DIRECT ASSIGNMENT:

Direct Assignment is an inspired concept and must be marketed with full resources. Direct Assignment is DR all grown up!

Recognizing the Food Chain

Here are the nuts and bolts:

It is sold by insurance agents, who make from $3 to $4 per billable patient visit as a commission.

Dentists can choose whether or not to accept assignment.

Patients can choose any dentist.

There are generally no contractual limitations on care- cosmetic, occlusion, TMJ, implants, adult sealants, six prophies per year, are generally all covered per the discretion of the patient and doctor.

The employer is left with minimal administration, as a fiduciary administrates the program, for a fee (the food chain is being recognized!).

Employers are free to set the specifics of the benefits, amount of company contributions vs. payroll deduction, etc.

Stop-loss protection is available.

On one plan, dentists and patients are each asked to make a $5 co-payment each per billable visit to cover the fees for the fiduciary, the insurance agent, and marketing.

In another plan, there are no copayments and the above accomodations are met through slightly higher premiums.

If the average dental claim is over $200 (I am told $230), then >95% of the insurance dollar goes toward dentistry: dentistry of the patients educated choice, by the patient's free choice of dentists!

If you want more information on DA, contact AIDA and we will point you to the people with the knowledge, or see the information at the bottom of this page.

---

We must market Direct Assignment to agents, benefits consultants, and then employers. It must be on the menu before it can be chosen. When insurance agents see the annuity available to them from direct assignment, they will be sold themselves and will market this great concept for us. The problem with direct assignment in Florida is that there are only two fiduciaries to date, and the marketing firms seem to  feel that DA will be best marketed by only a few agents! This is protectionist economy, not free market economy, and dentistry must assure that as many insurance- mongers as possible want to make this money!

John Stoner, president of one of the companies presently marketing Direct Assignment in Florida, told AIDA that if dentists could put together an audience of insurance professionals, he will present DA to that group. AIDA challenges dentists across the country to assemble that group in each community, and challenges Mr. Stoner to increase his wealth, the wealth of all of the insurance salesmen and benefits consultants, and increase the ability of employers in your community to show true concern for their employees. Unlike having you sell DR out of your dental chair, this could be a one time event that could be achieved on a local dental society level and would be truly worth your effort. Once you introduce the professionals to each other, then sit back and reap the benefits. Mr. Stoner is a true professional and represents DA well; only the "few agent" theory is wrong. That we can change through influence and education.

Contacts for Direct Assignment:

John Stoner    Dental Decisions Plan          Phone   813.823.8331

Lynn Rance    Direct Dental Systems          Phone   1.800.726.5603                                                                         E-mail   ddsinc@tcol.net

Please use the "BACK" button on your browser, or select to return to the Navigation Page.

8American Independent Dentist's Association
Last update 03/26/98