Kim Miranda is director of marketing for Brighter Inc. 

Kim Miranda

	Millions of patients start their search for a new dentist on provider directories powered by insurance carriers. After all, provider directories offer members a convenient place to find providers near them, give them peace of mind that the provider is in-network, and often times offer conveniences such as verified reviews and online appointment booking.

	For dental professionals like you, the key is to ensure that your information is up to date, accurate and provides the best representation of your practice.

“Our 15 million dental customers can use our provider directory to find the right in-network dentist for them and their families,” says Cigna’s VP of Dental Fred Scardellette. “The reliability of information in our directory is critical to ensure our customers get the care they need.”

	You may be thinking, “I subscribe to other services that seem to provide this same value. Do I really need to take the time to update an insurance directory?” Read on - not all Find-a-Dentist tools are created equal.

	Third-party online directories cost anywhere between $29 and $499 per year just to be listed, whereas insurance carrier directories are 100 percent free to use. Plus, the conveniences that you get for free can far outweigh any paid service. Brighter has seen practice revenues increase by $55,000 in their first year alone with zero financial investment.

Trending article: How I managed to create a paperless office

	Maximize your online presence on your insurance carrier provider directories with these features*:

			Photos - add photos of yourself, your staff and your office so that prospective patients will get a better feel for you.

			Tech and amenities - differentiate from other dentists in your area by specifying the cutting-edge technologies and pampering amenities your prospects value.

			Certifications and training - highlight your specific education, credentials and specialties.

			Online appointment requests - prospective patients should be able to immediately request appointments with you after they have read about your practice.

			Online reviews - verified patient reviews located on the directory help patients know what to expect when they walk through your doors.

			Experienced customer service teams - you deserve help, guidance and training from knowledgeable customer service reps. For example, Brighter's sales and support teams have more than 78 years of combined healthcare experience.

	There’s so much more you can do with your insurance carrier’s directory entry than just listing your name, address and phone number. Cigna, Aetna and Delta Dental work with Brighter to offer their providers an easy way for you to take control of your online presence, set your brand apart and request online appointments with you -- right from their directories.

	Your insurance carriers’ directories are free, valuable resources for you to attract new patients to your practice. Isn’t it time to put them to work for you?

*Not all features are available for all carriers. Ask your carrier’s provider relations contact if these are available to you.  

Articles

Utilizing your insurance carrier provider directories can prove to be a powerful tool. 