A few years ago tabloids raged about long queues to obtain a place with an National Health Service (NHS) dentist and ran scare stories on the DIY treatment people were inflicting on themselves. However, figures released in March from The Health and Social care Information Centre show a minor improvement to the number of patients now seen by NHS dentists – up 0.7% over the previous 24 months; now at 55.1% of the population.

This can be attributed to changes introduced by the last government, which included the 2006 reforms aimed at improving patient access to NHS dentistry services and simplifying payment for dental treatment. Primary care trusts (PCTs) were also put in charge of commissioning local dental services and deciding where to locate new services. The independent Steele review, published in June 2009, then sought to ensure widespread changes were made to NHS dental contracts in order to increase access to dental services and improve service quality.

However, this year’s change of government and the announcement of budget cuts have raised doubts over the direction of dental policy. A key concern for the industry is that PCTs will be free to allocate funds anywhere they like.

Morag Peterson, product manager at Cigna Healthcare, says: “It is possible dentistry will take a lower priority when it comes to how they allocate that money. The new government is going to take little control and it is going to be up to the PCTs, so it is going to vary by postcodes as to how that money is spent.”

Product design

All these changes could impact on the dental benefits market, particularly in terms of product design. James Glover, corporate sales and marketing director at Simplyhealth, says: “There is a state of anticipation, of waiting to find out what exactly the changes are going to be, if any, how the market should respond to that, and how, as a consequence, employee benefits geared towards accessing dental treatment should be designed.”

The changes may result in more dentists choosing to go private, further limiting access to NHS dental services. This could lead to an increase in the number of employers offering dental benefits to staff. Chuck Misasi, senior vice president at dental network provider Munroe Sutton, says: “The trend is going to be that employers will continue to seek out dental benefits – cash plans and insurances – because more and more people are having trouble finding an NHS dentist.”

There are two main types of dental benefit that employers can offer their staff: dental cover within a health cash plan and dental insurance. The former provides money back on everyday dental bills up to an annual limit, while dental insurance offers more comprehensive cover.

At their most basic level, all dental benefits include routine check-ups and treatment, accident and injury cover, and cover accessing NHS and private treatment. These basics are typically subject to a fixed annual monetary limit, which will vary depending on the type of plan offered.

Over the past few years, the dental benefits market has been relatively flat. Pam Whelan, corporate sales manager at Denplan, says: “The awareness and appreciation of what a dental plan brings to a benefits package has not diminished. Employers that were looking to implement a scheme may have pushed it back, but nobody has been turned off from moving forward with plans that had already been made. It is not recession-proof but, equally, we have not seen as big an impact on the business as previously anticipated.”

Lara Rendell, marketing manager at Health Shield, agrees that dental plans are still popular. “There has been an increase in the call to employers to look after staff and their health and wellbeing,” she says. “They have always been keen to provide dental as a benefit, but, if anything, I think there has been an increase in them wanting to help employees through these difficult times.”

Improved morale

In Simplyhealth’s Annual dental research, published in March 2010, 67% of respondents said dental benefits improved staff morale and 66% said they reduced sickness absence. A further 74% said it was the responsibility of the organisation to look after its workforce’s oral health.

Being seen to care about employees’ wellbeing by offering dental perks can also help an employer become an employer of choice. Cigna’s Peterson says: “Employees’ needs are going to increase, so it is going to be seen as more of a recruitment and retention benefit. People are going to be struggling to get the dental care they need, and there is an opportunity here for the employer to meet that need.”

To help meet this demand, providers have continued to bring new products to market. For example, in April, Bupa launched a new flexible dental plan offering five benefit levels. Premiums start at pound 3.51 a month.

Cost remains an issue for many employers in the current economic climate. Offering dental benefits through health cash plans is a popular choice because of the ease of implementation and the low cost.

Dental cover can also be included in private medical insurance (PMI) schemes, although this can be more expensive. Denplan’s Whelan says: “Employers recognise that dental is an integral part of employee wellbeing and complements the existing PMI offering. Typically, an organisation that is committed to improving employee wellbeing will look at providing dental benefits in addition to PMI.”

