Should dental practices/plans be giving compensation for cancelling routine treatments?

joeblogs51

Routine dental/hygienist appointments now cancelled until a later date. I belong to a monthly dental plan called DPAS (similar to Denplan) which offers routine hygienist treatment every 3 months, dental treatment every 6 months and acts as a dental insurance. My hygienist appointment was recently cancelled.

Should the dental practice or the dental plan be offering some compensation for reduced services during covid-19? Since hygienists are not practising right now, I approached the dental practice asking if they can pass on the saving that they are making with their hygienist wage bill. I assume that employed hygienists are being furloughed and self-employed hygienists will be compensated in due course. The practice has very politely said no.

Other than this issue, the dental treatment at the practice has been very good, so I don’t want to close my plan and move to another practice. There are huge rejoining fees if you terminate and rejoin elsewhere.

7Phil

Realities of the business and when comparing to stories from similar types of contracts/plans in other sectors suggests you won't expect a cash refund. I would hope that you will receive the same standard treatment at a deferred time. This might simply be an extension of your plan or some other deal being offered.
It's going to vary between practices so you might need to wait a bit to find out what will happen with yours. I doubt there will be a universal rule to tell you what to expect. That is unless practices are members with some sort of standards body, in which case all practices that are members will fall in line with recommendations from the group.

Another scenario is if your dental plan is geared more towards an insurance type model where receiving treatment is optional, up to a limit. Depending how the plan works you will be covered for a definite period. If you can't receive treatment or don't make a claim during that time then the opportunity is lost.
I suppose a similar analogy is for roadside assistance. I have AA membership. I'm not getting value from that because I am not driving my car to give me a chance to breakdown. But, I won't get a refund either.
In those cases best we can hope for is for our premiums for next year's membership to fall down in line with the reduction of claims. Maybe we will get a cheaper deal next year!

silvercar

Many gyms have put membership on hold. You could consider that dental plans would be similar.
The difference is that most gyms are owned by large companies, whereas dentists are most often individuals struggling to make a living at the moment.

joeblogs51

Thanks, 7Phil. Yes, it looks like I will receive the hygienist appointment in a few month's time without any compensation.

Comparing the AA membership, it would be the equivalent of them not showing up/showing up late for a breakdown. You then negotiate a reduced fee next month/end of the year. I have negotiated a reduced membership increase when I made no callouts during my annual membership. Worth negotiating. (I eventually switched to RAC with Aviva for a third of the price)

Thanks, silvercar. Apparently, they don't offer membership holidays. Since the plan has the insurance aspect to it, I have to keep paying my direct debits to be covered for emergencies.

joeblogs51

Just seen this from the DPAS site (not allowed to post links yet): covid.practiceplangroup.co.uk/adminfee

Surely, the dental practice is justified to pass this saving on to the patients now!

wymondham

silvercar said:

whereas dentists are most often individuals struggling to make a living at the moment.

Never thought I'd see the day when dentists are struggling.... these must be odd times indeed. I once couldn't get an appointment at my dentist for a year due to him liking short notice holidays...

Thrugelmir

Isn't the dentist practice only paid after the treatment is undertaken? 

brook2jack2

For many practices the small amount of income coming in from maintenance schemes may be the difference between being able to stay open and folding. Dentists are still manning emergency services and volunteering in covid wards  but many are not going to get any pay at all. Even though some staff are furloughed the running costs of the practice continues they have to remain open for varying amounts of emergency work  and many face the prospect of going bust ,both personally and the business, very soon. 

Speaking for many I know who are grateful that patients are continuing with their maintenance plans knowing  their appointments are going to be made as soon as possible . 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/one-in-five-dental-practices-going-down-the-tube-jwzpc0lgt

joeblogs51

Thanks, wymondham. That's what happened with this hygienist appointment. It was put back due to holidays and now cancelled due to covid-19.

Thanks, Thrugelmir. I gather they can accept pay per visit treatments, but many run private plans. Some still accept NHS.

Thanks, for the article link, brook2jack2. Patients are also finding it financially/emotionally tough. Being self employed, I have no income until June, hence, I am looking for ways to reduce costs/generate income.

onwards&upwards

wymondham said:

silvercar said:

whereas dentists are most often individuals struggling to make a living at the moment.

Never thought I'd see the day when dentists are struggling.... these must be odd times indeed. I once couldn't get an appointment at my dentist for a year due to him liking short notice holidays...

NHS dentists have been struggling for years. 

brook2jack2

joeblogs51 said:

Just seen this from the DPAS site (not allowed to post links yet): covid.practiceplangroup.co.uk/adminfee

Surely, the dental practice is justified to pass this saving on to the patients now!

This saving will be about 70p per person per month. However it will help with practice finances