Are you currently requiring auto-drafts from patients choosing your in-office payment plan? |
48 total votes |
|
46% |
a. Yes |
|
54% |
b. No |
|
|
Do you ever extend payment plans beyond treatment time? |
113 total votes |
|
5% |
a. Often |
|
63% |
b. Sometimes |
|
32% |
c. Never |
|
|
Do you pull a credit report to determine risk before offering a payment plan? |
114 total votes |
|
18% |
a. Often |
|
10% |
b. Sometimes |
|
72% |
c. Never |
|
|
Do you offer third-party financing? |
113 total votes |
|
81% |
a. Yes |
|
19% |
b. No |
|
|
What percentage of your patients choose third-party financing? |
114 total votes |
|
75% |
a. 1-25 percent |
|
5% |
b. 26-50 percent |
|
1% |
c. 51-75 percent |
|
0% |
d. 76-100 percent |
|
18% |
e. We do not offer third-party financing |
|
|
Have you noticed an increase in the number of declines from third-party finance companies? |
107 total votes |
|
25% |
a. Yes |
|
75% |
b. No |
|
|
What is your biggest challenge in managing your office payment plans? |
111 total votes |
|
40% |
a. Managing a divorce situation |
|
20% |
b. Explaining how insurance and/or flex plans work |
|
4% |
c. Declined auto payments then patients "no show" for appointments |
|
5% |
d. Having custodial parents sign financial arrangements - not "step-parents" |
|
0% |
e. Managing accounts when bankruptcy has been filed in court |
|
32% |
f. All of the above |
|
|
How do you deal with an account when bankruptcy has been filed? |
109 total votes |
|
15% |
a. Remove the braces and dismiss the patient |
|
24% |
b. Complete treatment and accept what has been paid on the account |
|
61% |
c. Write-off the existing balance and re-negotiate |
|
|
Do you consider a "dismissed bankruptcy" on a credit report a high risk for your practice? |
106 total votes |
|
72% |
a. Yes |
|
28% |
b. No |
|
|
Do you have online payments available for your patients? |
113 total votes |
|
30% |
a. Yes |
|
70% |
b. No |
|
|
What amount is the down payment you currently request? |
113 total votes |
|
8% |
a. None |
|
3% |
b. One to four percent |
|
6% |
c. Five to seven percent |
|
83% |
d. Eight percent or more |
|
|
Have your patients ever delayed the start of treatment because they couldn’t immediately pay cash for the down payment? |
112 total votes |
|
88% |
a. Yes |
|
12% |
b. No |
|
|
How long are you willing to extend in-house financing to your patients? |
113 total votes |
|
8% |
a. Up to 6 months |
|
4% |
b. Up to12 months |
|
23% |
c. Up to 18 months |
|
42% |
d. Up to 24 months |
|
23% |
e. More than 24 months |
|
|
How would you describe your practice’s case starts for January to March 2008 compared with January to March 2007? |
114 total votes |
|
22% |
a. Significantly fewer starts in 2008 (off by more than 10 percent) |
|
26% |
b. Slightly fewer starts in 2008 (off by 10 percent or less) |
|
33% |
c. More starts in 2008 |
|
18% |
d. Same |
|
|
In the next 12 months, how do you see your use of third-party patient financing? |
113 total votes |
|
26% |
a. Increasing |
|
6% |
b. Decreasing |
|
68% |
c. Staying the same |
|
|