Dental/Vision
Vision insurance
Vision insurance typically comes in the form of either a vision benefits package or a discount vision plan.
Typically, a vision benefits package provides free eye care services and eyewear within fixed dollar amounts in exchange for an annual premium or membership fee and a relatively small co-pay (fixed dollar amount) each time you access a service.
Vision insurance may be a vision benefits package or a discount plan.
A discount vision plan, on the other hand, provides eye care and eyewear at discounted rates after you pay an annual premium or membership fee.
In some cases, a vision benefits package or discount vision plan may also include a “deductible” — a fixed dollar amount you must pay your eye care provider out-of-pocket before the insurance benefits take effect.
Both kinds of vision insurance can be custom-designed to meet the requirements of a wide range of customers, including school districts, unions, and big and small companies.
Vision plans generally cover or provide discounts on the following products and services:
- Annual eye examinations
- Eyeglass frames
- Eyeglass lenses (including lens coatings and enhancements)
- Contact lenses
- Discounted rates for LASIK and PRK
Also, reputable vision insurance providers should have quality assurance and member satisfaction services to answer your questions and help you resolve any disputes or issues you have with an eye care practitioner in your plan’s network.
Benefits of Dental Insurance
Fair or not, many of us take other people at face value — literally. One of the things we first notice about someone is their face, including their teeth. So, how much are your teeth worth? Are they valuable enough to buy dental insurance if you don’t already have coverage?
Dental insurance premiums can be more expensive than simply paying out of your own pocket for routine checkups and cleanings.
Most dental policies emphasize prevention and diagnostics, typically covering two annual exams and cleanings, plus X-rays and, for children and older adults, fluoride treatments, says Evelyn Ireland, executive director of the National Association of Dental Plans, or NADP. But the real benefit is being covered for bigger-ticket procedures, such as fillings, root canals and crowns. You’re spared from having to dig into your own pocket when faced with the type of dental emergency that can really chomp into your budget.
At the end of 2016, about two-thirds of Americans had dental benefits, according to a report from the NADP and Delta Dental Plans Association. If you’re in the other third and are considering buying your own dental insurance, be aware that the policies vary widely. Choosing the right one can be tougher than remembering to brush twice a day.