The trend of offering dental through flexible benefits is still gaining popularity among employers as they recognise it as a way to offer dental benefits in a difficult economic climate while controlling the cost to the organisation.

According to Michelle Bishop, business development manager at National Dental Plan, employers that are planning to roll out such schemes typically have a long-term focus. “In some cases, you will have people opt for voluntary arrangements in the first place, in order to prepare to go into a flexible benefits arrangement, so they can provide the benefit as soon as possible,” she says.

Focus on facts

What are dental benefits?

Dental benefits allow employees to claim back part, or all, of the cost of dental treatment. They can be provided through a health cash plan or as an insurance product. The level of cover can vary, ranging from accident and emergency treatment to treatment for cancer.

What are the origins?

Dental insurance products first appeared in the UK during the 1980s. However, these were preceded by dental cover made available though a health cash plan.

Where can employers get more information and advice?

View articles on health benefits: employeebenefits.co.uk/benefits/healthcare-wellbeing.html

Nuts and bolts

What are the costs involved?

Costs vary depending on the level of cover required, the way a scheme is funded and the number of employees covered. Accident and emergency dental cover can cost from pound 3 a month per employee. The average cost of dental insurance is approximately pound 10 to pound 15 a month per employee.

What are the legal implications?

There are no legal implications in offering staff dental perks.

What are the tax implications?

Dental perks are classed as a benefit in kind, so staff are liable for tax and national insurance.

In practice

What is the annual spend?

According to Laing and Buisson, the spend on employer-paid dental insurance in 2009 was pound 42.3m. The total dental insurance market is worth pound 75.9m.

Which providers have the biggest market share?

Market commentators say Denplan and Cigna Healthcare are dominant players. Other providers include: Aviva, Axa PPP Healthcare, BHSF, Bupa, Cigna Healthcare, Dencover, Denplan, Health Shield, HSF, Medicash, Munroe Sutton, National Dental Plan, National Friendly, Simplyhealth, Standard Life, Westfield Health and WPA.

Which have increased their share?

There are no figures available, but Simplyhealth continues to increase its presence in the market.

When she finally got in to see one, she needed a root canal. And fillings for 15 cavities.

“Dentally speaking, I am healthy now,” says Pence, who lives in Lansdowne and has been making monthly visits to the University of Pennsylvania’s dental clinic for almost a year. “But I still have seven more [cavities] to go.”

Pence is one of the estimated 132 million people in the United States without any sort of dental insurance. It’s an endemic problem among the unemployed, the poorly paid, and those without medical insurance.

While the national health-care act passed in spring will increase the number of people eligible for medical insurance, its effects on dental will be mixed.

The law increases coverage for children, and will eventually cover more adults under Medicaid, the joint state-federal health plan for the poor. But adult dental services are often hard to find: Less than one-third of dentists in Pennsylvania and New Jersey participate in Medicaid.

Many people don’t see the value in preventive dental care — or they dread it — and postpone routine checkups. That is, until it becomes too painful to chew or a front tooth is chipped.

In Philadelphia, geriatric dentist Ann Slaughter says many elderly patients she has examined at inner-city senior centers haven’t seen a dentist for up to 15 years.

But “oral health is intimately connected to overall health,” she says.

Periodontal disease can cause or worsen heart conditions, strokes, and respiratory illness.

It can be perilous for diabetics. Germs from gum disease can make them more prone to complications, says Slaughter, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and a member of the city Board of Health.

More than 200 diseases of the mouth can also cause problems elsewhere in the body. The plaque on teeth can travel into the blood and contribute to hardened arteries, a risk for heart attack.

In 2000, Surgeon General David Satcher called dental and oral diseases a “silent epidemic” facing the nation.

“We’re in 2010, and we haven’t made many advances,” Slaughter notes. “That’s the sad part.”

