If you’re considering dropping Delta Dental, you don’t need courage.
You need a strategy.
Because this isn’t about emotion.
It’s about replacing a fragile reimbursement model with a scalable revenue engine.
The practices that succeed don’t “rip the Band-Aid off.”
They build the parachute first.
Let’s break down the real playbook.
Why Practices Are Dropping Delta Dental Now
Overhead is rising.
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Wage inflation
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Hygiene shortages
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Supply increases
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Post-COVID operational costs
Meanwhile?
Many PPO reimbursement rates haven’t meaningfully adjusted in decades.
According to the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, practice expenses have risen significantly while insurance reimbursement pressure continues to tighten margins.
That math doesn’t work long term.
If you’re writing off 30–60% of production, you’re not running lean.
You’re running constrained.
And eventually, constrained models collapse.
That’s why more practices are dropping Delta Dental and transitioning to fee-for-service models supported by in-house membership plans.
But here’s the key:
You don’t remove Delta first.
You replace Delta first.
The 7 Real Strategies for Dropping Delta Dental
This is where most practices get it wrong.
They focus on the exit.
Elite practices focus on the infrastructure.
1️⃣ Audit Your Delta Exposure
Before you do anything:
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What % of production is Delta?
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What % of patients are Delta?
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What is your annual write-off total?
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What is revenue per Delta patient vs non-Delta patient?
You can’t fix what you don’t measure.
Track:
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Revenue per patient
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Active patient count
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Reappointment rate
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Case acceptance
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Hygiene utilization
Data removes fear.
2️⃣ Optimize Revenue Per Patient First (Annual Patient Value)
The best way to grow isn’t adding patients.
It’s increasing revenue per patient.
Membership patients spend 2X–4X more annually than traditional PPO patients because:
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They’re committed.
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They’re loyal.
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They don’t wait for insurance approval.
When you improve revenue per patient, you don’t need higher volume.
You need better systems.
3️⃣ Launch a Membership Plan Before Dropping Delta
This is non-negotiable.
Your membership plan becomes:
💰 Your MRR engine
📈 Your ARR stabilizer
❤️ Your retention system
🔁 Your loyalty platform
Example:
900 members at $40/month =
$40,500 MRR (Monthly recurring revenue)
$486,000 ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue)
That’s predictable revenue before treatment is even diagnosed.
Platforms like BoomCloud™ automate:
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Billing
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Enrollment
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Renewals
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Reporting
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Patient communication
Learn how to structure yours here:
👉 https://boomcloudapps.com/dental-clinic-marketing-goals-how-to-scale-a-membership-program-to-365-members/
And explore BoomCloud™ here:
👉 https://boomcloudapps.com/
4️⃣ Train Your Team on Language & Objections
Insurance companies will send letters.
Patients will panic.
Your team must control the narrative.
Train on:
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What not to say
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How to explain out-of-network benefits
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How to present the membership plan
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How to frame value, not price
This is not optional.
Soft skills directly affect retention.
5️⃣ Create a Proactive Communication Strategy
You need:
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Email sequences
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Printed letters
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Text messaging
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Face-to-face scripting
The message:
“You can still see us. Nothing changes in your care. We’ve built something better.”
When communicated clearly, many patients stay.
6️⃣ Strengthen Your New Patient Flow
During transition, hygiene holes will appear.
Plan for it.
You need:
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Active reactivation campaigns
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Dedicated phone outreach
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Marketing consistency
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KPI tracking
Expect temporary schedule fluctuations.
Prepare operationally.
7️⃣ Drop Strategically — Not Emotionally
Do not:
❌ Cancel all PPOs overnight
❌ Announce it impulsively
❌ Skip the data phase
❌ Neglect your team
Instead:
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Set a 6–18 month roadmap
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Gradually shift patient mix
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Increase membership penetration
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Monitor monthly KPIs
Then execute.
What to Expect the First 90 Days After Dropping Delta Dental
Let’s be real.
There will be turbulence.
You may see:
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Hygiene schedule reshuffling
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Some patient attrition
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Increased phone conversations
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Emotional reactions from a small segment
But you’ll also see:
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Higher case acceptance
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Increased production per visit
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Reduced write-offs
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More control over fees
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Improved team morale
Within 6–12 months, most well-executed transitions stabilize.
And many practices report improved profitability even with fewer total patients.
Why?
Because they optimized revenue per patient.
Case Study: From PPO Dependency to Predictable MRR
One multi-location practice gradually transitioned off PPOs over five years.
Delta represented over 50% of their patient base at one point.
Instead of pulling the plug:
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They built a strong membership plan.
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Bonused team members on new member enrollments.
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Tracked KPIs weekly.
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Communicated clearly with patients.
When Delta was finally dropped, they already had:
✔ Established MRR
✔ Strong retention
✔ Operational alignment
✔ Clear messaging
The result?
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Lower chaos
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Higher margins
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Improved work-life balance
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Stronger cash flow
That’s not theory.
That’s execution.
The Real Goal: Freedom + Profitability
Dropping Delta Dental isn’t about rebellion.
It’s about sustainability.
If your current model:
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Burns out your team
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Limits clinical autonomy
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Forces volume-based dentistry
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Suppresses margins
Then your responsibility as a business owner is to evolve.
Membership models give you:
🔒 Stability
📊 Predictability
📈 Scalability
❤️ Loyalty
And most importantly…
Control.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dropping Delta Dental
Is dropping Delta Dental risky?
Only if you don’t replace it with a structured membership and KPI-driven plan.
How long should I prepare?
Most practices strategically prepare 6–18 months.
Will I lose patients?
Yes. Some.
But many will stay — and those who stay often increase lifetime value.
Is this only for large practices?
No. Smaller practices often adapt faster because decision-making is centralized.
Final Thought
If you’re considering dropping Delta Dental, don’t ask:
“Can I afford to leave?”
Ask:
“Can I afford to stay?”
The practices winning long term aren’t chasing volume.
They’re building:
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Recurring revenue (MRR)
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Annual recurring revenue (ARR)
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Higher revenue per patient
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Stronger loyalty systems
And membership is the bridge.
Take the Next Step
📘 Download the million-dollar membership plan ebook
https://boomcloud.myclickfunnels.com/million-dollar-book
🎓 Take The Six-Figure Patient Membership Plan Course
https://www.boomcloudapp.com/six-figure-membership-course
📅 Schedule a Demo of BoomCloud™
https://boomcloudapps.com/demo-schedule
