Dental & Vision Coverage for Your Team

These important policies help you protect your workforce and attract talent.

Dental Insurance Options for Employers

Offering dental benefits can help employees stay healthier while strengthening your overall benefits package. Employers can choose from several types of dental plans depending on budget, provider flexibility, and the level of coverage they want to offer their team.

A dentist in a mask and gloves speaks with a patient sitting in a clinical exam chair.

PPO Dental Plans

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans are the most common employer-sponsored dental option and offer employees the greatest provider flexibility.


Features

  • Employees can visit any dentist, with lower costs when using in-network providers
  • Covers preventive care such as cleanings, exams, and X-rays
  • Includes basic services like fillings and often major services such as crowns and root canals
  • Many plans offer optional orthodontic coverage


Best for: Employers who want to offer a comprehensive benefit with broad provider access.

DHMO Dental Plans

DHMO (Dental Health Maintenance Organization) plans provide a lower-cost alternative with predictable copays and a defined provider network.


Features

  • Employees select a primary care dentist within the network
  • No out-of-network coverage
  • Fixed copay amounts for many services
  • Lower monthly premiums
  • Often shorter or no waiting periods for coverage


Best for: Employers seeking an affordable dental benefit with predictable costs.

MEC Plans

Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) dental plans are commonly offered alongside MEC health plans in Texas to meet basic preventive care requirements.


Features

  • Focuses primarily on preventive services
  • Includes routine exams, cleanings, and X-rays
  • Helps employers meet minimum coverage standards in certain benefit strategies
  • Low employer and employee costs


Best for: Employers offering budget-conscious benefits or MEC-based health plan structures.

Preventive Dental Plans

Preventive dental plans are a low-cost option focused on routine care and early detection.


Features

  • Covers exams, cleanings, and X-rays
  • Helps employees maintain regular preventive care
  • Excludes major procedures such as crowns or root canals
  • Very affordable for employers and employees


Best for: Employers looking to offer a simple dental benefit at minimal cost.

Vision Insurance Options for Employers

Vision coverage is a popular voluntary benefit that helps employees maintain eye health while managing the cost of glasses and contact lenses.

Vision PPO Plans

Vision PPO plans offer employees access to a broad network of eye care providers and retail optical centers.


Features

  • Annual eye exams
  • Allowances for frames or contact lenses
  • Discounts on lens upgrades such as anti-glare or blue light filters
  • Some plans cover medically necessary contact lenses


Best for: Employers who want to offer a well-rounded vision benefit for employees who regularly purchase eyewear.

Vision Discount Plans

Vision discount plans provide reduced pricing for eye care services without traditional insurance structure.


Features

  • Lower membership fee compared to full insurance
  • Discounts on exams, glasses, and contact lenses
  • Simple, budget-friendly option for occasional vision care


Best for: Employers looking for a low-cost voluntary benefit option.

A man wearing glasses and a turtleneck is walking down the street.

What Employers Should Consider When Choosing Plans

Dental

  • Waiting periods for major services
  • Annual maximum benefit limits
  • Provider network size and accessibility
  • Coverage levels for major dental work
  • Orthodontic coverage options

Vision

  • Frame and contact lens allowances
  • Network providers (such as LensCrafters, Costco, Visionworks)
  • Frequency of covered eye exams and eyewear replacement