Since 2005, NADP has offered members access to our Shared Research program designed to pool member resources in order to conduct primary market research on a specific audience important to the dental benefits business. The program has evolved to essentially conducting periodic research on two audiences: consumers and employers. As a result, the Shared Research program has become a subscription based program for consumer and employer studies. The Consumer Tracking study was started in 2015. A similar program focusing on the employer audience began in 2017.

Background

NADP’s Strategic Plan was updated in 2022 to include a specific High Level Initiative to pursue opportunities that focus on the consumer as both the purchaser of dental benefits and the end user of dental services. One of the key components of that initiative included continuing research into consumer behaviors and attitudes toward dental benefits. 

Additionally, as part of the NADP mission to provide value to our membership and the dental benefits industry, we are issuing this call for sponsors of a primary research study addressing consumer attitudes, expectations, and perceptions related to dental benefits and dental health.

Objectives

The objectives of this study are as follows:

  • Identify common attitudes, expectations and perceptions associated with dental coverage and dental health.
  • Track consumer satisfaction with their dental plan and their buying experience.
  • Additional objectives may be developed by the sponsor companies.

Methodology

In order to track changes in attitudes, expectations and perceptions associated with the purchase of dental coverage and attitudes toward dental health, this year’s effort will build upon prior consumer surveys with the opportunity to also understand consumer awareness and attitudes to current issues affecting the consumer access to dental care and dental benefits. Like prior waves, NADP will survey 2,000 to 3,000 consumers using a stratified random sample, with enough responses to compare by regional geography, gender, income, age and educational attainment.  Respondents will be qualified to ensure that they at least 18 years old and share in the health care coverage decisions for their household. 

The timing for this survey is November 2024.

Program Design

This research will be wholly funded by participating sponsors. Each sponsor will contribute a share of the cost of the study based on the following guidelines.

  • NADP members: $5,000
  • Non-members: $6,250

Each sponsor will receive a data file of the aggregate data.

Each sponsor will receive a Final Report and data file within one month upon completion of the data collection.

The final report will be made available for purchase to NADP members, other stakeholders or the general public for a minimum of $5,000 for members and &6,250 for non-members. 

NADP will have all the same rights to the data and the report as any other sponsor.

Benefits

Dental plans funding this study will receive the following benefits:

  • Editorial participation on final content of the survey and reports
  • Access to all data files
  • Access to a final report that will not be available to NADP members or the general public for at least 90 days.

Proposed Timeline

  • September 2024:                    Solicit sponsors.
  • October 2024:                         Design, program and field survey
  • Dec. 2024:                                Release results to study sponsors.

Since study sponsors have editorial rights to the content and timing of the study, Objectives and Timeline are subject to change at their discretion.

For more information about this research project and how to participate, please contact Jerry Berggren, Director of Research and Information at 972-842-9456 or by email to jberggren@nadp.org. Commitments to participate must be made no later than September 30, 2024. If there are not enough commitments to fund the study as outlined in this prospectus, the study may continue with different specifications upon the agreement of all sponsors.