The following are some of the factors that are influencing the continually increasing cost of Health and Dental benefits.
HEALTH
The workforce is aging which results in an increase in the utilization of health costs, particularly prescription drugs.
New and more expensive drugs are replacing the older, less expensive ones.
Some high cost drugs are being approved for new indications.
New lifestyle drugs.
Increase in dispensing fees.
The 20 year patent protection for prescription drugs.
Government cut-backs and the shifting of costs to the private insurers.
An increased utilization of paramedical services.
DENTAL
An aging workforce where many people, due to advances in dentistry, have retained their natural teeth which leads to an increased need for replacement fillings and periodontal & major restorative treatment.
A shift towards more expensive procedures being performed such as periodontal scaling rather than regular cleaning.
An increased utilization through more people visiting the dentist more frequently.
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