Prevalence and structure of dental benefit schemes in Hong Kong.

Before the impact of employer-provided dental benefit schemes on the dental care delivery system can be evaluated in Hong Kong, the prevalence of these schemes and their structures must be established. A mailed questionnaire survey was conducted of a representative group of companies with more than 100 employees (n = 495). Response rate to the mail survey was 38 per cent (n = 186). Non-respondents were stratified according to their nature of business and one third was randomly selected for a follow-up by telephone to which 84 per cent responded (n = 81). After adjustment, 16 per cent of companies of that size were found to be providing dental benefit schemes to their staff. The prevalence was related to the nature of business of the companies. Among companies providing dental benefits, administrators from selected companies were interviewed. It was found that dental benefit schemes could be broadly divided into two types: One characterised by cash-benefit and the other by service-benefit. Treatment items covered by the schemes were mostly simple services such as diagnostic items, simple restorations and simple extractions. The influence of these dental benefit schemes on the dental care-seeking behaviour of the beneficiaries is under investigation.