Navigating Dental Insurance Podcast (SayNoToPPOs.com)
Navigating Dental Insurance Podcast (SayNoToPPOs.com)
This podcast.blog teaches the best practices for cash flow, recurring revenue, Membership plans, PPO Fee negotiation, insurance best practices, marketing, reducing your dependence on dental insurance and building a fee for service practice.
Blog By:
Jordon Comstock
Jordon Comstock

Stop Renting Your Patients from Insurance Companies

Stop Renting Your Patients from Insurance Companies

8/10/2026 8:35:00 AM   |   Comments: 0   |   Views: 25

Why the Most Profitable Practices Are Building Direct Patient Relationships Instead

By Jordon Comstock



Imagine building your dream home on rented land.

You spend years improving it. You invest in the landscaping, remodel the kitchen, add a beautiful backyard, and create something truly valuable.

Then one day, the landlord changes the rules.

Your rent increases.

New restrictions appear.

You have less control over your own property.

Eventually, you realize something unsettling:

You never really owned the land in the first place.

Many dental practices operate the same way.

For decades, we’ve relied on PPOs to bring patients through our doors. Insurance companies have become the “landlords” of patient relationships, deciding reimbursement rates, influencing treatment decisions, and controlling much of the economic landscape of private practice.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

When your growth depends on someone else’s network, you’re renting your patients—not owning the relationship.

The practices thriving today are taking a different approach. They’re building direct relationships with patients through membership plans, exceptional experiences, and recurring revenue. They aren’t abandoning PPOs overnight—they’re reducing their dependence on them by creating something far more valuable: patient loyalty.

The Illusion of Ownership

Most dentists believe they own their patient base.

But ask yourself:
  • What happens if a major PPO reduces reimbursement again?
  • What happens if a network changes its fee schedule?
  • What happens if another practice across town joins the same PPO?
Patients often choose providers based on network participation—not necessarily because of loyalty to your practice.

That’s not a criticism of patients. They’re making rational financial decisions.

The problem is that your practice becomes vulnerable to decisions made outside your control.

When a third party sits between you and your patients, your business becomes dependent on that third party.

The Hidden Cost of Convenience

PPOs absolutely provide value.

They make dental care more affordable for many patients.

They introduce practices to new patients.

For new or growing offices, PPO participation can be an important part of building a patient base.

But convenience comes with tradeoffs.

Many practice owners experience:
  • Lower reimbursements
  • Rising contractual adjustments
  • Higher production requirements to maintain profitability
  • Administrative complexity
  • Less pricing flexibility
Over time, these tradeoffs can quietly reshape the economics of a practice.

Instead of asking, “How do I see more patients?” many owners are beginning to ask:

“How do I build a healthier business?”

The Difference Between Acquisition and Loyalty

Insurance companies are excellent at helping patients find providers.

That doesn’t necessarily create loyalty.

True loyalty is built when patients choose your practice, not simply your network.

Membership plans shift that relationship.

Instead of identifying with an insurance company, patients identify with your office.

They’re members of your practice.

They’re invested in your success.

They’re more likely to return for preventive care, accept treatment, and refer friends and family because they’ve established a direct relationship with your team.

That’s a fundamentally different dynamic.

Why Membership Changes Everything

Think about companies people love.

Costco.

Amazon Prime.

Netflix.

These businesses don’t earn loyalty one transaction at a time.

They build ongoing relationships.

Dental membership plans work similarly.

Patients pay a recurring fee in exchange for preventive care and practice-defined benefits. Rather than relying solely on insurance participation, practices can create a direct value proposition that keeps patients connected to the office.

The result isn’t just recurring revenue.

It’s recurring relationships.

A Better Business Model

Every business asks one important question:

“Who owns the customer relationship?”

In dentistry, that question matters more than ever.

Practices that rely exclusively on PPO participation often have less control over pricing, reimbursement, and patient economics.

Practices that invest in direct patient relationships gain more flexibility.

This isn’t about eliminating PPOs.

It’s about creating options.

When you diversify where your patients come from and how they engage with your practice, your business becomes more resilient.

Case Study: 7 to 7 Dental

One example comes from 7 to 7 Dental, which built one of the largest membership programs featured by BoomCloud.

According to the published case study, the practice grew to 3,484 active members, generating approximately $156,780 in monthly recurring revenue.

That’s nearly $1.9 million in annual recurring revenue generated through membership.

More importantly, thousands of patients chose to become members of the practice—not simply participants in an insurance network.

That’s the power of owning the relationship.

Case Study: Wood River Dental

Wood River Dental provides another compelling example.

