Best Health Insurance Plans That Include Dental and Vision Coverage

Why Dental and Vision Coverage Matters in Your Health Insurance Plan

Health insurance is the foundation of your financial protection against medical costs, but standard health plans often leave two critical areas uncovered: dental and vision care. Oral health problems can escalate quickly from a routine cavity into a root canal costing $1,000 or more, and untreated gum disease has been linked to heart disease, diabetes complications, and other serious systemic conditions. Similarly, routine eye exams do more than update your glasses prescription. They can detect early signs of glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes, and high blood pressure before symptoms appear.

Despite these connections between oral health, vision, and overall wellness, the American health insurance system has traditionally treated dental and vision as separate products. This guide walks you through every pathway to getting dental and vision coverage alongside your health insurance, whether through the ACA marketplace, an employer plan, Medicare Advantage, or standalone policies. You will learn which options bundle these benefits together, how to compare the costs, and which carriers offer the strongest combined coverage in 2026.

ACA Marketplace Plans: What Dental and Vision Coverage Is Included?

The Affordable Care Act requires all marketplace health insurance plans to cover ten categories of essential health benefits. One of those categories is pediatric services, which includes dental and vision care for children under age 19. This is a critical distinction: pediatric dental and vision coverage is mandatory, but adult dental and vision coverage is not required under the ACA.

Marketplace insurers can satisfy the pediatric dental requirement in one of two ways. Some insurers embed pediatric dental benefits directly into the health plan, meaning the dental coverage shares the same policy, premium, deductible, and out-of-pocket maximum as the medical coverage. Other insurers offer pediatric dental as a standalone dental plan that is sold alongside the health plan during marketplace enrollment. In states that use the standalone approach, the dental plan has its own separate premium, deductible, and annual maximum.

For adults shopping on the marketplace, dental coverage is entirely optional. The marketplace does offer standalone dental plans for adults, typically with monthly premiums ranging from $20 to $50 for an individual. These plans generally cover preventive care at 100%, basic procedures like fillings at 70% to 80%, and major procedures like crowns and bridges at 50%. Most standalone marketplace dental plans carry annual maximum benefits of $1,000 to $2,000. Vision coverage for adults is not offered through the marketplace at all. Adults who want vision insurance must purchase a standalone vision plan directly from a carrier like VSP or EyeMed outside of the marketplace.

Embedded vs. Standalone Dental: Understanding the Two Approaches

Choosing between embedded and standalone dental coverage is one of the most important decisions when selecting health insurance that includes dental benefits. Each approach has distinct advantages and trade-offs that affect your costs, provider choices, and how your benefits are structured.

Embedded Dental Coverage

When dental benefits are embedded in your health plan, dental expenses count toward your medical deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. This can be advantageous if you have a year with high medical and dental costs, because all spending pools together toward a single cap. You also pay a single premium and manage a single insurance card and policy. However, embedded dental coverage often has more limited benefits for major dental work compared to standalone dental plans. The provider network may also be smaller, as the health plan's dental network is usually a subset of a dedicated dental network.

Standalone Dental Insurance

Standalone dental plans operate independently of your health insurance. They have their own premium, deductible, and annual maximum benefit. The key advantage is access to larger dental provider networks, particularly when the plan is administered by a major dental carrier like Delta Dental, Cigna Dental, or Guardian. Standalone plans also tend to offer clearer benefit structures with distinct coverage percentages for preventive, basic, and major services. The downside is managing a separate policy with its own billing, and dental spending does not count toward your medical out-of-pocket maximum.

For most consumers, the choice comes down to convenience versus coverage depth. If you primarily need preventive care and occasional fillings, embedded dental in a health plan may be sufficient. If you anticipate needing major dental work, or if having a wide choice of dentists is important, a standalone dental plan is usually the better option.

Pediatric Dental: What the ACA Requires

Under the ACA, pediatric dental coverage is classified as an essential health benefit, placing it on equal footing with hospitalization, prescription drugs, and other core medical services. This means every ACA metal tier plan must make pediatric dental coverage available to families with children under 19.

Pediatric dental benefits under the ACA must include:

• Preventive and diagnostic services: Routine exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, X-rays, and sealants
• Basic restorative services: Fillings, extractions, and emergency dental care
• Major dental services: Crowns, root canals, and medically necessary orthodontics such as braces

It is important to note that while the marketplace must offer pediatric dental, families are not always required to purchase it. In some states, the pediatric dental plan is embedded and cannot be separated from the health plan. In others, it is offered as an optional standalone plan that parents can decline. However, declining pediatric dental coverage means your children will have no dental benefits unless you obtain coverage elsewhere. Given that pediatric dental plans on the marketplace typically cost between $20 and $40 per month per child, the coverage is generally well worth the investment.

