Affordable Dental and Vision Insurance
Customize a bundle to get the dental and vision care that’s right for you
Last updated March 11, 2026
Reviewed by
Mix and match plans: Choose the level of care you need for each type of insurance.
Choice of providers: Nationwide networks let you choose from thousands of local dental and vision care providers.
Promotes overall well-being: Regular vision and oral health care are important to overall health.1,2
Dental plan
Dental insurance doesn't just cover cavities and cleanings; it can lower your costs every time you visit the dentist. it can also help ensure you don't end up with costly bills when you need more extensive dental work.
Vision plan
Vision insurance covers routine eye exams, and help you get eyeglasses and contacts at special discounted rates. These benefits are not typically covered by major medical plans and may not be included in your overall wellness checkups.
Diabetes
People with gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels, which is why regular dental care can improve diabetes control.
Heart disease
Research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections caused by oral germs.
Pregnancy
Periodontitis (gum disease) has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
Self-esteem
Healthy teeth and gums are important to a person's feelings about themselves.3
How dental plans help keep your mouth healthy (and can save you money)
Most dental care is preventive, because checkups, cleanings, and simple things like X-rays and fillings can catch little problems before they become bigger problems. So some plans cost less because they only offer those benefits. But if you need more comprehensive care, "full coverage" plans typically cover more types of basic procedures (like fluoride treatments or extractions) and can also cover major restorative care, like bridges, crowns, and dentures. Plans with orthodontic coverage are also available, and can help your family save on braces and other teeth aligners.
How vision plans help keep your eyes healthy(and can save you money)
Vision plans cover routine eye care exams not included in most medical plans, and they also provide discounts on the eyeglasses and contact lenses you need to correct vision problems. And coverage tends to be very affordable.
75% of us need vision correction4— so even if you have 20/20 eyesight now, chances are you'll need correction at some point. Adults and children should have an annual eye exam to test for such things as sharpness, color blindness, how the eyes work together, glaucoma, peripheral range, and more. For a few dollars a month.
Two kinds of plans: Dental HMOs and Dental PPOs.
In a Dental HMO, you have to see a network dentist — and because their networks are limited, you probably won't get to see your current dentist. The trade-off is generally lower costs and a simpler fee structure. A DPPO typically has a much broader network of dentists. You’re also covered if you go outside the plan, but it pays to see a network dentist because you'll get the network discount.
3 steps to choosing the right plan
1. Think about how much care you think you’ll need | If you just need regular exams and preventive care, a basic plan could save you a few dollars every month. Need more care? Buying coverage for the whole family? A more comprehensive plan will cover more things, and could save you money in the long run. |
2. Consider the provider network | The more providers the more likely you are to find care you’ll like close to home. |
3. Look at what’s covered, and how it’s covered | A comprehensive plan will cover more things than a basic plan but there will likely be a waiting period before major work is covered. Also take a look at the deductibles, coinsurance amounts, and annual maximums that impact your costs for care. |
Where to get vision and dental coverage
If you or your spouse can get dental and vision insurance as part of your workplace employee benefits, that's almost always the way to go. Whether the employer pays part or all of the premium, or it’s offered as an employee-paid “voluntary” benefit, you'll likely come out ahead: since companies typically get low group rates, employees can get good coverage at lower rates than individual dental coverage.
Frequently asked questions about dental and vision insurance
It can be, as some insurers offer bundled dental and vision plans that cost somewhat less than buying two separate policies. There can also be a drawback, because each policy in a bundled plan tends to offer comparable levels of coverage. So, for example, if you need comprehensive dental coverage, but only basic vision coverage because you don’t wear glasses, you may not be able to find a bundle that offers that combination. Given the relatively low costs involved, you may be able to tailor coverage more exactly to your needs and even save money by creating your own “bundle” from a carrier that offers a range of dental and vision plans.
Affordable vision and dental insurance plans for individuals can typically be purchased online from large carriers that offer low-cost PPO or HMO-style plans and options you can buy directly online year-round. However, if dental and vision coverage is offered as a workplace benefit, that will often be the most cost-effective choice for coverage.
Yes. You can buy standalone dental and vision insurance without having major medical coverage. State marketplace plans may or may not offer standalone dental or vision coverage separate from their health plans (although Affordable Care Act plans for children must include pediatric dental benefits). However, for adults, it may be easier to buy these types of plans directly from a large insurer that offers a nationwide provider network and lets you compare plan choices and purchase directly online.
Dental plans typically cover preventive services such as exams, cleanings, and X‑rays. Depending on how comprehensive a dental health plan is, it may also cover a percentage of basic and major services, up to and including root canals, dentures, and orthodontics (i.e., braces). Vision plans usually cover annual eye exams and provide allowances or discounts for glasses, contact lenses, and related items (for example, specialized lens coatings or even corrective laser surgery).
Yes, dental and vision plans can be worth it even if you are healthy, because the value of covered preventive visits and discounts on glasses or unexpected procedures often exceeds the annual premium, especially if you go to an in-network provider.
1 American Academy of Ophthalmology, 20 Surprising Health Problems an Eye Exam Can Catch, Apr. 17, 2025
2 Mayo Clinic, Oral health: A window to your overall health, March 14, 2024.
3 Guardian, The connection between oral health and overall health, Dec. 22, 2025
4 Glasses.com, How Many People Need Glasses, Jul. 9, 2025
DTC GLIC, LLC., (d/b/a DTC GLIC Insurance Sales, LLC in California) (“DTC GLIC, LLC”) is the agent for The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries (“Guardian”) for all individual products underwritten and issued by Guardian and certain third-party insurers through guardianlife.com. DTC GLIC, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and is a licensed agent for life, accident and health insurance products. Individual dental insurance products are underwritten by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, New York or by one of its wholly owned subsidiaries and sold directly to individuals by DTC GLIC, LLC. Products are not available in all states. Policy limitations and exclusions apply. The actual limitations and exclusions that apply to your Dental Plan are governed by the policy forms approved for use in your state. Please refer to your plan documents for a complete list of limitations and exclusions. Plan documents are the final arbiter of coverage. This policy provides DENTAL insurance only. Dental provider networks vary by state, by market and by plan type. Rates are guaranteed for one year for the plan of benefits initially selected. Policies renew annually. Policy Form#IP-DEN-16-et al. Individual Vision insurance is provided by VSP and billing and premium collection services for such vision insurance are conducted by DTC GLIC, LLC (d/b/a DTC GLIC Insurance Sales, LLC in California). DTC GLIC, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America ("Guardian"). Guardian and DTC GLIC, LLC are not affiliated with VSP and Guardian and DTC GLIC, LLC do not assume any responsibility or liability for non-Guardian products or services, including those offered by VSP. DTC GLIC, LLC is the agent for The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries (“Guardian”) for all individual products underwritten and issued by Guardian and certain third-party insurers through guardianlife.com. DTC GLIC, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and is a licensed agent for life, accident and health insurance products.