One problem is the many gaps in dental insurance, which unlike medical insurance, was never intended to completely cover anything.

For those without insurance, the median price for a root canal in Philadelphia is $862, according to a survey that dentists use to price procedures. A crown can cost as much as $1,200.

And while 172 million Americans under 65 have private health insurance, just 45 million of them have any sort of dental plan, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

In Pennsylvania, 40 percent of the entire population of adults and children lacks dental insurance, according to the Pennsylvania Dental Association.

Medicare has substantial holes as well. It covers health care for virtually all seniors and some younger people with permanent disabilities. But it doesn’t pay for routine dental care.

When people turn 65, says Slaughter, “those with disposable incomes pay out of pocket or they keep their dental insurance.”

Medicare does cover dental procedures that are connected to a larger medical issue. A surgeon won’t perform an open-heart operation on a patient who has a mouth abscess, for example, until a dentist has treated the problem.

Medicaid poses its own challenges. There are 508,000 recipients in Philadelphia, but many of the adults aren’t eligible for dental because they aren’t permanently disabled or fail to meet other criteria.

Those who are eligible can have a hard time finding a dentist.

“Just because you have insurance doesn’t mean you have access,” says Laval Miller-Wilson, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Law Project.

Pennsylvania has some of the lowest reimbursement rates in the country, according to a recent report by the Pew Center on the States. Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program reimbursed dentists 53 percent of what they customarily charge. The national average for Medicaid is 60.5 percent.

New Jersey had among the nation’s lowest reimbursement rates until recently, but now pays 103 percent of the customary fee, according to the Pew Center, which nevertheless gave the state an F on its dental report card due to other limitations of coverage for the poor. (Pennsylvania also got an F.)

Miller-Wilson says some dentists’ aversion to Medicaid is about more than money. The paperwork is cumbersome. And broken and late appointments are common among the poor.

Instead of accepting Medicaid, “many dentists say they would rather treat patients during free clinics or pro bono,” says Rob Pugliese, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Dental Association.

Lack of increased funding for Medicaid dental services is a major reason the American Dental Association opposed the health-care bill.

In 2014, when the new law enables millions more Americans to join Medicaid, many advocates wonder if there will be longer lines to see dentists as well as doctors.

“The health-coverage bill is going to exacerbate the current supply problem,” says Miller-Wilson, adding that the state of dental care now may foreshadow what is to come.

Many advocates point to the 2007 death of 12-year-old Deamonte Driver in Prince George’s County, Md., as the impetus for Congress to make sure that dental was included in the basic benefits package for children on Medicaid.

Driver died from a bacterial infection caused by an abscess in his mouth. His mother had been unable to find a dentist who would accept his Medicaid.

Philadelphia’s Slaughter wonders whether “it will take another catastrophe like Driver’s to get policy makers’ attention.”

Even if coverage is broadened, other issues remain.

Pence, the woman with 15 cavities, is in many ways typical of her generation. She was cut off from her father’s health and dental insurance when she turned 18. She ignored her teeth for several years as she worked part time.

Last September, the pain became overwhelming. Following her aunt’s advice, she went to Penn’s dental clinic to get treated at a reduced rate.

In March, she started working a full-time job with benefits. She can now afford yet another fix: the skin graft she needs at the base of her bottom front teeth. Her tongue piercing had worn down the gums so much that “you can see the roots of my teeth,” Pence says.

She has since removed the piercing. She promises to see her dentist regularly in the future.

