Most of the patients at our Clearwater office pay for their own care, and many of them have no dental insurance at all. Some are self-employed, some are retired, and some simply decided the monthly premium was not worth it. If that is you, the question is not really “how do I get insurance” but “how do I keep my teeth healthy at a predictable price.” Our answer is the Healthy Patient Membership Plan, an in-house plan that costs $420 a year. This article lays out exactly what it includes, what it does not, and the situations where a PPO plan still comes out ahead. New to the office? The simplest first step is to book the $99 new patient visit, see where your teeth stand, and decide about the plan from there.
What the $420 Covers
The Healthy Patient Membership Plan is one flat annual fee paid directly to our office. For $420 a year, a member receives:
- 2 professional cleanings per year
- 2 exams with Dr. Cannady per year
- Annual X-rays
- 1 emergency exam per year
- 10% off any treatment
The fee is paid once a year at enrollment; there is no monthly billing. We also offer a Perio Plan at $540 a year (three periodontal maintenance visits instead of regular cleanings) and a Child Plan at $348 a year (adds fluoride). For comparison, most private dental offices in Florida charge $100 to $300 for an exam with X-rays and $100 to $200 for a routine cleaning, so paying visit by visit adds up quickly before any treatment is even considered. The cleanings and exams members receive are the same thorough visits every patient gets; there is no abbreviated “member version.”
How the 10% Treatment Discount Works
If your exam turns up a cavity, a cracked tooth, or something bigger, your membership takes 10% off whatever Dr. Cannady recommends: fillings, crowns, implants, cosmetic work, all of it. The discount applies to every treatment we offer, not a short list. And because we are a fee-for-service practice, you see the price in writing before anything starts, with the discount already applied.
One honest note about the name. The plan covers preventive care for patients in good periodontal health. If your exam finds gum disease, Dr. Cannady will recommend the right treatment for it rather than a routine cleaning, and your 10% member discount applies to that treatment.
What the Plan Is Not
It is not insurance, and that is deliberate. There are no waiting periods, no deductibles, no annual maximums, and no claims or denials. You are not paying a middleman's network fees; the $420 goes to your actual care. Nobody outside the office has a say in what Dr. Cannady recommends. If you have searched for a “dental savings plan” or “dental discount plan” in Clearwater, this is that, run directly by the office that treats you instead of a third-party card company.
When Insurance Is Still the Better Deal
We would rather you make the right call than sign up for something you do not need, so here is the plain version.
If you have a PPO plan through work, use it. The membership plan is designed for patients without dental insurance. Cannady Dental is not in-network with any plan, but we file claims for all PPO plans, and most PPOs pay out-of-network benefits with reimbursement sent directly to you. We verify your coverage before your visit so you know your expected costs up front. Our insurance and financing page explains how that works. If you are weighing both options, ask us; we will run the numbers for your plan and tell you which is the better value.
If you expect a lot of major work this year, a PPO's percentage coverage on crowns or root canals may beat a flat 10% discount, up to the plan's annual maximum. Once you hit that maximum, though, the comparison flips.
If you have Medicaid or an HMO/DMO/DSNP plan, we cannot bill those plans at all. For those patients, the membership plan, the $99 new patient special, and Cherry financing are the realistic way to be seen here.
If you have no coverage and mostly need preventive care, the membership plan is built for you. Two cleanings, two exams, X-rays, and an emergency exam for $420, with no waiting period, usually beats buying an individual dental policy and then waiting months for benefits to start.
Paying for Bigger Treatment Without Insurance
The membership discount is one tool. The others are on our affordable dentist in Clearwater page: a $99 first visit that includes the exam, full digital X-rays, and a written treatment plan; Cherry monthly payment plans with a quick soft-credit-check application; and the rule that every treatment comes with a written price before work begins. Treatment can also be phased, most urgent first, so a plan fits your budget rather than the other way around.
How to Join
Call or text (727) 441-3523, or ask a team member at any visit; enrollment takes a few minutes and we will schedule your first cleaning and exam at the same time. Families can ask about enrolling other household members. Many patients start with the $99 new patient visit, review their treatment plan, and join the membership plan that same day so the first cleaning is already covered.
Membership Plan Questions Clearwater Patients Ask
What does the $420 Healthy Patient Membership Plan include?
For $420 per year, members receive 2 cleanings, 2 exams with Dr. Cannady, annual X-rays, 1 emergency exam, and 10% off any treatment. It is an in-house plan for patients without dental insurance, with no waiting periods, deductibles, annual maximums, or claims.
Is the membership plan dental insurance?
No. It is a dental savings plan run directly by our Clearwater office. You pay one flat annual fee to us, your preventive care is covered, and nobody outside the office influences what Dr. Cannady recommends.
Can I use the membership plan if I already have a PPO plan?
The plan is designed for patients without dental insurance. If you have a PPO plan, we file claims with your insurance instead, and most PPOs pay out-of-network benefits directly to you. Ask us and we will tell you which option is the better value for your situation.
Does the membership plan cover dental emergencies?
It includes 1 emergency exam per year, so the exam to diagnose a toothache or broken tooth is covered. Any treatment that follows receives the 10% member discount.
What if my exam finds gum disease?
The plan covers preventive care for patients in good periodontal health. If gum disease is found, Dr. Cannady will recommend the appropriate treatment instead of a routine cleaning, and your 10% member discount applies to that treatment.
How do I join the membership plan?
Call or text (727) 441-3523 or ask a team member at any visit. Enrollment takes a few minutes, and many patients join right after their $99 new patient visit.
About the Author
Dr. Christopher Cannady is a general dentist and a graduate of the Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, with more than 500 hours of advanced training in implants, full-mouth rehabilitation, Invisalign, sedation, and occlusion therapy. He is active in the American Dental Association, the Florida Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry, and he personally sees every patient at every visit at Cannady Dental, 1651 Rainbow Dr, Clearwater. Questions? Call or text (727) 441-3523 or send us a message.