Important Updates
Below we’ve summarised some important changes to your benefits that will take effect from 1st January 2026. Please scroll down further for more detailed information and refer to the resources available inside your myChoice account.
- Dental Insurance: We’ve introduced a new suite of dental plans with effect from 1st January 2026.
- Leisure Travel Insurance: Cover has been enhanced to include a new live parametric flight delay service and a new missed port benefit.
As a general rule when you select your benefits, please make sure you are comfortable with the cost before you commit to your choices. Whilst every effort is made each year to negotiate market competitive group rates for all HPE benefit plans on offer, there can be instances in which premiums for some benefits have risen due to inflation, supply chain pressures, and high utilisation trends in the benefits marketplace.
To access the information from last year, please click here.
Update: Dental Insurance – New suite of plans
Unum have introduced a new suite of dental plans which will be available for HPE team members from 1st January 2026. The new “Clear Extra” plans come with many benefits and enhancements compared to the current plans:
- Overall annual limits have been removed.
- Reimbursement limits for preventative treatment, such as X-rays and Scalings, have increased.
- The types of treatments that can be included under the Filling, Root Canal, Denture and Bridge benefits have been expanded.
- Children's preventative treatment costs are now paid in full on any level of cover.
- Cover for restorative treatment has been enhanced, such as Periodontal treatment, Application of fissure sealant or topical fluoride and Adult orthodontics.
- Full cover is now provided for mouth cancer treatment to ensure members can seek treatment at any dentist - including for reconstructive facial plastic surgery, oral therapies and restorative dental treatments.
Unum also offers access to the Toothfairy App which provides digital dental care on demand. Members can have virtual chats and video consultations with dentists, get in-app guidance for emergency dental care, access an AI-enabled symptom checker and other member perks. All members can also access Unum’s BenefitHub for retail discounts and savings.
Detailed information about the new Dental Insurance plans is available inside your myChoice account.
Team members currently enrolled in the Clear Plus Dental plans will be automatically mapped to the new plans according to the table below. If you wish to switch to a different plan or opt out of the Dental benefit altogether for 2026, please ensure you update your selection in the myChoice annual enrolment window.
| New Plans for 2026* | Current Offering |
| Clear Extra 1 | Clear Plus 1 |
| Clear Extra 3 | Clear Plus 3 |
| Clear Extra 4 | Clear Plus 4 |
| Clear Extra 6 | Clear Plus 6 |
*Denotes closest match, not an exact equivalency
Update: Leisure Travel Insurance – Enhancements to cover
Pen Underwriting have introduced some enhancements for 2026:
- New Flight Delay Service - In the event of a registered flight being delayed by more than 2 hours from the scheduled departure time, Pen Underwriting will automatically provide all insured persons with access to an Airport lounge pass (valid for up to 6 months) or prompt payment of £25/per insured person.
- New Missed Port benefit - £25 per missed port up to a maximum £100 per insured person.
All claims for the above are subject to the terms & conditions and pre-registration processes set out in the respective policy documents. All travel must comply with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice.