Dental and vision insurance can be very useful at any age!
Some people have worn glasses all their lives. They know that they will need to see an eye doctor at least once a year. By going to the eye doctor, they will be more likely to maintain their eyesight and enjoy the benefits of prescriptions that meet their needs.
Likewise, although going to the dentist isn’t always exciting, it is necessary. Getting a regular dental check-up is the easiest way to make sure serious problems don’t develop with your teeth. A check-up is much less expensive than the comprehensive treatment necessary if you skip many years of visits.
Although this kind of specialist care is very important, it can also be expensive.
No matter whether you live in DeLand, Winter Park, Orlando, or elsewhere in Central Florida, you probably have many different dentists to choose from. There are usually fewer eye doctors, but there are still quite a few. And it is impossible to know in advance which of all of these will be the least expensive.
Dental and vision insurance can make the process much easier.
How Does Dental and Vision Insurance Work?
Most health insurance policies focus on providing care in case of unexpected events and emergencies. If you are in an accident and need to go to the hospital, for example, you want to be sure you have the health insurance coverage you need. Luckily, this kind of situation happens very rarely.
For dental and vision insurance, things are a little bit different.
Many people have used an eye doctor throughout life. Most adults will need to start seeing one as they age. Likewise, virtually everyone needs to visit a dentist now and then. Even if it is not a high priority, it is still a wise idea that can save you a lot of money in the long run.
In other words, this kind of preventive care is very predictable.
Conventionally, dental and vision insurance are considered separately from the health insurance that covers medical emergencies and primary care. These are separate “health insurance products” because not everyone will need or use them. Separating them helps to keep costs lower for everyone.
That said, the fact that they are separate can introduce complications in some situations.
If you have used Affordable Care Act insurance in the past, you have probably been presented with an opportunity to review dental and vision insurance available in your area. But you are not given dental and vision insurance “by default.” You might fail to get this insurance even if you meant to do so.
The same is true when you are browsing the different types of employer health insurance.
The amount that you pay for health insurance through your employer is usually taken directly out of your paycheck along with payroll taxes and other withholding you have agreed to in the past. Most large and mid-sized employers will have health insurance options with and without vision and dental.
What if you don’t choose vision and dental insurance right away, then realize you may need it?
It is not uncommon for people to enroll in dental insurance, use it frequently within the first year, and then decide they no longer need it in future years. For example, you might need to have four wisdom teeth removed, but once that work is done, all you wish to do in the future is get an annual cleaning.
Still, if you do not opt in to this insurance at the beginning of the year, you have two options.
Option One: Wait
If you have been getting health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, you must be sure to make any updates and changes to your plan during the Open Enrollment Period. This year, the Open Enrollment Period will be 30 days longer than it has typically been in past years.
The open enrollment period will end on January 15. If you make all desired changes by the end of December and pay your first month’s premium, you will be able to access your new insurance starting on January 1. If you finalize your changes in January, then your new insurance will begin on February 1.
If you are thinking about dental and vision insurance right now, it is the perfect time to take action.
In general, if you do not make changes to ACA-compliant insurance by the end of Open Enrollment, you cannot change your insurance unless you qualify for a “Special Enrollment Period.” A special enrollment can be triggered by life changes such as moving or losing a job, among others.
Some Central Florida residents will find that this is a good option for them.
However, it is not the only option – not even when open enrollment has passed for the year.
Option Two: Contact Your Local Health Insurance Broker
Your family shouldn’t have to wait for the health insurance coverage you need!
Luckily, you always have options to choose from.
When you connect with your local health insurance broker at Choice Health Insurance Brokers, we will work with you to help you explore the different health insurance options that might make sense for your family.
A health insurance broker is an independent professional who develops relationships with all of the different organizations that may offer health insurance in a given area. There are many options that the average person in Central Florida never gets the opportunity to hear about.
Credit unions, labor organizations, and many other groups all have the power to offer health insurance, which may include dental and vision insurance. Through our agreements with diverse groups, Choice Health Insurance Brokers is empowered to provide you with a wide range of options all year round.
Of course, the options you access through your local health insurance broker may be a little bit different from what you’re used to. That’s why it’s so helpful to work with an independent expert. At Choice, we don’t have sales quotas. Unlike insurance agents, we don’t work for any insurance company.
That gives us the power to discuss all of your options based on your specific, unique needs.
Depending on where you live and what you’d like to see in your dental and vision insurance, we may be able to make you aware of options that allow you to change your insurance right away. Sometimes, this means a new policy that will last all year. Other policies are short-term.
There is no “one size fits all” solution – it is all based on what you share with your own local health insurance broker. That means you will get to build a relationship with a health insurance expert who will always be in your corner. No matter how your family’s needs change, help is just a phone call away. It really can be that simple.
It’s easy to get started. Contact us today to find out more about your health insurance options.