice. Yet, many dental team members are uncomfortable discussing fees and payment options with patients, which can impact treatment acceptance. Many dentists and teams have shared that they don’t like discussing cost and payment options because they feel patients will perceive them as “used car salesmen.” Others have said they are uncomfortable with the fees because they could not afford the dentistry the doctor recommended to the patient.

When the team’s reluctance to discuss fees and payment options is combined with patients’ perception that dental insurance should cover all needed care, the result is often an awkward financial discussion that benefits neither the practice nor the patient.

Patient Understanding

It’s been said before, but it’s important enough to repeat: people buy what they value. And if patients don’t understand the value of dentistry, objecting to cost is the easy way out. Often, it’s not the cost they are objecting to at all. Their concerns are much deeper and broader than cost. To effectively communicate the value of care, the dentist and team should:

• Invite the patient along the discovery journey and enable them to co-diagnose and own their oral health issues.
• Discuss these issues and treatment recommendations human-to-human, not clinician-to-patient.
• Ask questions to confirm patients clearly understand the care being recommended and the consequences of delaying or declining treatment.

If these steps are part of the patient experience, patients are more likely to value dentistry. All that’s left is for the team to embrace the role of healthcare advocate and understand that it’s their privilege and obligation to help the patient get the care they need and want.

Great Financial Conversations Are a Team Effort

Everybody on the team needs to be comfortable with what the practice charges for care and believe that the fees represent the practice’s vision, value, quality of care, service, and results. The team must have clarity and understanding of the practice’s overhead costs. They will be more comfortable with the fees and charges when they understand what it takes to keep the doors open. And, of course, every team member needs to be proud of what they do, knowing they are making a difference in patients’ lives and that patients value their services.

When it comes to talking money, at Pride Institute we believe the doctor should be able to look the patient in the eye and quote an approximate fee for the care he or she is recommending. If they cannot or will not, the patient may perceive them to have a “hidden agenda.” The best results happen when the doctor presents treatment from a patient benefit point of view.

“Mrs. Jones, because you said you wanted to keep your teeth for life, our assessment today shows that in order to do so, you need X, Y and Z treatment. I’m recommending we go ahead with this very important treatment plan, which will cost approximately $5,000.”

The doctor can pass the quality baton to the financial coordinator, who has been trained in financial negotiations. The coordinator can help the patient find a payment solution that works for their specific situation.

“Mrs. Jones, Mary is our financial coordinator. We are so proud of her. She is just wonderful working with patients to come up with the easiest and best financial option so we never have to compromise your clinical care.”

“Mary, this is Mrs. Jones. She understands that we’re recommending this treatment to meet her oral health goals. She has shared with me that she has concerns about how much insurance will cover and wants to make the financial agreement as stress-free as possible. She knows you have many options to work with.”

“Mrs. Jones, I leave you in good hands, and I will see you at your first appointment to get you going on this essential treatment.”

Great Financial Conversations Are Win-Win

Financial negotiations should always come from a win-win perspective. The financial coordinator’s job is to find a financial solution where both parties win: the patient gets the care they need, and the practice has scheduled treatment. We teach teams to confirm cost and insurance contribution and allow the patient to provide input and direction on the ideal financial situation.

“Mrs. Jones, as Doctor mentioned, the cost of care is $5,000. Your insurance benefits should contribute $1,000, leaving your out-of-pocket investment at $4,000. How would you like to take care of that today?”

The best scenario is the patient is willing and able to pay in full at time of service. However, for many patients, treatment with a high out-of-pocket cost may eliminate this as a viable payment option. The next alternative, introducing third-party financing, still enables the practice to collect the fee at time of treatment. Many patients may prefer to pay over time, especially if the third-party financing option offers convenient monthly payments.

Negotiation is a learned art; it is not typically a talent someone already possesses, so training is necessary. Many sources include webinars, books, seminars, and advanced learning institutes like Pride Institute. Ultimately, patients may be more likely to commit to treatment if:

• They like you.
• They have a clear understanding and are committed to care.
• You make it financially comfortable with as many options as possible.

Great financial conversations happen when the team has prepared, focuses on patient relationships, and is knowledgeable about the cost of care and the fees they charge. Dentistry is a service and an act of caring.