Patient Plan Direct
Patient Plan Direct is a UK-based dental membership plan administrator serving 700+ practices with a cloud-based platform, Bacs Direct Debit processing, and a white-label plan product priced 30-50% below major incumbents. The company was acquired by Agilio Software in January 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersRuncorn, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Patient Plan Direct does
Patient Plan Direct (legal entity: Patient Plan Direct Limited, Company No. 06905458) is a UK-based dental membership plan administration provider founded in 2009 and headquartered in Runcorn, Cheshire, with a registered office in Widnes. The company enables dental practices to operate practice-branded (white-label) membership plans under which patients pay recurring monthly fees in exchange for routine dental care and Global Dental Accident & Emergency Scheme cover. Its technology stack comprises a cloud-based plan administration platform with an online client portal, Bacs Direct Debit processing, and a proprietary Simple Switch bulk-transfer process that migrates patients from incumbent providers without requiring new Direct Debit mandates. Supporting workflow tooling includes NHS-to-private conversion programmes, new plan launch services, the Squat Practice Pathway for newly formed practices, and AI-driven onboarding automation in development.
Patient Plan Direct generates recurring revenue through monthly administration fees paid by dental practices on a per-plan-patient basis, pricing its service 30-50% below incumbents Denplan, Practice Plan, and DPAS, with documented annual savings per practice of approximately £3,019 (vs DPAS), £7,500 (vs Practice Plan), and £15,900 (vs Denplan). It serves 700+ UK dental practices — predominantly SMB independents alongside an emerging mid-market group/DSO segment — via a direct sales team supplemented by a £250 referral-voucher programme and content marketing (Sound Bites podcast, NHS Conversion Report 2026). Reported client retention exceeds 99%, and the firm is regulated by the FCA (FRN 948841) as a payment services provider.
In January 2026 Patient Plan Direct was acquired by Agilio Software, a Sheffield-based healthcare software provider with an existing dental compliance, workforce, and marketing software portfolio. The combined group is pursuing phased technology integration — including PMS integrations, single sign-on, and AI-led automation — with PPD continuing to operate its existing service while benefiting from Agilio's enterprise distribution.
Patient Plan Direct firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Patient Plan Direct
- Legal name
- Patient Plan Direct Limited
- Website
- https://patientplandirect.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Patient Plan Direct is a UK-based dental membership plan administrator serving 700+ practices with a cloud-based platform, Bacs Direct Debit processing, and a white-label plan product priced 30-50% below major incumbents. The company was acquired by Agilio Software in January 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Patient Plan Direct industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Dental Membership Plan Administration
- NAICS
- Offices of Dentists (621210)
- SIC
- Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Membership/Subscription & Direct-Pay General Dentistry Practices (HLABAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Stand-Alone Dental Plans (Individual/Family) (HLAEAIAF), Dental Discount Plans (Dental Savings Plans) (HLAEAIAD)
Keywords
Where Patient Plan Direct is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Runcorn
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Patient Plan Direct business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Dental Practice Plan Administration: Patient Plan Direct provides dental membership plan administration services to UK dental practices. They charge administration fees (lower than competitors) and provide practice-branded dental plans, Direct Debit collection services, patient communication, and training support. Revenue comes from recurring administration fees paid by dental practices based on the number of plan patients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Low-cost administration fees for dental practice plan management |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Patient Plan Direct product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Patient Plan Direct administers practice-branded dental membership plans for UK dental practices, handling Direct Debit collection, patient communications, and ongoing account management. Practices pay recurring monthly administration fees per plan patient and receive white-label plans, an online portal for real-time reporting, conversion/onboarding support (Simple Switch, NHS-to-Private, new plan launch), and A&E cover for patients via the Global Dental Accident & Emergency Scheme.
Product overview
Patient Plan Direct provides a comprehensive dental practice plan ecosystem built around its core practice-branded membership plan product. The offering combines the main Dental Practice Plans (providing recurring revenue through patient membership subscriptions) with the Dental Practice Portal for administration management. Supporting services include Simple Switch for seamless provider transitions, NHS to Private Conversion for practice transitions, and New Plan Launch for launching new plans. The Global Dental Accident and Emergency Scheme provides A&E coverage as an included benefit. Additional offerings include the Squat Practice Pathway for new practices, Sound Bites educational content series, and a Refer a Practice program. The company positions itself as a low-cost alternative to larger providers like Denplan, Practice Plan, and DPAS, focusing on essential plan administration without unnecessary extras.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Simple Switch: A streamlined bulk transfer process for dental practices switching plan providers, handling Direct Debit transfers seamlessly without requiring patient action.
- Global Dental Accident and Emergency Scheme
Products and services
- Dental Practice Plans Practice-branded dental membership plans administered on behalf of UK dental practices, providing recurring monthly patient payments for ongoing dental care with included A&E cover via the Global Dental Scheme.
- Simple Switch Bulk transfer service that moves patients' Direct Debits from another plan provider to Patient Plan Direct in the background, with full mailing fulfilment and transfer communication so patients do not need to take action or re-mandate.
