Dental, Vision, & Hearing Plans

This article from the Mayo Clinic illustrates the links between our dental health and our overall health. While it’s clear oral health affects physical health, it’s surprising that dental care is not covered under most health insurance plans. Vision insurance to pay for glasses, and hearing coverage for hearing aides are also typically not covered. Yet an ability to see and hear certainly impacts our quality of life, and has been linked to our cognitive health.

Many of our clients seek dental, vision & hearing coverage for two reasons:

  1. Dental and vision care can be expensive. Hearing aides can be expensive!

  2. Our teeth aren’t getting better with age, so we typically need more care as we get older

Types of Coverage

Clients can purchase each coverage as needed, IE vision only or dental only, or often plans will bundle dental, vision, and hearing aid benefits into one. Which is right for you just depends on your needs. If you’re going to use a dental benefit, why pay for it?

  • Dental Only - Plans are available from $17/mo up to over $60/mo

  • Vision Only - Plans start at $11/mo

  • Dental, Vision, and Hearing Plans - Plans start around $35/mo and can be as high as $90/mo for maximum coverage

What to look for in Dental Coverage

Not all dental plans are created equal. When purchasing a plan, consider the following questions.

  • Will it cover my dentist? Not all dental plans allow you to go to any dentist you want. PPO plans will.

  • Does it have a waiting period? Many plans make you wait 6 months - 1 year before they will pay for major services like crowns. Think about when you will need care. Some plans have no waiting periods.

  • How much coverage am I getting? Dental plans typically have a limit on how much they will pay in a year. For some that limit is $1,000 per year, but plans are available with $2,000, $3000, even $5,000 of coverage. Some companies feature “unlimited” benefits.

  • Will it cover implants? Many plans do not cover implants, but some do. If this is a consideration, we can help you make sure your plan will pay.