Unum has issued over 100,000 Amazon e-vouchers to customers who have been unable to access dental care as a result of the pandemic.
Unum Dental says prioritising oral health will be critical in 2021
By February 2021 over 100,000 e-vouchers had been issued by the employee benefits provider with the goodwill initiative planned to continue into March.
All Unum Dental members, including dencover and optical, active between 1st April 2020 and 31st May 2020 are eligible for the goodwill gesture, with the amount varying depending on their chosen level of cover and whether they added dependants to the policy.
User data from Unum Dental shows a sharp rise in the cost of claims submitted from 1st July to 31st September 2020 as employees returned to the dentist after being unable to attend regular dental check-ups during lockdown.
In previous years, regular check-ups and hygienist appointments often helped prevent the need for more significant work – but Unum Dental saw a significant rise in the value of claims post lockdown compared with the claims earlier in the year. Claims rose by 22 per cent in the last three months of 2020 when compared to the first quarter of the year, reflecting the increased cost of treatment required, as well as the need for additional PPE provision.
Unum UK chief distribution officer Glenn Thompson says customers should avoid delays in treatment, focus on preventative dental care, keep a regular dental routine, and be wary for gum disease and mouth cancer.