Let’s be honest for a second. PPO contracts are like that one ex you should’ve broken up with five years ago. The red flags were everywhere: controlling behavior, never returning your calls (especially when you really needed a claim paid), and always expecting you to do more for less. But you stayed… for the kids—I mean, the patients.

Now you’re finally ready to go out of network. Congratulations, you brave, beautiful soul. You’re not just breaking up with an insurance plan; you’re reclaiming your dignity and your profitability. And guess what? You can still keep your patients, too. Yep, it's possible to be the heartbreaker and the fan favorite.

Here’s how today’s smartest dentists are making the great escape without burning the practice down:

1. The Grand Rebrand: “We’re Not Abandoning You—We’re Leveling Up”

You’re not “dropping insurance.” That sounds cold and heartless, like dumping someone by text. Instead, you’re elevating your standard of care, unshackling from limitations, and offering more personalized service. Tell your patients that this shift allows you to provide higher quality dentistry without the interference of a third-party bean counter named Larry who thinks a crown should cost $38.

Craft your messaging like you’re announcing a new Michelin-star menu, not closing the doors. “We’re out-of-network now, and that’s a good thing—for you. More time with the doctor, more treatment options, less confusion. You’re worth it.” Boom. Mic drop.

2. Keep It Chill—Patients Don’t Care as Much as You Think

Here's the truth: Patients don’t love their insurance company. They love you. They trust you. They want your hands in their mouth, not the PPO’s.

So, stop assuming everyone will storm out waving pitchforks when you announce your out-of-network status. Most won’t even flinch—especially if you explain that they can still use their benefits with you, you’ll still file claims, and your team will help them maximize what they’ve already paid premiums for. Easy. Done.

Bonus: some of your best patients might even say, “About time, doc. Insurance is a racket.” These are the keepers.

3. Write the Breakup Letter… with Style

When you send your farewell notice to the insurance company, be professional—but in your heart, know you’re writing, “It’s not me, it’s definitely you.”

But for patients? Craft a letter that’s positive, hopeful, and benefits-focused:

• Acknowledge their concerns.

• Reassure them their benefits still work here.

• Emphasize your commitment to exceptional care, not mediocre reimbursements.

• And most importantly, make it personal. “Our relationship with you matters more than our relationship with insurance.” (It sounds cheesy, but it works.)

4. Train Your Team Like They’re Running for Office

The team is your frontline army. You’re not just teaching them how to say things—you’re training them how to sell hope.

They need to answer the phones like seasoned diplomats:

“Yes, we’re now out-of-network with XYZ Insurance, but the great news is—you can still come here and use your benefits! We’ll help you navigate it all, and you won’t notice much of a difference at all. And remember, our care is still top-notch, just without insurance interference.”

Use roleplay. Use scripting. Use chocolate bribes if you must. Just make sure they sound confident, compassionate, and unbothered—because if your team freaks out, patients definitely will.

5. Replace Insurance With... Something Better

Don’t just pull the rug out—replace it. Offer a killer in-house membership plan that makes patients say, “Wait, why was I even using insurance again?”

BoomCloud is a great tool for that, by the way. Their membership plan wizardry makes it easy to set up your own VIP club. Patients pay you directly, skip the third-party mess, and you create predictable revenue. Everybody wins—except, of course, the insurance company. (Insert tiny violin music here.)

6. Use Scarcity Marketing (Because It Works Like a Charm)

When you announce your change, don’t beg. Instead, let your patients know that you’re refining your practice to serve fewer patients, more personally. Use phrases like:

• “We’re limiting how many patients we take per day to provide better care.”

• “We’re focusing on quality over quantity.”

• “Our priority is you—not insurance quotas.”

Suddenly, you’re not the desperate dentist clinging to reimbursements—you’re the exclusive provider everyone still wants in their mouth.

7. Watch Your Revenue Go Up While Your Stress Goes Down

Let’s not pretend going out-of-network is all sunshine and root canals. There’s a learning curve. But you’ll finally be able to set your own fees, design your own treatment plans, and stop begging for scraps from insurance overlords.

Practices that go out of network often make more money, not less. Why? Because they:

• Stop writing off 40% of their fees.

• Deliver more comprehensive care without arbitrary limitations.

• Attract patients who value their health and are willing to invest in it.

You’re not just making money—you’re doing dentistry the way you dreamed of doing it in dental school… before reality slapped you with 22-page EOBs and pre-auth denials.

Final Thought: Be Bold, Be Clear, Be Unapologetic

This isn’t just a shift in how you get paid. It’s a mindset. Going out of network means you're choosing freedom over fear. You’re trusting yourself, your value, and the loyalty of the people you serve.

And when you do it right, you’ll not only retain most of your patients—you’ll gain new ones who were never coming to you for the insurance. They came for you.

So go ahead—ghost that PPO. You deserve better.

Need help navigating your out-of-network strategy? Check out Veritas Dental Resources for fee negotiations, insurance training, and making this transition smoother than a freshly polished crown.

Want to build a killer in-house plan to replace those insurance headaches? Visit BoomCloud and start your own patient loyalty empire.

Because dentistry isn’t dead. It’s just finally going out on its own terms.

Benjamin Tuinei

Founder - Veritas Dental Resources, LLC
Phone: 888-808-4513

Services:
PPO Fee Negotiators | PPO Fee Negotiating | Insurance Fee Negotiating
Insurance Credentialing | Insurance Verifications

Websites:
www.VeritasDentalResources.com | www.VerusDental.com