Colonial Life to offer dental, vision benefits

Colonial Life has launched two new benefits plans to help employers protect, attract and retain talent.

The Columbia, South-Carolina based insurance company, known for its voluntary offerings including disability, life and accident insurance, said Monday it is rolling out dental and vision coverage to round out its product portfolio.

“Dental and vision benefits help maintain and promote overall health, and are fundamental parts of any competitive employee benefits package,” says Colonial Life President and CEO Tim Arnold.

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The Colonial Life dental and vision plans will be available across 40 U.S. states for both individual and family coverage. The products launched Monday.

The insurer touted its new coverage, saying the plans will offer employers “Colonial Life’s strong industry reputation, simplified administration with consolidated billing, and personalized, professional service.”

Dental and vision benefits have seen consistent popularity over the years. According to the Society for Human Resource Management’s 2017 annual report, employer dental offerings have remained consistent at 96% the past few years. Meanwhile, the percentage of employers offering worksite vision insurance has climbed 6% since 2013 to 88% in 2017.

Encouraging employees to utilize these benefits for routine care can help save money on healthcare claims, experts say.

According to Guardian’s annual workplace benefits study, regular trips to the dentist can aid in early detection of potentially serious medical conditions. For instance, gum disease has been linked to cardiovascular risks and preterm low-birth-weight babies, tooth decay with osteoporosis and oral infections with diabetes.

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