Patients facing a wait of up to three years for dental treatment is a sad example of the immense pressure our health service continues to find itself under.
But the recent headlines did not come as a shock to us: many of our existing and prospective customers are employers who take out health cash plans on behalf of their teams, and many are voicing their concerns over treatment waiting times.
An employer recently told us: “It can be such a worry if you’re having to wait a long time to access services, and I didn’t want my team to have those worries.”
She’s not alone.
Dental treatment accounts for more than 30% of the cash plan claims we receive – only optical care has a higher rate of claims.
And we’ve seen a sizeable rise in the number of policy holders accessing private treatment in recent months, with a wealth of anecdotal evidence to back up that waiting times are contributing to this turn towards private healthcare.
In turn, overall claims values have increased.
Risk of deterioration
Employers tell us they are busy reviewing their health and wellbeing benefits and ensuring that cover is appropriate for their teams’ needs.
But what about those for whom private is not a feasible option financially, and who do not have access to a policy providing cash-back?
Waiting longer for healthcare treatment and seeing reduced services provided automatically on the NHS could result in a deterioration of not only the initial problem, but also the individual’s emotional health and wellbeing.
We know those with a physical illness are three to four times more likely to develop mental ill health, for example.
No one is blaming the overworked and under-resourced healthcare professionals who are simply trying their best; but it’s clear that businesses are hugely concerned about the impact delayed or reduced access to treatment has on their workforce.
And rightly so.
Limited appointments having knock-on effects
Three million of us are regularly experiencing oral pain, and two million of us have to travel at least 40 miles to access dental care.
And that’s just one example of a type of treatment where barriers such as limited appointments are having a knock-on effect on time off work, presenteeism, productivity and ultimately employee wellbeing.
Individuals, businesses, society, and the NHS itself – all feeling the impact of longer waiting times and searching for answers to reduce the side effects of treatment access delays.
That’s why flexibility and support around health and wellbeing from employers is more important than ever.
