Simplyhealth has expanded its employee benefits offering with the launch of Simply Dental, a workplace dental plan designed to help tackle rising oral health challenges and improve workforce wellbeing.
The plan provides cashback for both private and NHS dental treatment, including routine check-ups, hygiene appointments, fillings, extractions, X-rays, prescriptions and more complex procedures, up to an annual allowance. Members also receive worldwide dental emergency cover, a 24/7 helpline, and access to a range of discounted third-party health and wellbeing services — from at-home diagnostic tests to eye-care options.
The launch comes amid mounting concern about the impact of poor oral health on employers. Simplyhealth’s 2024 Oral Health Survey found 26 per cent of adults said dental pain had affected their work, with 18 per cent reporting reduced productivity. A quarter of adults do not attend regular check-ups, and affordability remains a major barrier, with 38 per centciting cost as a key reason for skipping dentist visits. The Oral Health Foundation has also highlighted that NHS dental charges have risen around 50% over the past decade.
Marc Singh-Jones, Simplyhealth’s head of commercial product and partnerships, said employers increasingly recognise the role of dental and preventative health benefits in supporting retention, productivity and workforce wellbeing.
“A healthy workforce takes fewer sick days, is more productive and feels happier at work,” he says. “We have developed Simply Dental, our new digital-first workplace dental benefit, to be affordable and flexible for different businesses and diverse workforces.”
Simply Dental draws on Simplyhealth’s 150-year heritage in workplace cash plans, and its more recent acquisition of Denplan — the dental payment plan. Denplan’s network includes more than 6,600 dentists and 1.5 million patients. Unlike Denplan’s patient-focused payment plans, Simply Dental is offered through employers and does not require employees to use a Denplan dentist.
The benefit can be offered on a stand-alone basis or alongside oSimplyhealth’s range of cash and health plans.
