Cadwell Dental News
Dentist offers local businesses an alternative, affordable dental care solution (Tri Cities Area Journal of Business)
With insurance costs on the rise many small business owners are having to make a tough decision - which employee benefits to keep and which they can do without.
And for many, dental coverage has been on the chopping block.
Richland dentist Josh Cadwell is doing his best to ensure that even those without dental insurance can still afford to keep their smiles healthy.
Last year, Cadwell Dental started offering individual membership plans - a way for for people to keep up on their dental care without breaking the bank. The individual membership cost for an adult is $19.50 a month, which includes two cleanings a year plus exams, x-rays and two emergency visit exams during normal business hours. Members also save 15 to 20 percent on services like fillings, crowns and orthodontics.
Now Cadwell is turning his attention to small business owners, offering two group membership plans that give businesses the option of providing dental care to their employees at what Cadwell hopes are attractive and affordable rates.
Cadwell's Group Preventative Membership, mirrors the individual plan - costing the same $19.50 a month and including the same benefits, with the addition of an extra cleaning. So a person can visit the dentist three times a year under this plan for regular maintenance and preventative care, while also receiving a 15 to 20 percent discount on other work they may need done.
But Cadwell wanted to do more.
"We wanted to have something like a traditional (insurance) plan," Cadwell said.
So he and his team created the Group Total Care Membership. This plan costs $39.50 a month and includes three visits a year and $1,000 allowance a year to help cover the cost of any services like fillings and crowns. After that money has been used, patiients receive a discount on any other services they need, with the plan covering 80 percent of the cost of fillings and 50 percent of the cost of major work, like crowns, up to $1,000. The total care membership also includes a $1,000 to $1,250 allowance for orthodontics.
At the end of the year, members receive a refund of the payments they've made that are above the retail value of the yearly services that are covered.
"If there are any unused premiums you get it back," Cadwell said.
Cadwell said the reaction to his new membership plans has been positive. To date he said he has more than 300 people signed up for individual membership plans and six businesses currently enrolled in the different types of business plans.
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