Dental and Vision coverage under Health Insurance

Health insurance plans, especially student health insurance plans provide a host of benefits and coverage to the subscribers with regard to healthcare and treatment costs. In this blog, Student Cover provides information regarding Dental and Vision Coverage that fall under the general health insurance plans. This blog will also include information about supplementary Dental and Vision coverage options.

Dental and Vision Coverage

Since teeth and eyes are an important part of the body, any general disease, sickness or injury related to them are automatically covered under health insurance or student health insurance plans. However, there are also certain diseases specific to eyes or teeth and eyes that do not fall under the purview of general coverage.

Things covered under health insurance plans

• An insured person’s eyes or teeth are affected due to an accident or injury. Health plans have specific amount earmarked for such injuries and a patient can claim benefits under such plans.

For Example: Student Cover’s student health insurance plan for international students in the US, the SC Elite, offers coverage for dental treatment made necessary by injury to sound, natural teeth. The insurance plan has earmarks a maximum sum of $ 1,000 per policy year. It provides preferred allowance in Preferred Provider Organizations(PPO) and covers 90% of the usual & customary charges in Out-of-Network Providers.

• Many health insurance plans also have provision for coverage in the event of a condition where eye or dental surgeries that fall under critical medical procedures, may have to be performed on a patient.

• Certain health insurance plans also provide cover for treatment necessitated by extreme dental pain.

• Check-ups and consultations that fall under the category of preventive care.

• Coverage for Pediatric Dental & Vision is there in certain plans

Things not Covered by Health Insurance Plans:

• Dental Treatment if it is not related to accidental injury to sound, natural teeth

• Eye Examinations, eye refractions, eyeglasses, contact lenses, vision correction surgery, other visual defects and surgeries.

• Regular Dental and Vision check-ups that do not fall under the category preventive care.

So, What’s the Solution?

Students have two options when it comes to securing dental and vision coverage. They can either purchase standalone plans or can take add-on coverage for dental and vision. Both options have their own merits. While the standalone plans have broader coverage as they are meant specifically for dental and vision, the add-ons are more cost- effective as a person can choose those coverage which he or she feels would require medical coverage for. Usually, add-ons are relatively cheaper than standalone plans.

Things Covered by Dental and Vision Insurance:

Vision and dental insurance plans cover a host of medical procedures and treatment which general health insurance plans do not cover. They include

Vision Insurance Coverage:
– Regular annual checkups for vision, colour blindness, glaucoma, cataract etc.
– Eyeglasses and contact lenses from approved eye clinics and vision centers.
– In addition to surgeries and treatment in case of damage to eye due to an accident or injury
– Certain corrective surgeries such as LASIK eye surgery

Dental Insurance Coverage:
– Medical procedures to repair or remove the teeth damaged due to accident or injury.
– Restorative treatment such as tooth filling for damaged and decayed tooth
– Oral Surgeries for teeth removal, tooth and gum infections
– Prosthodontics such as fixing dentures and bridges etc.

Let’s Wrap It Up

The cost of Dental and Vision care can be quite expensive. Thus having coverage for these helps people, especially students save high cost of treatment. While treatment of eye or teeth due to accident and injury is covered by health insurance, one should take dental and vision insurance to get oneself covered for treatment due to disease of infection. One can either buy standalone dental and vision insurance or get an add-on cover to one’s existing health insurance plan.

Disclaimer: The content of the following article is based on the personal research of the writer. Readers are advised to exercise discretion. Student Cover will not be liable for any wrongful interpretation of the content of this article.