Reduced-Fee Dental Clinics in Region

Donated Dental Services

717-238-8721

www.nfdh.org (Locations throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania)

Philadelphia

City health centers

Seven of the clinics offer dental services. Call 215-686-1776 for locations, or go to www.phila.gov/health/Services/Serv_DentalCare.html

(Medicaid accepted)

Afton Family Dental PC

215-462-6229

Fairmount Primary Care

Center

215-684-5349

www.dvch.org

Maria de los Santos Health Center

215-291-2509

www.dvch.org

(Medicaid accepted)

Frankford Avenue/Hunting Park/Snyder Dental/Wilson Park Medical Centers

215-229-1390

www.gphainc.org

(Medicaid accepted)

Vaux Family Health Center

215-236-8289

www.qchc.org

(Medicaid accepted)

QCHC Family Health Center

215-227-0300

www.qchc.org

(Medicaid accepted)

University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine Dental Clinic

215-898-8965

www.dental.upenn.edu

(Medicaid accepted)

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile

215-427-8877

(Free for qualified children; Medicaid accepted)

Clinic of Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry

215-707-2900

www.temple.edu/dentistry

(Senior citizen discount; Medicaid accepted)

Bucks County

Bucks County Health Improvement Project

1-800-347-6803 (Free for qualified children)

Ann Silverman Community Health Clinic

215-345-2410

HealthLink Medical Center

215-364-4247

www.healthlinkmedical.org

Chester County

Community Volunteers in Medicine

610-836-5990

www.cvim.org

(Free)

The Children’s Dental Clinic

610-240-1213

Delaware County

ChesPenn Health Services

610-874-6231; 610-497-2900

Montgomery County

Manor Dental Health Center

215-887-7617

www.manor.edu

Greater North Penn Dental Initiative

1-877-466-7764

(Medicaid accepted)

Norristown Regional Health

Center

610-278-7787

www.dvch.org

(Medicaid accepted)

The Abram and Goldie Cohen Dental Programs Center

610-526-6015

www.harcum.edu

(Medicaid accepted)

Camden County

Camden County College, Dental Hygiene Clinic

856-374-4930

CamCare Health Corporation — East

856-635-0307

(Medicaid accepted)

CamCare Health Corporation — Gateway Center

856-963-8768

(Medicaid accepted)

CamCare Health Corporation — Clementon

856-627-7701

(Medicaid accepted)

UMDNJ — Somerdale

856-566-6969

(Medicaid accepted)

Virtua Dental Health Center

856-246-3545

(Medicaid accepted)

SOURCES: Pennsylvania and New Jersey dental associations

Contact staff writer Brooke Minters at 215-854-2244 or bminters@phillynews.com.

Credit: The Philadelphia Inquirer

Instead, the reader bought into a discount network and saved about $800 after purchasing an individual membership for $100 a year. The waiting period before her benefits kicked in? Three days.

It’s called a discount dental plan and it’s similar to buying a membership at Costco or Sam’s Club. For the price of your annual membership, you get the benefit of paying lower prices on the products or services offered.

The dentists who participate in the program agree to accept a discounted fee from the plan as payment in full for their services. For example, a white filling is typically $173, but discount plan members pay $51 to $116, depending on the plan. A crown is typically $1,200, but members pay $473 to $1,000.

Annual membership fees range from $80 to $160 for an individual and $130 to $200 for a family.

One of the best ways to shop for a plan is at www.dentalplans.com. It has aggregated plans from more than 30 companies, including Aetna and Cigna. After putting in a ZIP code, you can find dentists in your area who accept the plans and what the discounted rates are for fillings, crowns, root canals and dentures.

Most people have never heard of the discount plans, probably because nearly 70 percent of Minnesotans have dental insurance, said Loren Hanson, director of marketplace activities at the Minnesota Dental Association in Minneapolis.

But even those with insurance might want to consider a dental plan if they have some unexpected big bills. Dental insurance typically has a maximum benefit per year of $1,000 to $1,200. Anyone who has already met the annual maximum and develops a new toothache is unlikely to wait until January to get it fixed.

Hanson said the MDA has had few complaints about the discount dental plans but says many patients will find that their dentist doesn’t offer the discounts. About 10 percent of dentists in the Twin Cities offer them, he said.

Dental plans have a 30-day cancellation policy and no waiting periods, deductibles or maximums. Orthodontia and cosmetic procedures are included in some plans. DentalPlans.com is offering a 10 percent discount with the code “July10,” but when I called several months ago I was offered a 20 percent discount after I balked about joining. Call 1-888-632-5353 or visit the website.

