Understanding Benefits

Delta Dental’s survey reveals that nearly three in five consumers (57 percent) are unaware of the maximum coverage benefit provided by their dental plan. But it’s not only important for your clients to know their annual maximums.  If they want to get the most value from their dental plans, it’s critical that they are familiar with all available benefits. Discuss with your clients the level of understanding their employees have regarding dental benefits. This may be an opportunity to introduce an employee education session which will reinforce the value of their dental benefits. It may also be an opportunity for you to engage with and educate your clients on possible benefit changes and enhancements, such as: carryover of unused annual maximums from one year to the next to help individuals plan for more extensive and costly dental treatment, plan designs where diagnostic and preventive services do not count toward the annual benefit maximum, extra cleanings for diabetics and pregnant
women, or increased orthodontia benefit.

Employers’ Contribution Levels

This study shows that 24 percent of employers pay all of their employees’ dental plan costs. Another 42 percent of employers pay more than half of their employees’ dental benefits costs. Nearly one-quarter pay less than 50 percent of their employees’ dental
plan costs, but still contribute some portion. Just 11 percent of employers offer voluntary dental plans to their employees.

The Perceived Value of Dental Benefits

This research also reveals consumers see substantial value in their dental benefits. Knowing that employees attribute significant value to their dental benefits provides producers with ammunition to remind clients
about the importance dental benefits play in retaining and recruiting talented employees.