By Mark Johnston, DDS, MDA Insurance and MDA Services Board Chair

It’s never been harder to recruit and retain auxiliary positions in dental practices. New strategies are needed to make our offices attractive to new employees, and to make them more desirable places for our tried-and-true teammates. In addition to reviewing our pay scales and making market adjustments as needed, practice owners should consider offering new benefits. Voluntary benefits are those that the employer makes available for employees to purchase using pre-tax dollars. Consider these group programs available from MDA Insurance and MDA Services.
• MDA Health Plan, a group health plan for you and your employees.
• MDA-endorsed DBS Investment Advisers, LLC can implement 401(k) retirement savings plans for you and your employees. Contact Ted Schumann II at 800-327-2377 for a consultation.
• Group life insurance to provide for the well-being of your employees’ dependents.
• Group disability insurance, either short-term or long-term protection. Because females hold many auxiliary positions, short-term disability is a valuable benefit to provide income during maternity-related disabilities. Disability insurance benefits purchased by the employee are received
tax free.
Here are other insurance products that your employees can buy from MDA Insurance, leveraging the association’s buying power. Employees can pay these premiums directly.
• Vision insurance through VSP, which also includes a hearing benefit.
• Accident/critical illness and hospital recovery insurance to provide a monetary benefit when financial help may be needed as the result of a health emergency.
• Auto, home and renter’s insurance. Your MDA member discount extends to your employees when they secure these coverages through MDA Insurance.
Call MDA Insurance at 800-860-2272 to explore these options further.