4 Proven Tactics for Brokers to Drive Participation in Dental Benefits

Insurance brokers are responsible for helping their clients maximize the value of their dental benefits offerings.

The key to success is to tailor these tactics to the specific culture and needs of each client. What works for a tech start-up might not be as effective for a manufacturing plant. But here’s what should stay the same: the ability to communicate the value of top employee benefits.

This communication strategy goes beyond explaining the features of the plan. From simplifying the process of choosing a dentist to helping client share success stories of employees who use the plan, here are a few things brokers can do to increase participation numbers. 

Make it Easy to Enroll

With traditional dental insurance, employees might have to navigate deductibles, unexpected costs and paperwork. With long waiting periods or only being able to enroll during Open Enrollment, getting signed up to access dental benefits can be a challenging process. 

Enrolling with Altogether Dental is a frictionless experience. Employees can enroll anytime (no waiting period), there are no deductibles, hidden costs or complex paperwork. Because it’s so easy to enroll, that helps drive participation. Not only is it easy for employees, it’s also a simplified process for clients because we can work with any major employee benefits platform providers.

Help Employees Find a Dentist

Getting employees enrolled is the first step. Next, it’s time to encourage them to make an appointment.

One of the most effective ways to boost appointment scheduling is through targeted communication campaigns. These campaigns should be tailored to address the specific needs and concerns of different employee demographics.

Start by segmenting the employee population based on age, family status and current benefit enrollment. Then, create messaging that resonates with each group. For example:

• For younger employees: Emphasize the importance of preventive care and how dental benefits can save them money in the long run.
• For employees with families: Highlight the coverage for children's orthodontics and the importance of early dental care.
• For older employees: Focus on how dental health impacts overall health and the coverage for more extensive procedures they might need.

With Altogether Dental, we have a partnership with Aetna Dental Access that offers 260,000+
choices of in-network general and specialty care dentists. We make it easy for people to search
for dentists on our website. Plus, we offer a concierge service where people can call us directly
(1-860-979-5658) and we can help them make an appointment.

Emphasize Incentives

Incentives can be a powerful motivator for employees to enroll in dental benefits. Brokers can work with their clients to develop incentive programs that encourage participation. To encourage employees to sign-up for dental benefits, employers could offer some extra PTO days, a dental-themed swag bag or a gift card. Or really…why not all three?!

Share Success Stories

Brokers can encourage clients to identify employees who have benefited significantly from their dental coverage and ask them to share their stories. These testimonials can be powerful in demonstrating the real-world value of dental benefits. Here are a few ideas that each testimonial could be about:

• The link between oral health and overall health, including the potential impact on conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
• The cost savings of preventive care in avoiding more expensive procedures down the line.
• The peace of mind that comes with knowing unexpected dental issues are covered.
• The impact of good oral health on self-confidence and professional appearance.

Then, brokers can help create a campaign that highlights these success stories through various company channels: newsletters, social media, email, videos or on the intranet. These messages should explain why dental coverage is one of the best benefits for employees.

PS: Need Some Extra Help?

At Altogether Dental, we act as an “on-call” marketing consultant for brokers. We provide in-depth training sessions, market insights and competitive analysis so that a broker’s clients see them as an expert in dental benefits. We know how to navigate:

• Employer group health insurance
• Small business insurance plans
• Small company health plans
• Small business medical benefits

In addition, we can give brokers access to customizable flyers, brochures and email templates that simplify their marketing efforts.

We’re not just here to help brokers sell a product to clients. We’re here to help make sure employees enjoy using a dental savings plan. Our goal is to be a valuable partner for brokers, helping them provide the best small business benefits packages.