Adult Dental Coverage: Your Options as an Add-On

Because the ACA does not mandate adult dental coverage, adults must actively seek out dental benefits. There are several pathways to get dental coverage as an adult purchasing health insurance.

1. Marketplace standalone dental plans: When you shop for health coverage on HealthCare.gov or your state exchange, standalone dental plans for adults are displayed alongside medical plans. These are typically DHMO or DPPO plans with separate premiums of $20 to $50 per month.
2. Private standalone dental insurance: You can purchase dental insurance directly from carriers like Delta Dental, Cigna, Guardian, or MetLife outside of the marketplace. These plans may offer broader networks and more flexible benefit structures.
3. Dental discount plans: These are not insurance but membership programs that offer discounted rates at participating dentists. Annual fees range from $80 to $200, and members receive 10% to 60% off dental procedures. They can be useful for people who need major work and do not want to wait through insurance waiting periods.
4. Health plans with embedded adult dental: A small number of marketplace and off-marketplace health plans voluntarily include limited adult dental benefits. These typically cover preventive services and may cover basic procedures, but rarely cover major dental work comprehensively.

When evaluating adult dental options, pay close attention to waiting periods. Many standalone dental plans impose waiting periods of 6 to 12 months for basic procedures and 12 to 18 months for major procedures. This means if you need a crown immediately after purchasing the plan, you may have to pay the full cost out of pocket until the waiting period expires. Some plans waive waiting periods if you had prior dental coverage, so be sure to obtain proof of your previous coverage before switching.

Employer Plans With Bundled Dental and Vision Benefits

Employer-sponsored health insurance remains the single best avenue for obtaining bundled health, dental, and vision coverage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 40% of private-sector workers have access to employer-sponsored dental benefits, and a similar percentage have access to vision benefits. For workers at companies with 500 or more employees, these numbers rise to over 60%.

Employer plans offer several advantages over individual market options. Employers typically pay 50% to 80% of the premium, which dramatically reduces your out-of-pocket cost. Group dental plans often have no waiting periods for preventive or basic services, and some waive waiting periods for major services as well. Provider networks tend to be larger because group plans have more negotiating power. Annual maximums for employer dental plans average $1,500 to $2,500, and some large employers offer plans with maximums of $3,000 or higher.

If your employer offers dental and vision as optional add-ons during open enrollment, here is what to evaluate before enrolling:

• Premium cost after employer contribution: Compare your biweekly or monthly payroll deduction against what you would pay for a standalone plan on the open market.
• Annual maximum benefit: Ensure the maximum is high enough to cover anticipated dental work. A $1,000 maximum may be insufficient if you need a crown ($800 to $1,500) or root canal ($700 to $1,200).
• Network participation: Verify that your current dentist and eye doctor are in the plan's network.
• Orthodontic coverage: If you or a dependent needs braces, check whether the plan covers orthodontics and what the lifetime maximum is, which typically ranges from $1,000 to $2,000.

Medicare Advantage Plans With Dental, Vision, and Hearing

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) provides virtually no dental, vision, or hearing coverage. This is one of the most significant gaps in traditional Medicare. Part A covers certain dental services only when they are integral to a covered inpatient procedure, and Part B covers only medically necessary eye conditions like glaucoma or cataracts, not routine eye exams or eyeglasses. This gap drives millions of seniors to Medicare Advantage.

Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Part C, are offered by private insurers approved by Medicare and must cover everything Original Medicare covers. On top of that, the vast majority of MA plans now include supplemental dental, vision, and hearing benefits as a competitive differentiator. In 2026, nearly all MA plans available nationwide include some form of dental coverage, making MA the most accessible option for seniors seeking bundled benefits.

However, the depth of MA dental, vision, and hearing benefits varies enormously between plans:

• Preventive-only dental plans: Cover cleanings, exams, and X-rays but nothing beyond that. Annual dental maximum may be as low as $0 for non-preventive services.
• Comprehensive dental plans: Cover preventive, basic, and major services including crowns, dentures, root canals, and sometimes implants. Annual maximums range from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on the plan.
• Vision benefits: Typically cover one routine eye exam per year and provide an allowance of $100 to $400 for eyeglasses or contact lenses.
• Hearing benefits: Many plans cover routine hearing exams and offer an allowance or copay structure for hearing aids, which can cost $1,000 to $4,000 per ear without coverage.

