Preparing children to go back to school involves a checklist of to-dos, from shopping for school supplies to getting sports physicals. However, during this busy time, parents may not consider the importance of regular vision and dental exams for their kids. As the summer months wind down, brokers and agents have a great opportunity to reach out to their clients and discuss how they can educate employees on the role of supplemental dental and vision insurance policies in helping cover these important health checkups.

Set your sights high. As children develop, their eyesight can change frequently, especially with the myriad technological advancements schools are now implementing into their curriculum. That is why the American Optometric Association recommends that children 5 years and older have their eyes checked every year. Nearsightedness, the most common refractive vision error in this age group, can thankfully be corrected with eyeglasses. However, as anyone with glasses or contacts knows, vision correction does not come for free.

Vision coverage helps families worry less about the cost of exams or eyeglasses and focus on the overall health of their children. Most vision policies can cover all or most of the cost of an annual eye examination and could pay for glasses or contacts. Typically, these benefits are available at different levels, allowing policyholders to choose the commitment that best meets their needs. Other policies can help with costs associated with eye surgeries, specific eye diseases/disorders and permanent visual impairment.

Sink your teeth into oral care. Regular dental exams are critical for diagnosing and preventing one of the most common chronic diseases found in school-age children: cavities. In fact, more than 34 million school hours are lost each year due to unplanned dental care. Some children may have trouble articulating their dental problems to parents and teachers. By regularly consulting with an oral health professional, parents could relieve their children of pain, save them from embarrassment or even prevent school absences.

Most dental policies cover the cost of biannual exams, cleanings and X-rays. Other benefits can help cover the cost of addressing dental issues, such as cavities. This is especially helpful for parents with kids in school, considering that nearly 1 in 5 children have undiagnosed dental cavities. That makes early and consistent health checkups, including visits to the dentist, an important part of kids’ holistic health.

Benefits consultants can also help educate clients on the difference between network and indemnity dental plans. An in-network plan includes deductibles and copayments, with benefits paid to the provider. On the other hand, indemnity coverage provides cash benefits paid directly to the insured (unless otherwise assigned) and can be a flexible alternative to network plans. Education can help empower employers so they can make more confident benefits decisions and identify what works for them.

While visiting the dentist and optometrist may not be as exciting to children as picking out a new backpack or clothes, a good school year starts with a healthy body. This back to school season, agents and brokers can take time to remind clients already enrolled in vision and dental benefits to take advantage of them as the school year starts. For prospective clients, now is a good time to consider the importance of offering supplemental dental and vision coverage as part of a more robust benefits package.

Wendy Herndon is second vice president of Product Solutions at Aflac. With more than 20 years of experience in this field, she is responsible for managing and guiding product portfolios through their entire life cycles, including strategy, development and implementation.

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Dental and vision exams: The lesser-known school supplies

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