With changes in dental coverage becoming all the more common, the payer landscape is evolving.
Bete Johnson, senior vice president and general manager at CareCredit, a Synchrony solution and healthcare credit card company, connected with Becker's via email May 25 to discuss how the dental payer space has evolved.
Editor's note: These responses were edited lightly for clarity and brevity.
Question: How has the payer landscape changed within dental in the last five years?
Bete Johnson: The payer landscape has evolved over the past five years, as a number of health plans moved toward including adult dental coverage, more than doubling those who offered bundled coverage in 2018. Even though standalone dental plans continue to dominate the market, this consolidation of coverage is expected to continue and follows a broader trend we've seen across the healthcare industry. Which means, either through a standalone dental plan or their health plan, the majority of patients have insurance benefits to contribute to the cost of care. To help patients manage the gap between insurance benefits and today’s dental costs and to give them a convenient way to pay for wanted elective care, most dentists also offer a convenient financing resource.
Q: How has the pandemic affected the dental landscape?
BJ: The scope and length of time of the pandemic's impact will be felt. Many of the issues we've seen hospitals and healthcare systems experience, such as staffing shortages and financial difficulties, are also impacting dental practices. According to the American Dental Association, the majority of dentists who are currently seeking to add to their teams report recruitment challenges for dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and administrative staff, categorizing hiring for these roles as "extremely challenging."
Patient demand for dental services has fluctuated throughout the pandemic, often aligned with COVID infection rates. With cases currently rising, some dentists are anxiously waiting to see whether, and how much, the next wave will impact their practices. We've also heard firsthand from dentistry professionals that after the "reopening" patient surge which kept the practice busy, patient bookings have become more unpredictable and patients are canceling appointments last minute. This may be due in part to continued concern of exposure to COVID-19 as cases rise, the percent of dental care that is not covered by insurance — which was $53.2 billion in 2020 — changes in insurance coverage due to the "Great Resignation" and the current economy.