Aflac dental coverage meets needs of employers, employees

COLUMBUS, Ga., July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aflac (NYSE:AFL), the number one provider of voluntary and guaranteed renewable insurance in the United States, provides a simple, no direct cost option for employers to make dental insurance coverage available to employees without the hassle of network restrictions, deductibles or annual premium reviews. Addressing a top employer challenge of making competitive benefits available to attract and retain talent, Aflac's dental insurance policy helps meet the needs of both employers and employees.

Research shows that dental insurance is a fundamental component of a strong benefits package. In fact, employer interest in dental benefits is on the rise with approximately 62 percent of employers viewing dental coverage as essential to their benefits package in 2009, compared with only 53 percent in 2005, according to the National Association of Dental Plans. By making Aflac available, employers can provide valuable dental benefits to employees at no direct cost to the company and with no administrative burden. Unlike other dental plans, Aflac's voluntary offering means employers do not have to negotiate deductibles, copayments or provider networks.

"An increasing number of employers are looking at dental insurance as a key factor in a benefits package and Aflac's dental offering helps them provide excellent options for their employees without any direct cost to the company," said Tom Giddens, Aflac's senior vice president and co-director of sales. "In addition, Aflac's dental product eliminates many of the administrative headaches associated with traditional insurance offerings and lets employers stay focused on running their business.  It also helps keep employees productive and feeling secure knowing they have benefits they can rely on."