"We’re seeing more and more employers respond to the evolving needs of their workforce by offering everyday support that helps people stay at their best."
- Clare Lusted, head of product proposition at Unum UK
In 2024, Unum UK paid out £41.1mn in dental claims, representing a 35% increase on the previous year. The specialist employee benefits provider believes this growth reflects a broader shift in the UK, where access to NHS dental services continues to decline.
75% of claimants required private treatments, with examinations, hygienist appointments, and fillings being the most common. This marks a sharp increase over the last five years, with only 59% of claims paying for private services in 2020.
Unum UK currently insures over 378k individuals with its flexible dental cover.
In April, Unum UK revealed it paid £516mn in group claims – in terms of Group Income Protection (GIP), it has maintained a rehabilitation success rate of 97% for the second consecutive year.
READ MORE: Unum UK paid £516mn in group claims for 2024
Unum UK’s Help@hand service saw over 290k interactions, including clinical appointments, proactive self-help content, 360 wellbeing scores, and BenefitHub savings.
“We’re seeing more and more employers respond to the evolving needs of their workforce by offering everyday support that helps people stay at their best. The reality is that many people are struggling to access NHS dental care,” stressed Clare Lusted, head of product proposition at Unum UK.
She said: “Some UK towns have become ‘dental deserts’ with no dentists available. At the same time, more than a fifth of the employees we surveyed experienced a dental issue last year, making access to private care more essential than ever.
“Dental and health cash plans are offering employers a way to provide flexible, affordable benefits that meet the diverse needs of their workforce. Employees can tailor their coverage to suit their lifestyle and budget, which is a key factor in today’s competitive job market,” Clare concluded.
