Are Your Employees Getting Screened for Oral Cancer?
Did you know that oral cancer has a death rate higher than Hodgkin’s disease or any cancer of the skin, brain, liver, kidney, cervix, thyroid, or ovary? According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, over 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease each year, and one person every hour will die from it. What you might not know is that the fastest-growing segment for oral cancer diagnoses is actually nonsmokers under the age of 50 – which alone should make employers take notice. This is a condition that can affect employees of all types, and the best way businesses can take an action against it is to promote oral cancer screenings.
As with any cancerous condition, early detection through regular screenings can result in lower medical costs and faster recovery times, but it is especially effective in cases of oral cancer. Over 75% of oral cancer diagnoses are in the late stages, which contributes to low survival rates. If detected early, however, patients have a 90% of full recovery and costs for treatment can remain minimal. The problem is making sure your employees are getting screened.
While any trained health professional can conduct an oral cancer examination, dentists have been the most common resource for identifying the disease in the early stages. Most dental professionals conduct cancer screenings as part of their routine examinations, and ever since the American Dental Association approved a CDT (current dental terminology) code for oral cancer screenings in 2005, more dental insurance plans have started covering the procedures. Under the new ADA code, carriers such as Guardian and UnitedHealthcare are not only covering the traditional “brush test” (in which a dentist scrapes cells from the cheek or tongue for examination) but also new screening procedures like ViziLite Plus®, which uses specially designed light-contrast technology.
Even with such covered resources available, it can be challenging just to get your employees to the dentist for regular visits. According to Guardian’s 2007 Spotlight on Dental survey, only 73% of women and 66% of men who have dental coverage visit their dentists on a regular basis. Employers are encouraged to conduct staff meetings to ensure employees are aware of the dental coverage options available to them. It may even be beneficial to engage employees through wellness initiatives that target oral cancer awareness, as well as dental hygiene, smoking-cessation and proper nutrition.
For more information on oral cancer and what you can do for your employees, contact our office at 919-403-1986, or visit the following links:
Brushing Up on Oral Cancer (Employee Benefit News)
Early Warning for Oral Cancer Now Covered Under UHC Specialty Benefit Dental Plans
Guardian Launches Coverage for Vizilite Plus Technology
Oral Cancer Information from Vizilite Plus
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By visiting the HCW Wellness Corner, employers can order various resources to help them initiate, strengthen and/or enhance their wellness initiatives. Best of all, these resources can be sent directly to the employer completely FREE OF CHARGE!
So visit the HCW Wellness Corner today at www.hcwbenefits.com, and let us help you get your company on the road to wellness!
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June 6, 2008
Hill, Chesson & Woody strives to keep our clients' group decision makers abreast of trends influencing the employee benefits market. Look for Eyes on Benefits to bring you news and information affecting you and your employees.
194 Finley Golf Course Road, Suite 200,
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Phone: 919.403.1986
Fax: 919.913.0237
www.hcwbenefits.com