April 28, 2024 
Author: Amie Clark | 
Expert: Cory Smith | April 28, 2024 |
Oral health problems are prevalent among U.S. adults ages 65 and older. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 96% of seniors have had cavities, 20% have untreated tooth decay, and 68% have gum disease. Problems with vision are also common, with the CDC reporting that cases of early age-related macular degeneration are going to double by 2050. One likely factor at play here is that Original Medicare covers neither routine dental nor vision care, causing many older adults to forgo this type of care altogether. To avoid this, it’s important to find dental and vision insurance. While these two types of policies can be purchased separately, it’s convenient –– not to mention cost-effective –– to purchase these types of coverage from the same provider. In this guide, we’ll tell you about our favorite dental and vision insurance bundles. We’ll compare their coverage, costs, network availability, how easy it was to find doctors and submit claims, and all the information you need to select a provider.
Don’t need vision insurance? Read our rundown of this year’s best dental insurance plans for seniors.
Most health insurance companies will offer some sort of coverage for dental and vision. Here’s how we narrowed down countless insurance companies to our six favorite options.
| Provider | Annual coverage maximum | Maximum waiting period | Deductible | Monthly premium estimate* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Dental | Vision: None Dental: $5,000 in year 3 | None | Vision: $50 on eyeglass lenses/frames per lifetime, $10 deductible on exams Dental: $100 lifetime | $41.05 |
| Humana | Vision: None Dental: $1,500 | Vision: None Dental: 30 days on basic care, 12 months on major services | $50-$150 | $43.48 |
| Aetna | Vision: $1,000-$12,50 per person Dental: Unlimited | Vision: None Dental: None if you’ve had dental insurance in the past 90 days. Otherwise, 1 to 12 months depending on the service | Vision: $0 Dental: $0-$50 | $60.89 |
| Cigna | Vision: $150 Dental: None, or $1,000-$5,000 | Vision: None Dental: None, or 6-12 months | Vision: $0 Dental: $50 for an individual, $150 for a family | $37.75 |
| Delta | Vision: N/A Dental: $0-$2,000 | Vision: None Dental: None, 1, or 12 months | Vision: $0 Dental: $0-$50 | $45.37 |
| UnitedHealthcare | Vision: N/A Dental: $2,000 | Vision: None Dental: None except in Connecticut and Illinois, 6 months for major services | Dental: $50 or $100 Vision: N/A | $69.38 |
*Monthly premium estimates were obtained for a 65-year-old woman.
Spirit offers comprehensive vision and dental insurance, with six dental plans to choose from. The vision add-on makes eyeglasses, contacts, and exams affordable, and the plans allow you to use out-of-network providers, making finding vision and dental care easier than ever before.
Spirit currently offers five different dental plans, all of which can be paired with an additional vision policy.
| Spirit Dental Plan | Preventive Value | Bright Plus for Veterans | Bright Plus | Loyalty Plus | Complete Dental |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium | $18.99 | $27.71 | $27.71 | $38.99 | $53.99 |
| Deductible | $50 | $50 | $50 | $150 | $50 |
| Coverage Limit | Unlimited | $1,250 | $1,250 | Year 1: $1,000 Year 2: $12,50 Year 3: $1,500 | Year 1: $1,250 Year 2: $1,500 |
| Preventative coinsurance | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Basic procedures coinsurance | 50% | 40% | 40% | Year 1: 60% Year 2: 45% Year 3: 30% | 20% |
| Major procedures coinsurance | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Year 1: 80% Year 2: 70% Year 3: 50% | 50% |
From there, there is one vision add-on with the following costs:
Finding a Dentist and Eye Doctor: With Spirit, I simply went on the company’s website and entered in my ZIP code. I could also sort by additional forces like distance, specialty, gender, language, and more. With no filters, Spirit gave me 573 dental providers in-network, with the most cost-effective options highlighted in green. There was even a comparison tool to see providers side-to-side, and I could estimate the cost of dental care with each provider using Spirit’s online tool. This made the search for a dentist super easy, and I was able to find an affordable doctor only 16 miles away.
