Why Haven’t PPO Plans Raised Fees or Yearly Maximums in 25 Years?

In this episode of The Less Insurance Dependence Podcast, hosts Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah tackle the question of why PPO plans have not raised fees or yearly maximums in 25 years. They attribute this stagnation to insurance companies’ greed, emphasizing the industry’s profit-driven nature. Despite this, they offer insights and strategies for dental practices looking to reduce their dependence on insurance plans and transition to a fee-for-service model.

Gary and Naren address common concerns of dentists, such as drawing enough fee-for-service patients and surviving in states like California, where insurance economics may need to align with practice viability. They highlight the importance of mastering organic search engine optimization to attract new patients from sources like Google rather than relying solely on PPO plans for patient referrals. By emphasizing the value of quality care and creating positive patient experiences, practices can effectively transition away from insurance dependence.

Reviewed by

Naren Arulrajah

CEO & Founder, Ekwa Marketing

Naren Arulrajah is the CEO and Founder of Ekwa Marketing, a 300-person dental marketing agency that has helped hundreds of practices grow through SEO, reputation management, and digital strategy. A published author of three books on dental marketing, contributor to Dentistry IQ, co-host of the Thriving Dentist Show and the Less Insurance Dependence Podcast, and a member of the Academy of Dental Management Consultants. He has spent 19 years focused exclusively on helping dental practices succeed online.