Unum Dental has acquired the renewal rights for Cigna’s dental customers as Cigna divests its UK dental business.
Unum says the move is in line with the rising demand for Unum Dental’s workplace dental coverage.
According to Unum, the demand for this service correlates with rising UK inflation, increased living expenses, and rising dental prices for vital oral treatment.
The cost of NHS dentistry in England increased significantly in April 2023 by 8.5 per cent, outpacing the increase in average employee pay for that month by 2 percentage points.
Over £24m in claims have been paid by Unum Dental in 2022, serving nearly 270,000 employees across nearly 1,000 enterprises of varying sizes.
Unum UK chief distribution officer Glenn Thompson says: “We are investing and growing in areas that reflect the needs and requirements of our customers and broker partners, and Dental Insurance is a key driver of our strategy and ambitious growth plans.
“Unum’s average payout per claim rose by 24 per cent between 2021 and 2022, signifying the upward pressure on a range of everyday costs, including essential healthcare expenditure.
“We are one of the UK’s leading employee benefits providers and will be ensuring a smooth transition for new dental customers.”
Cigna says: “This decision aligns with Cigna Healthcare’s strategy to deepen its focus on global healthcare and health services, including its UK International Health business, which is unaffected by this decision.
“Cigna will continue to serve the health needs of the globally mobile individuals, Corporations, IGOs, NGOs, as well as providing targeted health offerings across the globe.”
