When Is the Wrong Time to Go Out of Network?

Going out of network with insurance is a big decision for any dental practice, but timing is crucial. In this episode of The Less Insurance Dependence Podcast, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah break down the key mistakes practice owners make when transitioning away from PPO plans. They outline four critical factors to evaluate before making the move, including the strength of patient relationships, the effectiveness of marketing strategies, and scheduling demand.

If your practice isn’t prepared, dropping PPOs at the wrong time can lead to revenue loss, empty schedules, and unnecessary stress. But with the right approach, you can successfully transition while maintaining financial stability. This episode is essential for practice owners who want to take control of their profitability without risking their patient base. Tune in to learn practical steps to ensure your practice is truly ready to go out of network.

• 00:01:31 – Panky online webinar – Your Blueprint to Successfully Resign from PPO plans
  March 14th, 2025 at 2PM ET
  Register now – www.panki.org
• 00:03:13 – When Is the Wrong Time to Go Out of Network?
• 00:06:04 – The problem with being in-network with PPOs is that everything about a PPO practice turns patient care into a transaction rather than a relationship-driven experience.
• 00:11:11 – The wrong time to go out of network is when you are not giving patients any unique reasons to choose your office from a patient’s perspective.

One thing I noticed as a common pattern of those who struggle is, they don’t replace the patients they’re gonna lose… The ones who don’t figure out a way to replace those patients before resigning struggle because they’ll end up with schedules being open and people panicking.

When your practice is not relationship-driven… Everything about being in a PPO practice takes you away from being relationship-driven. It’s a transaction. Patient came to you to take their insurance, and we’ve got to pedal fast because we give away 40 to 50% of our fee to the fat cats at the insurance company.