If you’ve ever felt like dental insurance plans are playing a shell game with your fees, you’re not imagining it. Welcome to the world ofnetwork leasing—often dressed up with the friendlier name“umbrella networks.”

On paper, umbrella networks sound efficient. In real life? They’re one of the sneakiest ways your fees can quietly shrink while you’re busy, you know…doing dentistry.

What Is an “Umbrella Network,” Anyway?

An umbrella network is an organization thatleases its contracted dentists to other insurance plans. That means:

• You sign a contract withPlan A

• Plan A quietly leases your participation toPlan B

• Suddenly, you’re “in-network” with Plan B

• …atPlan B’s fees, not yours

  

And the kicker? You never directly agreed to Plan B.

The 2025 Stir That Got Dentists Fired Up

In 2025, we saw several leasing arrangements that caused major heartburn across the industry. One of the biggest?

• DHA(also known as Assurant and Sun Life)

• Entered into a leasing agreement withMetLife

Here’s where things got spicy:

Dentists who wereparticipating with DHA but not directly contracted with MetLifesuddenly found themselves:

• Being processed as “in-network” for MetLife patients through DHA’s leased network

• Reimbursed at the DHA fee schedule(because DHA is the contractual bridge MetLife is using)

• Temporarily losing the option to remain truly out-of-network with MetLife on those claims, even though they never signed a direct MetLife contract - but you can still opt out of Met Life through DHA but that takes time

And that’s the gut-punch: plenty of dentistshappilysee MetLife patients while out of network because the economics can be better. Network leasing can quietly flip that switch—turning what used to be an out-of-network opportunity into an in-network discount, routed through the leased fee schedule.

“But They Sent a Notice!” (Did They Though?)

Insurance plans will tell you,“We notified the office.”
Dentists will tell you,“I never saw it.”

Both can technically be true.

Non-urgent insurance correspondence often:

• Gets mailed to a generic address

• Lands in an inbox that hasn’t been checked since last quarter

• Ends up in a pile labeled“deal with later”

Then later arrives… as a30–40% reimbursement drop.

And to make it worse? Some dentists legitimately never receive notices at all—despite the plan insisting they were sent.

Why This Game Isn’t Going Away

Umbrella networks are not a trend. They’re astrategy.

Leasing allows insurance companies to:

• Expand “networks” instantly

• Attract employer groups

• Reduce provider reimbursement without renegotiating contracts

I’ll go one step further with a bold prediction:
One day,Delta Dentalwill become a major leasing network itself. From a business standpoint, it’s the logical next move to further secure their spot in the dental plan world.

Why Dentists Must Pay Attention (More Than Ever)

Umbrella network changes can:

• Instantly alter your fee schedule

• Impact profitability without warning

• Undermine years of careful PPO strategy

And here’s the hard truth:
Evenprofessional PPO fee negotiating firmsstruggle to keep up with every new leasing arrangement.

These deals are constantly evolving. They’re layered. They’re intentionally complex.

But having experts whosejobis to monitor, analyze, and respond to these strategies? That’s no longer a luxury—it’s risk management.

The Takeaway (With a Smile)

You didn’t go to dental school to become an insurance detective.
But the insurance industry is betting you won’t notice the umbrella opening over your head.

So:

• Read your notices (or assign someone who actually will)

• Know who your networks are leasing to

• Question sudden fee drops immediately

• And seriously consider having professionals in your corner

Because umbrella networks aren’t going away.
They’re just getting bigger

And in this circus, the dentists who stay informed are the ones who keep their fees—and their sanity—intact.

Benjamin Tuinei
Founder - Veritas Dental Resources, LLC
📞 888-808-4513
Services: PPO Fee Negotiators, PPO Fee Negotiating, Insurance Fee Negotiating, Insurance Credentialing, Insurance Verifications
Websites: www.VeritasDentalResources.com, www.VerusDental.com