If you’re a business owner who doesn’t offer employer-sponsored dental insurance, you may be missing out on top talent! According to an article from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, employees consider dental insurance the third most important benefit after health insurance and a retirement savings plan.
Choosing an employer-sponsored dental plan can be confusing, even for a seasoned business owner. The best plan for one company might not be the best for another. Whether you have two employees or hundreds, it’s essential to find an employer-sponsored dental plan that fits the needs of you and your employees.
How to choose the right employer-sponsored dental plan
Here are some factors you should consider when choosing what to offer in an employer-sponsored dental plan:
Employee ages and needs
The typical age groups of your employees are important to consider when evaluating your employees’ dental needs. If your employees are generally younger and have children, a plan that covers families may be very important to them. If your employees are older, the procedures that are covered, such as dental implants or denture fittings, may take priority. If you have employees that range in age, a dental plan that offers a variety of coverage options may be the best fit for your company.
If you aren’t sure what your employees are looking for in a dental plan, take the time to survey them so you know what you’ll need.
Company budget
As a business owner, it’s crucial that you fully understand the costs of your dental plan and make sure they align with your company’s budgets. Take the time to sit down with an insurance representative and go through everything the plan offers. Assess the copayments, deductibles and coinsurance amounts required for various services. Determine if the plan provides a good balance between affordable premiums and reasonable out-of-pocket costs for employees.
Plan options
If possible, offer your employees more than one plan option for dental coverage. Delta Dental of Virginia plans offer access to one or both of the Delta Dental networks: Delta Dental PPO™ and Delta Dental Premier®.
Delta Dental PPO™ is Delta Dental of Virginia’s preferred provider organization and provides members with the lowest out-of-pocket costs. This is because the in-network dentists have agreed to accept lower reimbursements for their services. The following plans utilize the Delta Dental PPO network.
- Delta Dental PPO™
- Delta Dental PPO™ — EPO Plan Design
- Delta Dental PPO plus Premier™
- aXcess™ plans
With an extensive network of dentists and the lowest out-of-pocket costs, Delta Dental Premier® is the nation’s largest dental network, providing members with many dental professionals to choose from. With so many dentists in the network, it’s easy to find a dentist that participates. The following plans utilize the Delta Dental Premier network.
- Delta Dental Premier
- Delta Dental PPO plus Premier
- aXcess plans
For more information about Delta Dental of Virginia’s dental insurance plans, check out our products and services page.
Customer service
Evaluate the quality of customer service provided by the dental insurance company. Consider factors such as ease of claims processing, availability of online tools for managing benefits and responsiveness to employee inquiries. A smooth administrative process can save time and frustration for both you and your employees.
In 2021, Delta Dental of Virginia’s call center was awarded the Top Contact Center Award for 2021 from BenchmarkPortal. This is a huge accomplishment in the customer service and support industry.
Employer-sponsored dental plans are important
Regardless of the dental insurance company you choose, deciding to give your employees dental coverage is the right choice. Offering dental benefits can also make an impact when it comes to recruiting and maintaining top talent.
For more information on dental insurance plan options for employers, check out “What Employers Look for in a Dental Plan – Part 2.”