Baby teeth are vulnerable to tooth decay from their very first appearance, on average between the ages of six and 12 months. Pediatric dentists specialize in caring for these tiny teeth, imperative for proper speech development and nutrition. The specialized care offered by a pediatric dentist includes unique strategies for working with children that alleviate fear and anxiety through the use of positive reinforcement and behavior guidance. Pediatric dentists monitor babies’ growth and development and provide essential dentistry services including tooth cleaning, polishing and fluoride treatment.

For healthy smiles, dental care must be established in – and out – of the pediatric dentist’s chair. The AAPD recommends the following at-home methods for infant oral health care:

Clean infant mouths and gums regularly with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water.

Children older than six months need fluoride supplements if their drinking water does not contain enough fluoride. Fluoride supplementation in infants has been shown to reduce tooth decay by as much as 50 percent. Check with your pediatric dentist first.

Babies should be weaned from the bottle by 12-14 months of age and at will breast-feeding should be discouraged.

Baby teeth should be brushed at least twice a day with a toothbrush made for small children using a “smear” of fluoridated toothpaste.

Visit www.aapd.org for more information or to locate a pediatric dentist.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Founded in 1947, the AAPD is a not-for-profit membership organization representing the specialty of pediatric dentistry. AAPD’s 7,600 members are predominately pediatric dentists and primary care providers who deliver comprehensive specialty treatments for infants, children, adolescents and individuals with special health care needs. As advocates for children’s oral health, the AAPD aims to promote the use of evidence-based policies and guidelines, foster research concerning pediatric oral health, and educate health care providers and the public to improve children’s oral health. For further information, please visit the AAPD Web site at http://www.aapd.org.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childreninternational/44544/

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100609/MM17262 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100609/MM17262 )

CPX Interactive executives, feeling compelled to make a difference to poor children, encouraged their colleagues to join them in funding the construction of the B.U.D.S. Community Center, where over 5,000 children will receive medical and dental care, educational support and nutrition education.

Children International’s President and CEO Jim Cook said, “We are grateful to CPX Interactive for their passion and dedication to helping children living in crushing poverty. Their support is an excellent example of being a responsible corporate citizen.”

An effective model for community development, the new center marks the sixth Children International center in Guayaquil that serves poor children and their families from marginal areas of the city. The center will provide benefits to poor families who often live on less than a dollar a day and reside in makeshift shacks with dirt floors on the outskirts of a major metropolitan area.

Children International has been working in Ecuador since 1988 and currently serves 55,000 children in cities of Guayaquil and Quito.

About Children International:

Established in 1936, Children International is a humanitarian organization with its headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. Children International’s programs benefit more than 335,000 children and their families in 11 countries around the world including Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Zambia, Honduras, India, the Philippines and the United States. For more information about Children International or to sponsor a child, visit www.children.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dolores Quinn Kitchin

Public Relations

Children International

Direct: (816) 943-3730

Cell: (816) 718-0711

Email: dkitchin@children.org

https://twitter.com/ci_doloresk

SOURCE Children International

“This is the first index we know of to focus exclusively on consumer sentiments vis-a-vis retail banking,” said Debbie Bianucci, president and CEO of BAI. “We designed this research with a rigorous methodology, so the index will have maximum value to executives who are focused on measuring consumer trust and confidence in retail banking.”