Making a Claim: You can make a Spirit claim either online or through the mail by sending in a form. I prefer to use their website, which makes it easy to log on and file a claim without a trip to the post office.
Out-of-Network Coverage: Spirit’s plans let me use any provider, regardless of whether they were in my network or not. However, I had larger allowances when I went in-network, so in-network I went.
Restrictions: With Spirit, the longer you stay, the more coverage you get. As far as dental services go, the maximum benefit is $750 year one, $1,000 year two, and $1,000 year three. Plus, the longer you’re with the company, the more services will be covered. For example, it takes two years to get covered space maintainers, or three years to get basic fillings and simple extractions.
Waiting Periods: Spirit has no waiting periods for either dental or vision insurance, which means that you can get care right after you paid your first premium.
With Humana, you can pay less than $20 a month for vision and dental insurance, the lowest price on this list. And with the provider’s special PLUS network, you’ll find $90 copays on exams and frames and allowances of up to $250 on frames and $200 on contacts.
Humana had six dental plans to choose from, and only one vision. Here are the dental options:
| Humana Dental Plans | Preventive Value | Bright Plus for Veterans | Bright Plus | Loyalty Plus | Complete Dental |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium | $18.99 | $27.71 | $27.71 | $38.99 | $53.99 |
| Deductible | $50 | $50 | $50 | $150 | $50 |
| Coverage Limit | Unlimited | $1,250 | $1,250 | Year 1: $1,000 Year 2: $1,250 Year 3: $1,500 | Year 1: $1,250 Year 2: $1,500 |
| Preventative coinsurance | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Basic procedures coinsurance | 50% | 40% | 40% | Year 1: 60% Year 2: 45% Year 3: 30% | 20% |
| Major procedures coinsurance | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Year 1: 80% Year 2: 70% Year 3: 50% | 50% |
As far as the vision insurance goes, Humana has something it calls the PLUS in-network providers, essentially, a group of providers with the cheapest copays. Here are the costs with PLUS in-network providers, non-PLUS in-network providers, and last but not least, out-of-network providers. These costs will vary by state, but I looked at the copays, allowances, and discounts for Pennsylvania residents.
| Humana vision insurance | PLUS in-network | In-network | Out-of-network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam | $0 copay | $10 copay | $30 allowance |
| Frames | $0 copay, $250 allowance, 20% off balance over $250 | $0 copay, 10% off retail price | Not covered |
| Single-vision lenses | $10 copay | $10 copay | $25 allowance |
| Conventional contact lenses | $200 allowance, 15% off balance over $200 | $200 allowance, 15% off balance over $200 | $92 allowance |
Finding a Dentist and Eye Doctor: Finding a dentist or optometrist with Humana required logging in, and since I didn’t actually sign up for a policy, I was unable to test it out. However, the process seemed fairly straightforward, although I wish you could find care without logging in.
Making a Claim: Similarly to Spirit, Humana offers claims submissions over the mail and online. However, typically, your healthcare providers will submit your claims for you electronically, and all you’ll be responsible for is your copay, deductible, and any non-covered balance.
Out-of-Network Coverage: Sometimes Huaman covered out-of-network providers, although not as much as if they’d been in-network, and sometimes it didn’t cover them at all. For example, if I had gotten frames out of network, I would’ve gotten a $200 allowance. That’s the same allowance as the in-network providers, except for the fact that going in-network allowed me to save 20% off balances over $200, or over $250 if I had gone to someone in the PLUS network.
Restrictions: Like many vision providers, with Humana, I could only get either frames and lenses, or contacts, every 12 months, but not both. Last year, I needed both glasses and contacts, so I had to pay out of pocket for my contacts, which ended up costing about $700, even after a $100 rebate.
Waiting Periods: While Humana has no waiting period for vision appointments, you’ll have to wait 30 days for basic services with the Preventative Value, Bright Plus for Veterans, Bright Plus, and Complete Dental plans. Complete Dental also includes a 12-month waiting period for major services. However, with the Loyalty Plus and Dental Savings Plus plans, there are no waiting periods whatsoever.