When comparing MA plans, look beyond the headline that a plan includes dental. Review the Summary of Benefits to check the annual dental maximum, whether the plan covers major procedures, and which dental network is used. Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliates are among the carriers offering the most robust dental and vision benefits in their MA plans.

How to Compare Bundled vs. Standalone Coverage

Whether you are shopping on the marketplace, evaluating employer benefits, or choosing a Medicare Advantage plan, comparing bundled and standalone coverage requires a structured approach. Use the following framework to make an informed decision.

1. Calculate total annual premiums. Add up the annual premium for the bundled plan and compare it to the combined annual premiums for a health plan plus standalone dental plus standalone vision. Remember that marketplace health plan premiums may be reduced by premium tax credits, but standalone dental plan premiums are not eligible for subsidies.
2. Compare deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. With embedded dental, dental costs count toward your medical deductible and out-of-pocket max. With standalone dental, you have separate deductibles for medical and dental, which means higher total potential out-of-pocket exposure but also a separate pool of dental benefits.
3. Evaluate annual benefit maximums. Standalone dental plans typically cap annual benefits at $1,000 to $2,500. Embedded dental within a health plan may not have a separate dental maximum, but individual dental procedures may be subject to frequency limits.
4. Check provider networks for both dental and vision. Confirm your preferred dentist and eye doctor participate in whichever plan you choose. A bundled plan with a limited dental network may cost you more in out-of-network charges than a standalone plan with your dentist in-network.
5. Account for waiting periods. Bundled employer plans typically have no waiting periods. Standalone individual dental plans may impose 6 to 18 month waits for non-preventive services. This matters if you have known dental needs.
6. Project your likely dental and vision expenses. If you only need two cleanings and one eye exam per year, a basic plan with low premiums makes sense. If you need a crown, new glasses, and orthodontics for a child, you need to model the actual costs under each option.

Cost Analysis: Bundled vs. Separate Policies

To illustrate the cost differences, consider two scenarios for a 35-year-old individual shopping on the ACA marketplace without employer coverage.

Scenario 1: Health Plan With Embedded Dental

• Monthly premium: $480 (Silver plan with embedded dental)
• Annual premium: $5,760
• Combined medical and dental deductible: $4,500
• Dental coverage: Preventive at 100%, basic at 80%, major at 50%
• No separate dental maximum; dental costs count toward medical out-of-pocket max
• Standalone vision plan purchased separately: $10/month ($120/year)
• Total annual premium cost: $5,880

Scenario 2: Health Plan Plus Standalone Dental and Vision

• Health plan monthly premium: $450 (Silver plan without dental)
• Standalone dental plan monthly premium: $35
• Standalone vision plan monthly premium: $10
• Annual premium total: $5,940 ($5,400 + $420 + $120)
• Medical deductible: $4,500; Dental deductible: $50; Vision deductible: $0
• Dental annual maximum: $1,500; Dental coverage: preventive at 100%, basic at 80%, major at 50%
• Total annual premium cost: $5,940

In this example, the bundled approach costs about $60 less per year in premiums. However, the standalone dental plan offers a dedicated $1,500 dental maximum and a much larger dental network. If you need a crown costing $1,200, the standalone plan would cover $575 after the deductible (50% of $1,150 after $50 deductible), while the embedded plan would apply the cost to your $4,500 medical deductible first. For someone who has already met their medical deductible through other expenses, the embedded approach is better. For someone with minimal medical costs, the standalone dental plan provides more accessible dental benefits.

Best Carriers for Combined Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Not all insurance companies are equal when it comes to offering comprehensive bundled benefits. Here is a breakdown of the top health insurance carriers for combined coverage in 2026.

UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is the largest health insurer in the United States and offers integrated medical, dental, and vision plans across employer, individual, and Medicare Advantage markets. Their dental network includes over 130,000 dentists nationwide, and their vision plans are administered through UnitedHealthcare Vision, which partners with a broad network of eye care providers. For Medicare Advantage enrollees, many UHC plans include comprehensive dental with annual maximums up to $4,000 and vision allowances of $200 or more.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

BCBS affiliates operate in all 50 states, and many offer medical plans with optional dental and vision riders. The specific benefits vary by state because each BCBS affiliate is independently operated, but the brand consistently offers some of the largest provider networks in any given market. Several BCBS affiliates offer marketplace plans with embedded dental, and most offer standalone dental through BCBS dental programs. Their Medicare Advantage plans frequently include dental, vision, and hearing benefits with competitive annual maximums.

