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Dental Insurance in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Joseph Maher Joseph Maher London, United Kingdom Last Updated: August 2024 SIC SP0.170

Revenue

£995.9m

2024-25

£1.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XXX.Xm

Employees

1,814

Businesses

28

Wages

£XX.Xm

Dental Insurance in the UK industry analysis

Unlike many other health services, the majority of the UK population has to pay for dental treatment. Dental insurance policies cover treatment provided by both NHS and private dentists. The propensity to purchase dental insurance is greater when people wish to receive treatment from private dentists, as the costs associated with private treatment are much higher.

Trends and Insights

  • Inflation and slowed growth dampen dental insurance demand. Amid spiralling inflation and subdued economic growth, consumers are curtailing spending, reducing demand for dental insurance and nudging insurers to raise premiums for higher claims costs.
  • Capitation plan demand falters amid cost-of-living crisis. As economic uncertainty grows and living costs escalate, customers are leaning towards potentially cheaper alternatives such as indemnity plans, causing a drop in market share for capitation plans.
  • London dominates UK's dental insurance market. As the epicentre of all things insurance, London's high household incomes and significant industry presence, including head offices of Bupa and Unum Dental, set it apart in the dental insurance sector.
  • Automation boosts capital intensity. The Dental Insurance industry is evolving with automation taking over tasks like risk assessments, policy pricing and claims analysis, increasing capital intensity and reshaping business dynamics.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £995.9m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Hefty NHS waiting times support demand for dental insurance

  • In 2022-23, consumer confidence hit rock bottom as spiralling inflation in the form of soaring energy and food prices and subdued economic growth resulted in many people reining in spending, weighing on demand for insurance.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Dental Insurance in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Dental insurers face a higher interest rate environment

  • Interest rates are set to continue dropping in the short term as the Bank of England ensures inflation is contained, supporting bond values. Insurer investment portfolios hold large amounts of bonds that are marked to market; this will improve their capital adequacy and support policy writing, lifting premium income in the coming years.

Biggest companies in the Dental Insurance in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (£short_0)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Dental Insurance in the UK industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Dental Insurance in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Indemnity plans, Preferred Provider Organisation plans and Capitation plans. Indemnity plans is the largest segment of the Dental Insurance in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Lower premiums for capitation plans support demand

  • Capitation plans involve an arrangement between the insurance company and a dentist, or network of dentists, to provide dental services for the members of the plan. The dentist is paid a fixed monthly fee per dental plan participant, regardless of whether a treatment has been performed.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Businesses in this industry underwrite dental insurance policies. Dental insurance helps to cover the costs of dental care, ranging from basic preventative coverage to major dental work, depending on the type and scope of the insurance plan. Orthodontics coverage may be included in dental insurance plans. Health cash plans that offer dental benefits alongside other benefits are excluded from the industry. Dental reinsurance is also not included in the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Capitation plansIndemnity insurance plansPreferred Provider Organisation plans

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

REINSURANCEORTHODONTICSCAPITATION PLANINDEMNITY PLAN

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 65.12 - Dental Insurance in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Inflation and slowed growth dampen dental insurance demand. Amid spiralling inflation and subdued economic growth, consumers are curtailing spending, reducing demand for dent...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Capitation plan demand falters amid cost-of-living crisis. As economic uncertainty grows and living costs escalate, customers are leaning towards potentially cheaper alternat...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

London dominates UK's dental insurance market. As the epicentre of all things insurance, London's high household incomes and significant industry presence, including head off...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Automation boosts capital intensity. The Dental Insurance industry is evolving with automation taking over tasks like risk assessments, policy pricing and claims analysis, in...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Digital innovation and corporate growth spur Simplyhealth's dominance. Modernisation efforts like the launch of a new tech platform has fast-tracked their customer service, w...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    The Insurance Act 2015 prioritises transparency in insurance. This act establishes clear rules concerning customer-insurer relationships and mandates minimum disclosure and t...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Rising living costs squeeze the industry profit margin. The mounting cost of living forces consumers to save more in 2023-24, which dampens demand for dental insurance and pr...

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
    • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
    • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
    • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
    • Assets (2018-2022)
    • Liabilities (2018-2022)
    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Dental Insurance in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

    The market size of the Dental Insurance in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £995.9m in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Dental Insurance in the UK industry in 2024?

    There are 28 businesses in the Dental Insurance in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Dental Insurance in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Dental Insurance in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Dental Insurance in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Dental Insurance in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

    What does the Dental Insurance in the UK in United Kingdom include?

    Capitation plans and Indemnity insurance plans are part of the Dental Insurance in the UK industry.

    How competitive is the Dental Insurance in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

    The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Dental Insurance in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

    Related Industries

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    Competitors

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    View all industries in United Kingdom

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in the UK include:

    • Office for National Statistics
    • Office for Budget Responsibility
    • Bank of England

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

    Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.