“In today’s fast-changing scenario, consumer opinion counts more than ever before and technology has made the consumer highly empowered,” said Haragopal Mangipudi, global head – Finacle, Infosys Technologies Ltd. “Presented with diverse and ever-dynamic consumer segments, banks need to anticipate changing requirements and fine-tune business strategy. Finacle with BAI has launched this index for banks to gain insight into consumer trends for innovation on future business strategy and differentiated product offerings.” Among the index’s findings were the following: Financial Stress and the Economy: One-third of consumers feel their financial situation has deteriorated in recent months, but few expect things to grow worse then now. When asked if they thought the current overall employment situation in the country was better, worse or the same as compared to six months ago, 73 percent of respondents said it was worse, 21 percent said things had remained the same and 5 percent felt the situation was better. But 40 percent felt the overall economic condition of the country would be better in six months. When asked which items among a list of behaviors respondents had altered to address their financial concerns, 71 percent said they had trimmed spending on entertainment, 60 percent had changed eating habits to save money, and 34 percent had postponed medical or dental care. Access to Credit: Along with mortgage-related products, most consumers find accessing credit a challenge. Compared to six months ago, 31 percent of respondents feel access to mortgages is worse; 5 percent say it is better, and the remainder saw no change. Those surveyed showed optimism when asked if they thought access to mortgages would be better, stay the same or become worse in six months, with 12 percent saying things would be better and 15 percent saying it would be worse. When asked to look ahead six months and say how likely they were to take out a loan to purchase a car, buy a home, or open a line of credit, respondents who were not likely to do so tallied 71 percent, 82 percent and 80 percent, respectively. Managing Personal Finances: Consumers basically trust their banks, but are less certain about their bankers’ ability to truly understand what consumers are trying to accomplish financially. While 65 percent of consumers surveyed say they trust their primary financial institution and another 81 percent feel their bank will still be in business a year from now, only 35 percent of respondents felt their primary financial institution was concerned about their financial well-being. One out of three respondents said their primary financial institution understood their financial goals. When asked to look ahead six months and project whether they would feel differently about their primary financial institution in these areas, the numbers were largely unchanged.

“In spite of everything that’s happened to our economy, most people still trust their primary bank. And people surveyed said they have some willingness to take on more risk, but they’re concerned about their ability to make the right decisions,” remarked Ajay Nagarkatte, managing director, BAI Research. “For bankers, this is an opportunity to take a fresh approach to how they work with their customers, and develop an array of new products and services that will go further to help people with their financial decision-making.” Consumer Trust: The level of trust consumers expressed in their financial services institutions was largely based on how familiar they were with the organization. Fifty-three percent of respondents who were customers of large national banks said they trust their bank. The same measure rose to 63 percent for clients of regional banks, 82 percent for customers of community banks, and 83 percent for those banking at credit unions. Customers of community banks and credit unions were likely to recommend those institutions by a measure of 72 percent and 76 percent, respectively. Fees & Disclosure: Less than a third of respondents find overdraft fees fair or reasonable. When it comes to fees and disclosures, consumers appear to understand to some extent why banks charge overdraft fees. But only 30 percent of those surveyed believed banks needed to collect such fees to manage overdrawn accounts. Only half of respondents felt the disclosures that financial institutions give for accounts, terms, rates, and fees were easy to understand.

“Recent changes introduced by some of the nation’s large banks are a good initial step to address consumer concerns. But simplified disclosures and clarity around when fees are assessed will continue to be a central theme, unless meaningful, long-term changes are made,” added Nagarkatte. About the Index and Survey BAI and Finacle created this new index, in part, to help bankers and industry-watchers understand the level of trust consumers have in the U.S. banking system. Along with that, the index assesses potential changes in consumer behavior, tracks consumers’ attitudes about their financial service providers, and offers a view behind the trends affecting the financial industry.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with these industry leading companies,” said Alan Miller, President and CEO of AMD LASERS. “Our customers are our greatest asset and creating such a high quality, value-added promotion will make their Picasso purchase experience even more pleasant and relevant to their business. At a value of almost $1,600, coupled with the world’s most affordable laser, we are confident this promotion will help with our goal of having a laser in every operatory.”

AMD LASERS, founded in 2006, is the global leader at providing comprehensive and affordable diode laser technology for dental professionals preparing to take their practice to the next level. The integration of Picasso, our high quality laser technology, enables thousands of dental practices to provide advanced patient care with ease. AMD LASERS customers also receive full-service customer care support from our knowledgeable and friendly staff. For more information about AMD LASERS, please call 866-999-2635, 317-202-9530, or visit us online at www.AMDLASERS.com.