According to BoomCloud’s published case study, the practice grew to more than 1,200 active members, producing over $55,000 in recurring monthly revenue.

Membership didn’t replace patient care.

It strengthened it.

The practice created a predictable revenue stream while deepening relationships with patients who wanted ongoing access to care.

The Financial Freedom of Recurring Revenue

One of the biggest advantages of membership programs is predictability.

Traditional practices often begin every month at zero.

Revenue depends on tomorrow’s schedule.

Membership practices begin the month differently.

Recurring revenue arrives before the first hygiene appointment.

That predictable income doesn’t replace production—but it provides stability.

It helps smooth seasonal fluctuations.

It supports hiring decisions.

It creates confidence during economic uncertainty.

Most importantly, it gives owners more freedom when evaluating PPO participation.

Patients Want Relationships

Consumer expectations have changed.

People increasingly value:
  • Transparency
  • Simplicity
  • Predictable pricing
  • Personalized service
Membership plans align naturally with these expectations.

Patients know what they’re receiving.

They understand the value.

They feel connected to the practice.

That’s difficult to achieve when the primary relationship revolves around an insurance card.

Own the Relationship, Not Just the Appointment

The most valuable asset in your practice isn’t your equipment.

It isn’t your building.

It isn’t even your technology.

It’s the trust you’ve built with your patients.

The stronger that relationship becomes, the less dependent your practice is on outside organizations to maintain it.

That’s what membership programs help accomplish.

They transform patients from occasional visitors into long-term members of your practice community.

How BoomCloud Helps Practices Build Direct Relationships

Building a successful membership program requires more than a great idea—it requires the right systems.

BoomCloud helps practices create, manage, and grow membership plans while automating the administrative work behind them.

Practices can:
  • Launch custom membership plans tailored to their patients.
  • Automate recurring billing and renewals.
  • Enroll uninsured and underinsured patients with ease.
  • Track recurring revenue and membership growth.
  • Access reporting that helps measure long-term performance.
  • Provide a seamless experience for both patients and team members.
The platform is designed to reduce friction so your team can spend less time managing memberships and more time building relationships.

Most importantly, BoomCloud helps practices begin creating a financial safety net before making major changes to their PPO strategy.

Stop Renting. Start Building.

There’s nothing wrong with participating in PPOs.

For many practices, they remain an important part of the business.

But relying on them exclusively can leave your practice vulnerable to forces outside your control.

The goal isn’t to declare war on insurance.

The goal is to create balance.

Every new membership patient represents a relationship your practice owns directly.

Every recurring payment creates greater financial stability.

Every loyal member strengthens the long-term value of your practice.

The future belongs to practices that invest in relationships—not just transactions.

So ask yourself one question:

Are you building a patient base you own… or are you still renting it?

If you’re ready to begin building direct patient relationships, BoomCloud offers a free plan that allows practices to launch a membership program, enroll their first members, and start creating recurring revenue. You don’t have to leave PPOs tomorrow. You simply have to begin building a practice that isn’t dependent on them.

Because the strongest dental practices don’t just attract patients.

They earn membership.
Category: Marketing, Practice Management, HR and Accounting
You must be logged in to view comments.
More In Marketing
Culture Clicks
Culture Clicks
by Jaclyn Nona
March 2026
Google Analytics 4: What Dentists Need To Know Now
Google Analytics 4: What Dentists Need To Know Now
Dr. David A. Wank
CE Credits: 1.5
Overcoming Sucktember
Overcoming Sucktember
by Jaclyn Nona
September 2025
What to Post: 25 Essential Social Media Posts
What to Post: 25 Essential Social Media Posts
Dr. John Syrbu
CE Credits: 1.5
More In Practice Management, HR and Accounting
ADAPT: The Science & Practice of Emotional Intelligence in Dentistry
ADAPT: The Science & Practice of Emotional Intelligence in...
Dr. Jason Luchtefeld
CE Credits: 1
Beyond the Network
Beyond the Network
by Carrie Webber and Dru Halverson
May 2025
Handbooks and Policies: What Every Employer Needs to Know
Handbooks and Policies: What Every Employer Needs to Know
Paul Edwards
CE Credits: 1.5
Professional Courtesy: Who’s in Your Boat?
Professional Courtesy: Who’s in Your Boat?
by Dr. Thomas Giacobbi
January 2024
Total Blog Activity
997
Total Bloggers
13,451
Total Blog Posts
4,671
Total Podcasts
1,788
Total Videos
Dentaltown Magazine
July 2026
Dentaltown Magazine July 2026 Read Current Issue Read Archived Issues
Sponsors
Townie Perks