A new report released founds that 42% of people’s living circumstances have been adversely affected as a result of the cost of living crisis in the UK.But it isn’t just our financial health that’s being impacted as prices for everyday essentials such as food and fuel have begun to rise faster than household incomes – research reveals the cost-of-living crisis is taking a very real toll on our physical and mental health, too. It’s a situation that is throwing up a great many challenges for employers, not least because we all know a happy workforce is a productive workforce. Nonetheless, there can be a very fine line to walk between wanting to support your team during this difficult time and navigating the price crunch for yourself and the business.If budgets are tight, and you’re not in a financial position to offer your employees a pay rise, the good news is you can still take affordable action today to help alleviate some of the monetary burden on your team while dramatically improving their welfare and wellbeing at the same time. Here’s how:A great employee benefits package that helps to cover the cost of expensive medical procedures, for instance, offers peace of mind and financial security to your team at a time when many are eschewing costly medical treatments, such as dental care, due to the inflationary pressure on energy, food and other necessities.Moreover, it’s an option that provides your business with real value and return on investment at a reasonable cost, while also helping you to retain talent and attract future prospects – a factor highlighted by our recent YuLife survey of employee financial wellbeing across Great Britain, where 61% of respondents believe a workplace’s ability or willingness to support their financial wellbeing contributes to their decision to join a new workplace, or to stay and their existing workplace.Why is dental insurance important during the cost of living crisis?Unbeknownst to many, dental health is not an optional lifestyle choice, but a vital part of healthcare. That’s because research from dentistry.co.uk has found two in five Brits cannot afford to pay for dental care during the cost of living crisis, leaving many unable to get their teeth checked for fear of spiralling costs. However, regular dental check-ups are an important method for catching mouth cancers and other oral conditions at an early stage when they are more treatable. Aside from the direct pain and suffering caused by tooth decay and gum disease, people with gum disease are almost twice as likely to have heart disease than people without it (which may be due to bacteria moving from the mouth into the bloodstream). Alarmingly, poor oral health has also been linked to other serious conditions, such as stroke, diabetes and respiratory disease.In short, helping staff with dental care during the cost of living crisis has never been more crucial for companies wishing to: attract the best talent (for whom dental health is a concern), and safeguard the general health and wellbeing of their employees.Which helps to explain why employees are increasingly seeking reassurance and support with dental care fees from their employers during the cost of living crisis.How YuLife dental insurance worksAs we’ve already established, group dental insurance is an affordable employee benefit that has the power to inspire your team to live a healthy life today – and protect your people for tomorrow. To meet the needs of both employers and employees, Yulife offers group dental insurance in partnership with Bupa at an affordable rate. Because every company is different, the Bupa x YuLife Dental Plan offers a flexible approach to pricing, with five different levels of cover available that cover the costs of:routine check-ups preventative and restorative dental workdental injuriesemergencies oral cancer treatmentYuLifers can opt to have dental treatment at either an NHS practice or at a private clinic, giving your employees greater freedom of choice and higher levels of accessibility. This is especially crucial at a time when9 out of 10 NHS dental practices across the UK are not accepting new adult patients for NHS treatment (Healthwatch England also reports up to three-year wait times for an appointment, and six weeks for emergency care).At selected practices in the Bupa Dental Insurance Network, your team can settle their claim instantly at the desk, paid up to benefit limits. At other practices, they'll need to pay for treatment upfront, then claim back their money. But doing so is easy and quick, with no claim wait times: YuLifers can claim straight from the start date of their treatment.YuLifers can also make claims online or by post, at any time within 12 months of the treatment date. So long as they provide all the necessary details, your employees will get their money returned straight to their bank accounts within 7 to 10 working days.In addition to enhancing your team’s general wellbeing, the benefits of providing group dental insurance with YuLife include access to the YuLife app – which takes a gamified approach to driving engagement, with rewards that keep your team more engaged, while giving quick and easy access to the information and benefits your team needs. Would you like to learn more about dental insurance with YuLife? Reach out for a quote from one of our friendly insurance specialists today.