- NHS to Private Conversion End-to-end service supporting UK dental practices transitioning from NHS dentistry to private practice, covering financial analysis, patient communications, team training, and implementation planning.
- New Dental Practice Plan Launch Launch support service for dental practices introducing a new dental plan, covering plan design, practice-branded design, pricing strategy, and patient communication.
- Dental Practice Portal Web-based client administration portal where dental practices can manage plans, sign up patients, and track plan performance in real time as part of the PPD administration service.
- Global Dental Accident and Emergency Scheme Accident and emergency dental cover scheme provided to patients enrolled in PPD membership plans, operated as a separate trading entity under Patient Plan Direct Ltd.
- Squat Practice Pathway Twelve-month structured program for new dental practice owners providing strategic guidance to establish recurring revenue through dental plans from the day a practice opens.
Quantifiable outcome
- Practices switching from DPAS can save approximately £3,019 per year
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Patient Plan Direct
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Patient Plan Direct technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Patient Plan Direct partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Agilio SoftwarecoreAgilio Software, a healthcare software provider headquartered in Sheffield, Yorkshire, acquired Patient Plan Direct in January 2026. The acquisition combines Agilio's existing dental compliance, workforce, and marketing software with PPD's expertise in practice-branded membership plans. Both companies will undergo a phased integration process while continuing to support existing PPD and iPlan customers. Agilio plans to integrate PPD's capabilities with its technology roadmap, including PMS integrations, single sign-on, and AI automation to reduce administrative burden for dental practices.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Patient Plan Direct competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DPAS (Dental Plans Administration Services): UK dental plan administrator offering practice-branded membership plans and Direct Debit collection. A named competitor against which PPD benchmarks its savings claims (approx £3,019/yr switching from DPAS).
- Western Circle: UK-based provider of dental patient payment plans and practice membership solutions for independent practices and groups. Closely comparable offering to PPD.
- Denplan (Simplyhealth): The UK's largest dental plan administrator, owned by Simplyhealth. Directly competes with Patient Plan Direct on practice-branded plan administration, Direct Debit collection, and NHS-to-private switching. PPD's main incumbent competitor.
- iPlan: Sister dental plan product within the Agilio Software group post-PPD acquisition; supports existing PPD and iPlan customers through phased integration. Directly comparable dental membership plan administration offering.
- Practice Plan: UK dental membership plan administrator serving independent practices and groups. Directly comparable to PPD on dental plan administration, patient payment collection, and practice support services.
Broad incumbents
- Simplyhealth: UK health insurer and owner of Denplan. Operates broadly in health cash plans and dental insurance, giving it scale advantages and broader distribution versus PPD's specialist positioning.
- Bupa Dental Care: Major UK dental insurance and corporate dental provider with broader financial-services scale. Overlaps with PPD via membership/insurance-backed dental plans but operates as an incumbent with clinic ownership.
Emerging players
- Patient Plan (by Wesleyan): UK mutual provider offering dental plan products. Less specialized than PPD in pure dental-plan administration but competes for the same dental practice plan wallet share, particularly for financial-services-branded plans.
Others
- Software of Excellence: UK dental practice management software (PMS) provider. Not a direct plan administrator but adjacent — PMS integrations are a critical part of plan-admin workflows and Agilio is positioning PPD alongside its software stack.
- Agilio Software (parent): Parent company of Patient Plan Direct; provides dental compliance, workforce, and marketing software to UK dental practices. Enables cross-sell and PMS integration but is not itself a dental plan administrator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Patient Plan Direct social profiles
Digital presencePatient Plan Direct compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Patient Plan Direct financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Patient Plan Direct leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Patient Plan Direct funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Patient Plan Direct M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Patient Plan Direct
What does Patient Plan Direct do?
Patient Plan Direct administers practice-branded dental membership plans for UK dental practices, handling Direct Debit collection, patient communications, and ongoing account management. Practices pay recurring monthly administration fees per plan patient and receive white-label plans, an online portal for real-time reporting, conversion/onboarding support (Simple Switch, NHS-to-Private, new plan launch), and A&E cover for patients via the Global Dental Accident & Emergency Scheme.
Is Patient Plan Direct a public or private company?
Patient Plan Direct is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Patient Plan Direct founded?
Patient Plan Direct was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Patient Plan Direct based?
Patient Plan Direct is headquartered in Runcorn, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Patient Plan Direct make money?
One revenue line is on record: dental Practice Plan Administration.
Who are Patient Plan Direct's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DPAS (Dental Plans Administration Services), Western Circle, Denplan (Simplyhealth), iPlan and Practice Plan. Broad incumbents are Simplyhealth and Bupa Dental Care. Patient Plan (by Wesleyan) is listed as an emerging player. Others are Software of Excellence and Agilio Software (parent).
Does Patient Plan Direct have an API?
No public API is recorded for Patient Plan Direct.
What industry is Patient Plan Direct in?
Patient Plan Direct's product category is Dental Membership Plan Administration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLABAAAI, Membership/Subscription & Direct-Pay General Dentistry Practices, with a secondary code of HLAEAIAF, Stand-Alone Dental Plans (Individual/Family). Its NAICS code is 621210 and its SIC code is 6324.