INDIVIDUALS WITH dental and vision insurance are more likely to visit the dentist and ophthalmologist and have better overall health compared to people who don’t.
Anybody who needs corrective lenses should go to the optometrist or ophthalmologist regularly to get their eyes checked for overall health. And for overall oral health, everyone should visit the dentist regularly and dental insurance can defray the costs of regular exams as well as any work you may require.
Exams can detect the early stages of other health issues.
Vision coverage
Plans usually include one eye exam every 12 months with a set copay with one of the plan’s contracted providers. If corrective lenses are required, most plans will cover the cost of a set of single vision, bifocal or trifocal standard plastic eyeglass lenses, with a standard copayment.
Typically, the plan will pay up to a certain amount, $150 to $200 is the norm, towards contact lenses for a year.
Some plans may also include discounts on lasik surgery.
Dental insurance
Dental insurance provides benefits that help cover part of the costs of your dental services.
They usually feature three categories of benefits:
- Preventative – Routine exams, X-rays and cleanings.
- Basic – Fillings, root canals, wisdom tooth extraction and other simple extractions.
- Major – Crowns, implants, bridges and oral surgery.
Dental plans have a benefit year or annual maximum – a cap on how much your policy will pay for covered services.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS
Regular exams can reveal a number of disorders:
Eye exams
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Thyroid disorder
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cancer
- Multiple sclerosis
Dental exams
- Diabetes
- Leukemia
- Oral cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
Who needs these plans
You’ll often get a preferred rate if your employer offers these plans, so that will usually be the best option.
If you don’t have access to employer-sponsored dental and vision coverage, you should strongly consider it if:
- You are self-employed.
- You are in between jobs.
- Your child is in college, but doesn’t have coverage through a parent or access to coverage with network providers where they attend school.
Prices for these policies will vary among insurers and the different plans they offer. Your premium may differ based on your age, where you live or what type of coverage you choose. Call us and we can help you find a plan that’s right for you and your family.