Everyone knows how important it is to have medical insurance to cover the costs of illnesses and injuries, but there are two other kinds of health insurance that can also be important for your well-being: dental insurance and vision insurance. Here’s what you need to know about these two kinds of health coverage.

Understanding Dental Insurance

Comprehensive dental coverage is usually not part of typical health insurance plans. “Even though more and more evidence is linking dental care to wellness and disease prevention, dental insurance has always been separate from regular health insurance,” says John Williams, vice president of Employee Benefits Group, Inc., a benefits brokerage and consulting firm in Bethesda, Md.

Some health plans include dental benefits, but the coverage is usually very limited and not what would be considered true dental insurance, notes Williams. Many people purchase supplemental dental insurance to cover the cost of preventive care, X-rays, fillings, and restorative services, like crowns. But there are limits to what dental insurance will cover.

If you know you’ll be needing major dental work, pay attention to your dental insurance plan’s maximum annual benefit, recommends Williams. Usually these annual maximums run between $1,000 and $1,500, and that may not get you much dental work these days. Some dental insurance plans also have waiting periods. For instance, you may have to wait 12 months or longer before you’ll be covered for a crown.

Understanding Vision Insurance

Unlike dental insurance, coverage of vision care is often included in comprehensive health insurance. “The typical health insurance plan is more likely to include vision care than dental care,” says Williams. But read the fine print of your policy; only certain components of an annual eye check-up might be covered; the rest will have to be paid for by you.

You may want to consider purchasing supplemental vision insurance if you wear glasses or you have a family history of vision problems. Stand-alone vision insurance is more likely to cover comprehensive eye exams, including cataract and glaucoma screenings, as well as glasses and contact lenses.

Vision insurance plans that cover laser eye corrections are also available — for a higher price, notes Williams. You can compare vision insurance plans by checking to see whether eye exams are covered every year or every other year. Another way to compare vision coverage is to check how often lenses, frames, and contacts are covered and in what amount. Some vision insurance plans have restrictions on exams and corrective lenses.

Do You Need Dental and Vision Insurance?

Dental and vision insurance may not be necessary or cost effective if you have 20/20 vision and rarely experience dental problems. Without dental insurance, the average American spends about $200 a year on basic dental care, according to Mary Hayes, DDS, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association. In contrast, premiums for dental insurance can run $500 per year and there’s usually a deductible. You might also need to switch from your own dentist to one in the plan’s network.

Eye exams typically cost $60 to $100 and most people need only one eye exam per year. Premiums and deductibles for vision insurance can outweigh this low cost. Keep in mind that regular health insurance will cover the cost of treating medical problems discovered during a dental or vision exam.

“Any illness or accident involving the mouth, teeth, or eyes should be covered under your health insurance plan,” says Williams. This includes oral surgery.

Dental Insurance and Vision Insurance: Getting Started

If your employer offers supplemental dental insurance and/or vision insurance as a benefit, it’s smart to sign up. “Many employers pick up most of the cost and may even offer the choice of more than one dental plan,” says Williams.

If your employer doesn’t offer this benefit, contact an insurance broker or your current health insurance carrier. You may be able to add dental and vision coverage.

Whether you decide to purchase insurance or pay out of pocket, don’t neglect your eyes and teeth. Taking care of them will keep your sight clear and your smile healthy.