Expense ranks as primary reason many adults avoid the dentist
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Employee benefits provider Unum
(NYSE: UNM) finds that 41 percent of adults cite the cost of dental
care, including out of pocket costs for procedures, as the top stressor
about their personal oral health. This figure was higher among women (46
percent) than men (37 percent), and among workers ages 50-64 (45
percent). These results and other key findings were part of an online
poll among 1,229 working U.S. adults conducted by Unum in September.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181010005552/en/
U.S. workers are stressed about their oral health; financial concerns top list (Graphic: Business Wire)
“It’s no surprise that the thought of going to the dentist evokes
anxiety, but cost doesn’t need to be the trigger,” said Amy Marko, SVP
of dental and vision products for Unum. “Dental insurance plans
typically cover preventive care costs and significantly reduce the cost
of other dental procedures, making oral health much more affordable. We
also find that employees with dental insurance are more likely to use
their dental benefits and seek preventive care, which can prevent bigger
health issues down the road.”
In the same survey, 31 percent of respondents indicated cost as the
primary reason why they avoid going to the dentist, followed by anxiety
(8 percent) and the anticipated pain of treatment (8 percent). When
asked what they consider to be the top benefits of having dental
insurance, 52 percent cited regular, covered cleanings and check-ups,
followed by coverage of routine dental care such as fillings and root
canals (37 percent), peace of mind (29 percent), and the importance of
good oral health as part of their overall health (25 percent).
Fall is the time when millions of American workers enroll in employee
benefits, and according to the Society for Human Resources Management
(SHRM), dental insurance is one of the top
workplace benefits, with 97 percent of employers offering dental
coverage.
Group polices purchased through the workplace are usually less expensive
than individually-purchased policies and generally pay for routine
cleanings, exams and offer significant discounts for the cost of common
procedures such as fillings, crowns and root canals.
Unum started offering dental
plans in early 2017, adding a valuable and popular coverage to the
company’s comprehensive portfolio of workplace benefits. Unum dental
plans include a national network of more than 109,000 dentists and
specialists at 400,000 access points nationwide, flexible plan designs
and digital tools including a mobile app and dental cost estimator, to
help ease the financial anxiety of oral care.
About Unum
Unum Group (www.unum.com)
is a leading provider of financial protection benefits in the United
States and the United Kingdom. Its primary businesses are Unum US,
Colonial Life, and Unum UK. Unum’s portfolio includes disability, life,
accident and critical illness, dental and vision coverage, which help
protect millions of working people and their families in the event of an
illness or injury. Unum also provides stop-loss coverage to help
self-insured employers protect against unanticipated medical costs. The
company reported revenues of $11.3 billion in 2017 and provided nearly
$7 billion in benefits.
For more information, connect with us on Facebook,
Twitter
and LinkedIn.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181010005552/en/
Unum Group
Brad Carmony, 423-294-5238
Toll free: 866-850-8686
Bcarmony@unum.com
Source: Unum Group