“We are just starting the annual enrollment of our family in employer-sponsored medical insurance. We have a daughter who is a full-time student and about to reach age 23 and are pleased with the age-extension of medical coverage (to 26) brought about by the health reform bill. However, we have been informed that dental coverage and, I believe, vision also was exempted in the law and is not included. We all know that proper dental care and treatment are important to overall health. Could you clarify how the new law treats dental and vision coverage for dependent children?”
— Larry Nutson,Chicago
Larry, most employers buy dental and vision coverage as add-ons, so these plans don’t generally fall under the same rules as medical plans under the health care overhaul.
So the requirement that took effect last month that extends benefits to children up to 26 would likely provide dental and vision coverage only if they were bundled into the medical plan.
And it does not look like employers are going to try to do that because it is less expensive for them to offer dental and vision plans separately, analysts say.
Benefits breakdown
99 percent of the 1,324 large employers in Hewitt’s SpecSummary database offer some form of dental and vision insurance.
DENTAL
33% offer a dental indemnity plan
71% offer a dental network plan
27% offer a DHMO
VISION
33% include vision in their medical plan
60% offer a separate plan
2% offer a discount program
4% offer just a spending account
If you have a question for Bruce Japsen about how the health care overhaul affects you or your business, e-mail bjapsen@tribune.com. For more health stories, tools, resources and expert advice, visit healthkey.com.
