ShopADoc has launched a reverse auction marketplace for dental services that the company says can reduce costs by 30% to 60%, offering an alternative to the private sector amid record premium increases through 2026.
The platform, which debuted nationwide six weeks ago, has rapidly gained users as patients seek greater control over rising plan costs and stalled government action.
Licensed dentists across the country compete for patients in anonymous, timed auctions, providing real-time price data and market insights.
Dr. Jeff Molloy, founder and CEO of ShopADoc, said the site was created to demonstrate that affordability doesn’t have to wait for policy changes.
“Our platform gives consumers direct buying power and provides real-time data on what people are willing to pay and what providers are willing to accept. That’s what transparency is all about,” he said.
The company emphasizes that its system is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant and covers procedures ranging from routine cleanings to dental implants. The auctions run from Monday to Thursday, and the platform continues to aggregate anonymous pricing and consumer behavior across states.
ShopADoc positions itself not as a competitor to insurance but as a complementary service that fills gaps in coverage where it’s limited.
Molloy invites insurers to collaborate rather than resist, arguing that the platform can integrate with existing benefits and claims systems without adding administrative costs, while also improving affordability and member satisfaction.
The startup also claims that its anonymous pricing information feed provides insurers and benefits leaders with an unprecedented, true view of dental economics, potentially informing network contracting, benefit design, and cost forecasting.
As industry executives and benefits leaders gather in Las Vegas to address the significant premium increases expected in 2026, ShopADoc positions its model as both disruptive and collaborative—a private-sector transparency tool that can reshape incentives and restore affordability more quickly than waiting for policy reform.