Employee Benefits · Dental & Vision
Group dental and vision insurance for Michigan employers
Dental and vision plans cover the routine care employees use most, from cleanings and fillings to eye exams and glasses. We help you decide whether to fund them, offer them as voluntary benefits, or blend both, and choose plans your employees will actually use.
Talk to a Benefits AdvisorWhat does group dental insurance cover?
Group dental plans usually sort services into tiers. Preventive care, such as exams, cleanings and routine X-rays, is typically covered at the highest level. Basic services, such as fillings and simple extractions, are covered at a lower level, and major services, such as crowns, bridges and dentures, lower still. Many plans add orthodontia for children or adults. An annual maximum caps what the plan pays per person.
| Service tier | Common examples | Where it stops |
|---|---|---|
| Preventive | Exams, cleanings, routine X-rays, fluoride for children | Frequency limits, such as a set number of cleanings per year |
| Basic | Fillings, simple extractions, some periodontal and endodontic care | Deductible and coinsurance apply; some plans impose waiting periods |
| Major | Crowns, bridges, dentures, implants on some plans | Lowest coverage level, waiting periods, and the annual maximum |
| Orthodontia | Braces and aligners, often for dependent children | Only if included; usually subject to a separate lifetime maximum |
What is the difference between a dental PPO and a dental HMO?
A dental PPO lets employees see any dentist, with lower costs when they use network dentists who have agreed to discounted fees. A dental HMO, sometimes called a DHMO, requires employees to choose a network dentist and uses set copays for each service, usually with lower premiums and no annual maximum. PPOs offer more freedom, while DHMOs offer more predictable costs where the network is strong.
The deciding factor is often whether your employees’ current dentists participate. We check network fit for where your employees live and work before recommending a plan.
What does group vision insurance cover?
Group vision insurance typically covers a routine eye exam plus an allowance toward eyeglass lenses, frames or contact lenses, each available on a set schedule. Employees pay a copay at the exam and any cost above the allowance. Many plans also offer discounts on lens upgrades and corrective eye surgery. Vision plans do not usually cover treatment of eye disease or injury, which falls under medical insurance.
| Benefit | What it pays | Where it stops |
|---|---|---|
| Eye exam | A routine vision exam after a copay | Once per benefit period; medical eye problems go to the health plan |
| Lenses | Standard lenses after a copay | Upgrades such as coatings may cost extra or be discounted |
| Frames or contacts | An allowance toward one or the other | Amounts over the allowance are the employee’s cost |
| Discounts | Reduced prices on extra pairs or corrective surgery | Discounts are not insurance and vary by plan |
Should employers pay for dental and vision or offer them as voluntary benefits?
Both approaches work. Employer-paid dental and vision is a visible, relatively affordable benefit that helps with recruiting. Voluntary plans, where employees pay the premium through payroll deduction, still give employees access to group rates and plan designs at little direct cost to the business. Voluntary plans may carry participation requirements, waiting periods for major services, or more limited designs, so the funding choice affects what the plan can include.
- Employer-paid. Usually richer plan designs and higher participation, at a direct cost to the business.
- Contributory. Employer and employees share the premium.
- Voluntary. Employees pay the full premium; the employer provides access and payroll deduction.
- Pre-tax payroll deduction. When offered through a Section 125 plan, employee premiums can be paid before tax.
Related: Employee Benefits · Group Health Insurance · Short-Term Disability · Long-Term Disability
This page is educational and does not alter any policy; coverage is determined by the actual plan documents and policies issued by the insurer.