Indemnifiers cut membership costs for dentists
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- Published: Monday, 30 March 2020 07:05
- Written by News Editor
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Both Dental Protection and MDDUS have offered support to dentists affected by the Covid-19 virus and the ban on most dental work. Dental Protection has announced two months free membership. MDDUS is automatically reducing the subscription cost of indemnity cover for its dentist members by as much as 75%.
Dental Protection
A package of support – the equivalent of offering the next two months of membership for free - has been set out by Dental Protection for members who have experienced a significant drop in their workload and a dramatic fall in income due to Covid-19. Members of Dental Protection are being offered subscription relief. A payment into members’ bank account would be made that is equivalent to two months’ subscription.
As it is unclear when normal patient activity will resume, the organisation has confirmed that it will keep the support provided by subscription relief under review in the months ahead. Alternatively, members who choose to stop practising completely - even for a short period during this crisis – can instead opt to become a deferred member of Dental Protection. They will not pay a subscription during this time and they may return as an active member on the same terms when they resume practice at a later date. It is important to note that while membership is deferred members will not be entitled to the benefits of membership if they carry out any clinical activity including providing telephone triage for patients with urgent needs.
Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection said: “As colleagues and as a fellow health professional, we want to support members during these unprecedented times. Above all else we want to reassure members that Dental Protection is here for them through good times and bad. As a mutual organisation we know there has never been a more important time for us to use our discretionary powers to step in and offer the assistance members need.
“This is not going to be an easy time for any of us, but we are going to get through it. We hope that the subscription relief being offered will make a difference to members during this time. Further information will be shared as soon as possible. We will also continue to monitor the situation closely and we will keep the support provided by subscription relief under review in the months ahead. Members do not need to contact us at this stage. We are sharing our intent to help in this way now, prior to finalising the process, so that the cost of subscriptions is one less thing for them to worry about.”
MDDUS
Dental defence organisation MDDUS is automatically reducing the subscription cost of indemnity cover for its dentist members by as much as 75%. MDDUS is using the flexibility of its mutual status to remove a financial burden from its members now the Government has halted all but emergency dental treatment. Dentists across the UK will no longer carry out routine care in a move that aims to help halt the spread of Covid-19.
Chris Kenny, CEO of MDDUS, said: “This is a difficult and uncertain time for dentists. The impact of the coronavirus on the dental profession is unprecedented and will be causing worries and concerns – both practical and financial – across the board. From a financial perspective, MDDUS is acting decisively in the interests of our members. We are able to use our discretion as a mutual to make swift decisions in our members’ benefit at this testing time in a way that insurance providers cannot.”
Aubrey Craig, Head of MDDUS Dental Division explained: “We are automatically reducing subscriptions for all General Dental Practitioner members, currently working more than one session per week, to our lowest sessional rate. If our dental members are redeployed to work in support of NHS staff in hospitals/local urgent treatment centres specifically on the response to Covid-19, we will apply a further reduction.”
MDDUS will adjust its dental members’ direct debits automatically from 1 April for three months in the first instance, but maintain protection for claims from remote or emergency working and from regulatory actions in relation to both personal and professional conduct. Dental hygienists and dental and orthodontic therapists will retain their full membership at no cost for the same period.
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