Aetna’s vision and dental offerings could include no deductibles and $0 exams. You’ll have three dental plans to choose from, one vision plan, and no waiting periods. The vision insurance itself is on the cheaper side, costing only about $12 per month.
Aetna offers three dental plans, plus one vision add-on. In terms of dental, here are your options:
| Aetna Dental Plans | Direct Preferred PPO | Direct Core PPO | Direct Preventive PPO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium | $52.09 | $45.41 | $19.80 |
| Deductible | $0-$50 | $0-$50 | $0 |
| Coverage Limit | $1,250 | $1,000 | No maximum |
| Preventative Coinsurance | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Basic Procedures Coinsurance | 20% | 50% | Not covered |
| Major Procedures Coinsurance | 50% | 50% | Not covered |
The Vision Preferred plan includes $0 deductibles and exams, a $130 allowance for frames and then 20% off balances over that amount, a $25 copay for standard plastic lenses, and a $130 allowance for contacts with 15% off balances over $130.
Finding a Dentist and Eye Doctor: Unlike Humana, Aetna let me browse doctors without logging in, based on the plan I wanted to choose. I chose the Vision Preferred plan and found that I could search by location, name, and ZIP code. I searched by ZIP code and found 60 results near me. The website made clear which locations would win me even more savings and even let me schedule appointments online. That is much better than speaking to dental receptionists, who aren’t always the most helpful. Of course, if you prefer speaking to a human, you still have that option, as well.
Making a Claim: Similarly to Humana, most vision and dental care providers will submit claims to the company electronically so you don’t have to worry about it. However, there is an online option if, for some reason, you want to submit your own claim.
Out-of-Network Coverage: Like most of the providers on this list, while Aetna covered out-of-network providers, the savings were better in-network. Take preventative oral examinations, for example. With the Direct Preferred PPO plan, these exams were free. However, if I went out of network, Aetna would cover only 20%.
Restrictions: Like with Humana, with Aetna, I could get only glasses or contacts per period (12 months), but not both. The insurance also does not cover any special vision procedures like vision therapy, which is typical of vision insurance.
Waiting Periods: You won’t have to wait to get services with Aetna for vision, or for dental, given you’ve had other dental insurance within the past 90 days. However, if you haven’t, you’ll have the following waiting periods, similar to some of Humana’s dental plans:
If you want to combine vision, hearing, and dental insurance under one provider, consider Cigna. With no waiting periods on vision and some dental plans and a $0 deductible, you’ll be able to choose from in or out-of-network providers. Plus, there are three dental, vision, and hearing bundles to choose from, giving you a variety of options.
You can combine hearing, dental, and vision in one of two plans: 2000 or 3500. If you just want dental/vision, however, there’s one option called 1000.
| Plan | Cigna Dental Vision Hearing 2000 | Cigna Dental Vision Hearing 3500 | Dental Vision 1000 Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | $50 | $62 | $37.75 |
| Deductible | Dental: $100 per person Vision/hearing: None | Dental: $100 Vision/hearing: None | Dental: $50 individual, $150 family Vision: None |
| Annual coverage limit | Dental: $1,500 Vision: $275 Hearing: $500 | Dental: $2,500 Vision: $400 Hearing: $750 | Dental: $1,000 Vision: $150 |
| Preventive coinsurance | Dental: $0 Vision: 50% or up to 75% Hearing: $50 allowance | Dental: 100% Vision: 90% Hearing: Up to $50 per year | Dental: 100%, no deductible Vision: 30%, up to $50 per year |
| Basic procedures coinsurance | Dental: 70% after deductible Vision: $200 Hearing: Hearing aids covered up to $500 | Dental: 80% after deductible Vision: $300 Hearing: Up to $700 per year | Dental: 70% after deductible Vision: $100 |
| Major procedures coinsurance | Dental: 50% after deductible Vision: Not covered Hearing: Up to 50% off hearing aid devices | Dental: 50% after deductible Vision: Not covered Hearing: Up to 50% off hearing aid devices | Dental: Not covered Vision: Not covered |
Finding a Dentist and Eye Doctor: When I searched for a dentist near me on Cigna’s website, I got 181 results within a number of seconds, all of which I could sort by best match or distance. The website made it really clear what plans each dental office accepted, and if I had logged in, I would have seen customer ratings for professional histories. I could also filter by gender, handicap-accessible, board-certified, and additional languages spoken.