Cigna

Cigna, now part of The Cigna Group, offers strong bundled coverage particularly through employer plans. Their dental network includes over 104,000 dental care providers, and Cigna Vision partners with VSP for one of the largest vision networks available. Cigna is especially popular among mid-size to large employers who want a single carrier for medical, dental, and vision benefits, simplifying administration and employee enrollment.

Aetna (CVS Health)

Aetna, part of CVS Health, offers bundled medical, dental, and vision plans across employer, individual, and Medicare Advantage markets. Their integration with CVS pharmacies and MinuteClinic locations adds convenience for members. Aetna Dental offers both DMO and PPO dental plans with access to more than 245,000 dental access points. Their Medicare Advantage plans in many markets include comprehensive dental with annual maximums of $1,500 to $3,000.

Humana

Humana is a leader in the Medicare Advantage market and stands out for offering some of the most generous dental and vision benefits among MA plans. Many Humana MA plans include dental coverage with annual maximums of $2,500 to $5,000, comprehensive vision allowances, and hearing aid coverage. Humana also offers standalone dental plans through its Humana Dental subsidiary for individuals who are not on Medicare.

Best Standalone Dental and Vision Carriers

If you choose a health plan without bundled dental or vision, the following standalone carriers offer the strongest individual coverage. For a deeper dive into dental options, see our comprehensive dental insurance guide.

• Delta Dental: The largest dental benefits provider in the U.S. with a network of more than 154,000 dentists. Offers PPO and Premier networks with individual and family plans available in all 50 states.
• Guardian Direct: Offers individual dental plans with no waiting periods for preventive and basic care, annual maximums up to $2,500, and a large nationwide network.
• VSP Vision Care: The largest standalone vision carrier with a network of over 41,000 eye doctors. Plans start at around $13 per month for individuals and include annual eye exams, lens and frame allowances, and discounts on lens upgrades.
• EyeMed: The second-largest vision carrier, partnering with major retail locations like LensCrafters, Target Optical, and Pearle Vision. Plans offer competitive frame and contact lens allowances and are available as individual or family plans.

Tips for Choosing the Right Combined Coverage

Finding the best health insurance plan with dental and vision coverage requires evaluating your needs across all three areas simultaneously. Here are practical steps to guide your decision.

1. List your dental and vision needs for the coming year. Are you due for a dental crown, a new pair of glasses, or braces for a child? Knowing your expected expenses helps you choose the right coverage level.
2. Verify provider networks across all three coverage areas. A bundled plan is only valuable if your doctors, dentist, and eye doctor are all in-network. Check directories before enrolling.
3. Calculate total cost of ownership, not just premiums. Factor in premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, annual maximums, and expected out-of-pocket spending across medical, dental, and vision combined.
4. Watch for waiting periods on dental plans. If you need work done soon, prioritize plans with no or short waiting periods, even if the premium is slightly higher.
5. Consider your life stage. Families with children should prioritize plans with strong pediatric dental and vision. Seniors on Medicare should compare MA plans with comprehensive dental maximums. Young adults with minimal dental needs may find that a basic preventive dental plan plus a discount vision plan is most cost-effective.
6. Take advantage of employer coverage if available. Employer-sponsored dental and vision plans are almost always the best value due to employer premium contributions and group pricing. Even if you decline your employer's medical plan, you can often still enroll in their dental and vision plans.
7. Use your HSA or FSA for dental and vision expenses. If you have a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account, remember that dental and vision expenses are eligible uses. This allows you to pay for dental and vision costs with pre-tax dollars, effectively reducing your cost by your marginal tax rate.

The Bottom Line

Getting dental and vision coverage alongside your health insurance does not have to be complicated, but it does require understanding the different pathways available to you. The ACA mandates pediatric dental as an essential health benefit, but adult dental and vision remain optional in most plans. Employer-sponsored insurance offers the most cost-effective bundled coverage. Medicare Advantage plans have become the primary vehicle for seniors to access dental, vision, and hearing benefits that Original Medicare lacks. And for those purchasing coverage on the individual market, combining a marketplace health plan with standalone dental and vision policies is often the most flexible approach.

The best plan for you depends on your specific needs, your budget, and the carriers and plan designs available in your area. Take the time to compare total annual costs including premiums, deductibles, copays, and annual maximums across all three coverage areas. Verify that your preferred providers are in-network, and pay attention to waiting periods if you have dental work on the horizon. Dental and vision care are not luxuries. They are essential components of your overall health, and the right insurance strategy ensures you can access the care you need without financial hardship.