The Surprising Truth About Dental Insurance
Many employers include dental insurance in their benefits packages. Why? Because employees want it.
According to a survey of employees published in Harvard Business Review, better health, dental and vision insurance are the benefits most valued by employees, with such perks as more flexible hours, more vacation time and work-from-home options all trailing behind.
Even though many Americans currently have dental benefits, a surprisingly high number do not. According to industry statistics, approximately 23 percent of Americans have no dental coverage, which translates to about 74 million people in the U.S. Not only that, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a third of American adults haven’t seen a dental professional in the past year. Why not? According to the American Dental Association, 40 percent of adults who didn’t visit a dentist in the past year said they didn’t go because of cost.
And for employees who have neglected their dental health for a long period of time, the costs can really add up. While a simple checkup costs only an average of about $85-$100 in the U.S., fillings run approximately $230-$300, and crowns go for $1,100 and up. For Americans without dental insurance, these expenses can cause them to put off needed dental procedures and even annual checkups.
Studies show that people who do not have dental benefits are more likely to have teeth removed—resulting in expensive and troublesome dentures. They are also less likely to visit the dentist regularly and less likely to be treated for gum disease. Not only that, but people who do not have dental benefits are more likely to suffer from other, non-dental-related diseases:
- 67 percent are more likely to have heart disease.
- 50 percent are more likely to have osteoporosis.
- 29 percent are more likely to have diabetes.
As a business owner, executive or manager, you want your employees to be as heathy as they can be, and this includes their dental health. Heathier employees are happier and more productive, and they provide better service to customers and clients.
You’re in a unique position to help your employees become healthier and happier by providing them with dental benefits that can put affordable and quality dental care firmly within their reach.
By offering a comprehensive health and wellness package that includes dental insurance, you can improve employee retention and better attract prospective candidates. This allows you to be much more selective when you’re recruiting for open positions, upping the quality of your new hires and the productivity of your entire organization.
These are all good outcomes for your customers—and for your bottom line.
SOURCES:
- Harvard Business Review, The Most Desirable Employee Benefits, February 15, 2017. https://hbr.org/2017/02/the-most-desirable-employee-benefits
- National Association of Dental Plans, Who has dental benefits today, accessed April 9, 2018.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Oral and Dental Health, May 3, 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/dental.htm
- NerdWallet, Dental Insurance Benefits, Costs and Alternatives, October 7, 2016. https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/health/dental-insurance/
- WalletHub, 2018’s States with the Best & Worst Dental Health, February 1, 2018. https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-best-worst-dental-health/31498/
