Dentists’ Provident, a leading income protection provider for the dental industry, has paid out £5.4m to members in 2021, their latest figures show.
In another year affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Dentists’ Provident has continued to support the dental profession by caring for its members impacted by illness or injury.
Their claims report for 2021 released recently shows that Dentists’ Provident paid 98.9 per cent of new claims received compared to 96.3 per cent in 2020.
The largest of the 1,190 claims paid in 2021 amounted to £80,749. The majority of the claimants were 46-55 years-old, and in 2021 the younger workforce made up nine per cent of Dentists’ Provident’s pay-out (aged under 35). The youngest claimant was 26-years-old.
The report also shows that musculoskeletal disorders (24 per cent), psychiatric disorders (16 per cent) and accidents (15 per cent) were amongst the most significant reasons for claim.
Coronavirus related pay-outs totalled £351,000 in 2021 and made up nearly 70 per cent of all infectious disease claims from members, who on average were off work for two weeks due to the virus.
“We know how the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt by dental professionals in their daily lives. Many are still working tirelessly to catch up, whilst facing more worries, illness and financial uncertainty from restrictions in the way they practice.
“This past year, our members have shown incredible resilience despite the longevity of the ongoing situation. By being flexible, approachable and supportive, we have tried to be one of the few things in their lives that have not become more complicated as a result of the pandemic,” says Farrukh Mirza, CEO of Dentists’ Provident.
Simon Elliott, chief risk officer, adds, “We take pride in our personalised and thorough underwriting, giving members confidence they have a dependable income protection plan that works for them.
“We have always had a low number of complaints. Last year we saw an even further drop in these, with just two claims related complaints. We have not lost a single referral to the Financial Ombudsman Service in the last five years and that is a testament to the quality of our people and our processes.”
As a member-owned and led mutual, Dentists’ Provident’s sole objective for over 110 years has been helping dental professionals achieve financial security during periods of illness or injury. To find out more or read the full ‘2021 Claim statistics’ report visit: https://www.dentistsprovident.co.uk/media/1761/claims-stats-2021.pdf.