{ business solutions } Missouri Dental Insurance Services


Using Employee Benefi ts to Anchor Your Dental Team


by JERRI WILDHABER I


n the high-stakes world of dentist- ry, the “revolving door” of staff is more than an inconvenience—it’s a profi t killer. With turnover costs


for a single dental professional often exceeding 50 percent to 150 percent of their annual salary, retention isn’t just an HR goal; it’s a fi nancial necessity. To keep a high-performing team intact, practice owners must move beyond competitive wages and leverage a stra- tegic benefi ts package that addresses today’s dental professional’s needs.


HEALTH INSURANCE


While it may seem ironic, many dental staff members lack comprehensive health coverage, yet, employees priori- tize their health and wellness options.


How it retains: Off ering robust medi- cal and mental health benefi ts signals that you value the person, not just the “producer.” When an employee knows their family’s health is secured through their job, the “switching cost” to move to a practice without those benefi ts becomes too high to risk.


How MDIS can help:We can help you deter- mine if a Group Health Plan could work for your team or maybe a Health Reimburse- ment Arrangement (HRA) works better for your budget. This is not a one-size-fi ts all process, and by discussing what you need, we can help you come up with an option that works for your team.


THE “IN-HOUSE” DENTAL ADVANTAGE


Providing free or deeply discounted dental care for staff and their immediate families is a “low-cost, high-value” benefi t.


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“Vesting” means the employee only “owns” the employer’s contributions after staying for a set period (e.g., 3-5 years). This creates a powerful fi nancial incentive to stay and grow with the practice.


How MDIS can help: We have partnered with fi nancial advisors that have experience work- ing with dental practices to help you set up a 401(k) plan that fi ts your practice and goals fi nancially. We even have a group retirement plan that has signifi cantly discounted fees negotiated for your practice to benefi t from when part of the group, while still being able to customize your retirement plan.


THE BOTTOM LINE


How it retains: It creates brand ambassadors. When your hygienist receives the same top- tier cosmetic or restorative work the practice provides to patients, they speak from a place of personal experience and pride. It fosters a sense of belonging to a “clinical family.”


How MDIS can help: We can help you set up Excepted Benefi t HRA that lays out schedule of benefi ts for your team that can be used in your offi ce or with providers outside of your offi ce for treatment you may not provide.


RETIREMENT & FINANCIAL WELLNESS


The “star” employees in any practice are usually those who are planning for the long term.


How it retains: A 401(k) with a vested em- ployer match is the ultimate retention tool.


A dental practice is only as strong as the team behind the masks. By shifting your perspec- tive from “benefi ts as an expense” to “benefi ts as a retention investment,” you create a cul- ture where the best talent doesn’t just show up—they stay. Call MDIS, we can help you set up employee benefi ts that your employees want and need.


Jerri Wildhaber is a licensed agent and MDIS Operations Director. Contact her at 800-944-7550 or info@mdis4dds. com. Go online to MDIS4DDS.COM to download the Guide to MDIS Products and Services, as seen below. You can fi nd it on the homepage.


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MDIS IS A SUBSIDARY OF THE MISSOURI DENTAL ASSOCIATION


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