Making a Claim: For the tech-savvy among us, you have two ways to submit your claims to Cigna — either online via its website, or in the myCigna app. I used the myCigna iPhone app and had no trouble figuring out how to submit my claim.
Out-of-Network Coverage: While the company doesn’t specify how much you’ll have with an in-network provider, it is clear that with out-of-network providers, you may have to pay more than is covered with in-network.
Restrictions: Cigna’s dental insurance does not cover teeth that were already missing when you first became insured. It will also not cover veneers, core build-ups, and a handful of other services that most dental insurance does not cover, either.
Waiting Periods: Like all of the providers on this list, Cigna has no waiting period for vision insurance. However, depending on which dental plan you choose, you could have no waiting period, or a six or 12-month waiting period.
Delta Dental offers free preventative dental care and up to 50% off on basic and major procedures. The company outsources its vision insurance to EyeMed, which offers exams starting at $0, frames, and contact lenses for up to $200.
| Delta Dental Plans | Delta Dental PPO Individual Premium Plan | Delta Dental Individual and Family PPO Basic Plan | DeltaCare USA PAA60 Individual/Family Dental Program | EyeMed Healthy | EyeMed Bold | EyeMed Bright |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium | $38.42 | $19.08 | $17.32 (but made in 1 payment of $207.88) | $5 | $18 | $30 |
| Deductible | $50 | $50 | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Coverage Limit | $2,000 | $1,000 | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Preventative Coinsurance | 0% | 0% | Office visits: $10 |
Cleanings (2 per calendar year): $20
Tooth removal: $30-$230
Teeth whitening: $125
Cum cleanings: $65
Gum treatments: $150-$260
Denture repair: $40-$75
Single vision non-glass lenses: $55
Single vision non-glass lenses: $20 copay
Single vision non-glass lenses: $20 copay
Implants: Not covered
Finding a Dentist and Eye Doctor: On Delta’s website, I found a dentist by inputting my plan, which I put as Delta Dental PPO, and my current location. From there, I got 50 options, which I could sort by distance or filter by extended hours, languages spoken, and gender. For each dentist, the website listed whether they are close to public transit or treat disabled adults, which was a nice bonus I haven’t seen from any other provider.
But because Delta outsources its vision insurance to EyeMed, I had to go over to EyeMed’s site to find an optometrist. The process was slightly confusing, though, as the form forced me to select my network: Access, Insight, Select, or Advantage and not Bold, Bright, or Healthy. Instead, I selected “I Don’t Know” and got a message that the website was experiencing an issue. When I changed my network to “Insight,” I got 60 results near me, which I could filter by languages spoken, gender, specialty, hours, and PLUS providers, similar to Humana in that these locations saved me money. This wasn’t exactly the smoothest process, and it definitely confused me more than any provider on this list.
Making a Claim: Since Delta outsources its vision insurance to EyeMed, I logged onto the EyeMed site to file my claim, although a mail option was available, much like Humana and Spirit. For dental vision claims, I used the Delta Dental app, but unlike the myCigna app, it wasn’t the most useful, as it didn’t actually show me my benefits. I preferred using the Delta website to submit claims.
Out-of-Network Coverage: Delta Dental can save you up to 40% if you go with an in-network provider. Similarly, with the vision insurance from EyeMed, I saved money with in-network providers. Take frames, for example. With the Bright Vision Benefits plan, when I went in-network, I had no copay and a $200 allowance, plus 20% off any balance over $200. If I went out of network, I would’ve had to pay out of pocket, then get reimbursed for only $100. Not only is that a hassle, but it’s a pretty paltry amount compared to $200 plus.
Restrictions: Like Aetna and Humana, with most Delta plans, you can either get contact lenses or new frames once a year, but not both.
Waiting Periods: EyeMed, which provides vision insurance from Delta, has no waiting periods on its services. However, depending on which Delta Dental plan you choose, you could have no waiting period, a one-month waiting period, or a 12-month waiting period.
