How to Help Clients Maximize Their Dental and Vision Benefits

Anyone who’s ever had a toothache or nagging eye pain understands how important teeth and eyes are to overall health. Oral disease can cause problems with eating, speaking and learning,¹ and proper eyesight is important for daily tasks, including driving and reading.² Check out our article, Why Dental and Vision Insurance Matters, to understand more about the importance of dental and vision insurance.

We understand how important proper dental and vision care is to your clients’ health. Investopedia listed Humana as one of the top five dental and vision insurers, including the best affordable option for seniors for dental and best for contact-lens users for vision.³ Your clients need to maintain proper dental and vision health, and getting the most out of their coverage is a great way to do it. Here’s what you can do to help your clients maximize their dental and vision benefits.

Encourage regular dental and vision exams

Benjamin Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Participating in regular checkups can prevent major problems before they happen and treat issues early. That includes regular dental visits and eye exams.

How often should people go to the dentist? Typically, people are encouraged to visit the dentist twice a year,⁴ but that isn’t true for everyone. Some clients may need to visit the dentist more frequently if they have the following:

• Pain (sores, popping, swelling, etc.)
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Medical conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders or if they’re undergoing radiation, chemotherapy or hormone-replacement therapy
• Tobacco use⁵

When it comes to your clients’ eyes, age can play a factor in how often they should get them checked. The American Optometric Association suggests adults aged 18–60 should receive an eye exam every two years, while those over 60 should switch to a yearly exam.⁶ Generally, people who use glasses or contacts should visit their optometrist once a year. Some clients may need to go in more frequently if they:

• Are at high risk for eye disease
• Have worsening vision
• Are experiencing vision problems⁷

Regular checkups are the easiest way to avoid needing a pound of cure down the line.

Help them shop smart

To help your clients maximize their benefits and reduce the chance of incurring any unforeseen costs, be sure they stay in network. Remind your clients about Humana’s Find a Doctor tool; they can choose a dentist or vision care to find in network options for each.

Treatment is key

Encourage your clients to seek treatment for issues right away. Any issues they ignore can get worse and end up costing more. Avoiding going to the dentist can make needing to fill cavities turn into having to have a root canal or even tooth extraction.⁸ And untreated glaucoma can lead to blindness if it’s not treated properly.⁹

Help your clients understand what their dental or vision plans cover

It’s important that members read their summary of benefits and certificate of coverage so they know what’s covered by their plan. They can access those documents in the secure member portal at humanaonemembers.com. The dentist will determine which services are needed and can let them know what’s covered by their dental plan.

• Go over their summary of benefits so they remain informed
• Dentists can send in a pre-treatment estimate request to get visibility of how much the Humana plan will pay for the services suggested by the dentist
• Help your clients find in-network providers using Humana’s Find a Doctor tool—you can even help them schedule their first appointment

Help your clients plan ahead

Sometimes people aren’t always good at planning ahead. That’s why it’s important to help your clients hope for the best, but plan for the worst. You can help them pick the right plan by looking ahead toward their dental and vision needs. Do they anticipate problems in the future? Will they need oral surgery or maybe dentures? Do they think eyeglasses or contacts could be in their future? Helping them get plans now that will cover those things could save them money down the line.

All of this leads to one thing: human care. Ensuring clients get the most out of their dental and vision plans helps you build long-lasting client relationships that sustain and grow your Book of Business. Check out our dental and vision plans to learn more about what they can offer your clients. You can also go to the Individual Dental and Vision Agent Plan Grid to brush up on plans in your area.

¹“Oral Health Fast Facts,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last accessed November 3, 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/fast-facts/index.html.

²“The Burden of Vision Loss,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last accessed June 12, 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/risk/burden.htm.

³Mila Araujo, “Best Dental Insurance Providers for Seniors,” last accessed May 11, 2021, https://www.investopedia.com/best-dental-insurance-for-seniors-4844535.

⁴“Your Top 9 Questions about Going to the Dentist – Answered!,” MouthHealthy by the American Dental Association, https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/questions-about-going-to-the-dentist.

⁵“Your Top 9 Questions about Going to the Dentist – Answered!”

⁶“Senior Vision: Over 60 Years of Age,” American Optometric Association, https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-health-for-life/senior-vision?sso=y.

⁷“5 Signs You Might Need an Eye Exam,” Penn Medicine, accessed October 2, 2019, https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2019/october/5-signs-you-might-need-an-eye-exam.

⁸Ashley Welch, “When You Don’t Treat Your Cavity, This is What Happens,” Health Digest, March 4, 2021, https://www.healthdigest.com/347443/when-you-dont-treat-your-cavity-this-is-what-happens/.

⁹“What Happens When Glaucoma Goes Untreated,” Yakima Vision Center, https://yakimavision.com/what-happens-when-glaucoma-goes-untreated/.