Investors may access a live Internet webcast of Delphi’s presentation, including slides, at http://cc.talkpoint.com/barc002/091509a_rb/?entity=60_YRPKWHG. Delphi’s slide presentation will also be available for download on Delphi’s corporate web site at http://www.delphifin.com/financial/presentations.html.

Delphi Financial Group, Inc. is an integrated employee benefit services company. Delphi is a leader in managing all aspects of employee absence to enhance the productivity of its clients and provides the related group insurance coverages: long-term and short-term disability, life, excess workers’ compensation for self-insured employers, large deductible workers’ compensation, travel accident, dental and limited benefit health insurance. Delphi’s asset accumulation business emphasizes individual annuity products. Delphi’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DFG and its corporate website address is www.delphifin.com.

Keywords: Delphi Financial Group, Inc., Professional Services, Banking, Finance, Insurance, Insurance, Common Stock, Finance, Financial, Financial Services, Investing, Investment, New York Stock Exchange, Stock Market

This article was prepared by Investment Weekly News editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Investment Weekly News via VerticalNews.com.

Adult dental care has been a thorny issue for quite some time, accounting for a large number of the cases seen at the Haywood Regional Medical Center emergency department. Few dentists in the county are accepting anymore Medicaid patients, and the health department dental clinic focuses on children.

That leaves few options for adults with dental emergencies who aren’t able to pay for the treatment.

However, a partnership between Haywood Vocational Opportunities, Haywood Christian Ministry, the health department dental clinic and Dr. Eric Morrison, who often provides emergency medical care for those in need, has devised a solution.

There are 11 dentists in the county, including the dentist with the county health department, who will be participating in the program. A $9,000 grant and donations of $21,000 will help defray the costs. Haywood Christian Ministry will be accepting donations toward the program, which allows the contributions to be tax-deductible, and the agency will be the gatekeeper for helping adults find the dental care they need.

The solution is a caring one that fills a desperate need at the lowest cost possible. The program says a lot about the type of community and professionals here in Haywood who are making this possible.

Often ranting and raving about problems beyond our county borders makes us feel helpless and provides little hope of making a difference. But when we focus inward and look at our neighbors and fellow county residents who are doing without, it is fairly simple to make a difference. If all communities were able to take care of their own as Haywood has increasingly been able to do, it could change the dynamics of how we follow the biblical command, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

“Despite economic challenges, employee retention remains the top benefits objective for employers, but we have found that it is of even greater importance to smaller employers,” said Georgette Piligian, senior vice president, Small Business Strategy & Operations, MetLife. “For smaller businesses, the loss of a few key employees can have a significant impact on costs and operations. The MetLife study should help small businesses more effectively optimize their benefits programs as they strive to deliver on their business objectives.”

Benefits Linked to Loyalty & Retention

“To maximize the value of benefits, employers must first understand how they may help address retention and loyalty goals,” said Piligian.

According to MetLife’s 7th annual Study of Employee Benefits Trends, approximately seven in ten (66%) workers at companies with fewer than 500 employees report that benefits such as life, disability and dental insurance are significant drivers of their feelings of loyalty towards their employer, behind salary and wages (85%) and health benefits (71%). While small businesses are on par with larger companies when it comes to offering medical insurance (95% and 96% respectively), the divide widens for other products. For example, only 65% of small businesses with fewer than 500 employees offer dental insurance compared to 93% of those employers with 500 or more employees.

The addition of life, dental, disability and other insurance benefits can be important factors when considering overall job satisfaction among employees. The study found that 73% of employees who were satisfied with their benefits were satisfied with their job, while just 22% who were not satisfied with their benefits were satisfied with their job – an indicator that attention to benefits satisfaction could have a positive impact on employee loyalty and retention.

Productivity is increasing in importance for small businesses as well. For companies with fewer than 500 employees, productivity increased as a top benefits objective from 33% in 2007 to 43% in November 2008. However, Small Business Benefits: Cost-Effective Strategies for Maximizing ROI reveals that smaller employers may not be leveraging benefits as effectively as they could be and offers several strategies that small businesses can implement as they seek to drive productivity and retention. For most small businesses, this means maximizing the value of current benefits offered, deepening the pool of available benefits, and giving employees the tools, decision support and information required to make smart choices.

Voluntary Benefits

One significant – but often missed – opportunity for small businesses to maximize their benefits programs is to increase employees’ options through voluntary benefits. The MetLife study found that only about one-third (31%) of employers with fewer than 500 employees see voluntary benefits as a cost-effective way to enhance the attractiveness of an organization’s overall benefits offering. However, when it comes to voluntary benefits, employees say they like the convenience and time savings of buying at the workplace, the ease of payroll deductions as well as group rates. Approximately nine in ten small business employees are interested in their employer providing a greater array of employee benefits that they can choose to pay for on their own.

Wellness Programs

Similarly, small businesses may have the opportunity to actually reduce benefits costs through the use of workplace wellness programs. At a time when small businesses say they are spending 61% of their total benefits dollars on medical insurance, there are many wellness initiatives that can be implemented at little to no cost to the employer, potentially helping to control future medical costs for the employer and employee. In addition, employee interest in health and wellness is high. For example, 73% of employees who participate in wellness programs said the top reason to participate is “I want good health.”

Companies can also promote employee health and wellness through voluntary benefits that contribute to employees’ overall health, such as dental benefits that not only treat oral disease but provide access to important oral health education. While small businesses may not have the economies of scale to implement major wellness programs, Small Business Benefits: Cost-Effective Strategies for Maximizing ROI provides several low- and no-cost wellness program suggestions.

Education: One Key to Cost Effective Benefits Optimization

Small employers may also be missing an opportunity to educate their employees about their benefits options. Only about one-third of workers at businesses with fewer than 500 employees report that their company’s benefit communications effectively educate them on their benefits options so they can select those that best meet their needs. In these challenging economic times, employees are increasingly looking to employers for guidance on securing their personal financial safety net. Forty-three percent of employees at small businesses have taken a greater interest in understanding the employee benefits they receive through their employer because of recent economic events.

“Increased employee interest in workplace benefits also means increased opportunities for employers to leverage benefits to help meet their business objectives,” said Piligian. “Small businesses that are able to maximize the value of the benefits they currently offer – or increase the array of available benefits through the strategic use of voluntary benefits – to address employee loyalty and retentions goals can help put themselves in a better position for sustained viability and continued growth when the economy recovers.”

Study Methodology

MetLife’s 7th annual Study of Employee Benefits Trends surveyed employers and employees at two different points in time, August 2008 and November 2008, to assess how employer and employee attitudes toward employee benefits may have changed from prior years, and, more specifically, how they may have been affected by the changing economic climate. Both sets of research interviews were fielded by Gfk Custom Research North America. More than 1,500 interviews were conducted with benefits decision-makers at companies with two or more employees, representing a mix of industries and geographic regions, and more than 1,300 interviews were conducted with full-time employees, age 21 and over, at companies with a minimum of two employees. Approximately 1,000 interviews were conducted with benefits decision-makers at companies with less than 500 employees and approximately 600 interviews were conducted with employees who work at these smaller businesses. The 7th annual MetLife Study of Employee Benefits Trends is available at whymetlife.com/sbtrends2009 along with a wealth of other related benefits resources.

About MetLife

MetLife is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), a leading provider of insurance, employee benefits and financial services with operations throughout the United States and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. reaches more than 70 million customers around the world and MetLife is the largest life insurer in the United States (based on life insurance in-force). The MetLife companies offer life insurance, annuities, auto and home insurance, retail banking and other financial services to individuals, as well as group insurance and retirement & savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.