How to improve employee utilization of dental and vision benefits

Dental and vision benefits are consistently ranked among the most appreciated employee benefits, yet they are often underutilized. Many employees enroll in coverage but fail to schedule routine exams, miss preventive care opportunities, or misunderstand what their plans actually cover. As a result, employees may face avoidable health issues, and employers miss out on the full value of the benefits they offer.

Improving utilization doesn’t require changing plans or increasing costs. In most cases, it starts with clearer communication, better timing, and making benefits easier to use throughout the year.

Start with clear, simple benefit education

One of the biggest barriers to utilization is confusion. Dental and vision plans come with unfamiliar terms that can discourage employees from taking action.

To improve understanding:

• Share short, plain-language summaries instead of lengthy plan documents.

• Clearly explain what is covered at little or no cost, such as preventive dental cleanings and routine eye exams.

• Explain different terminology used in benefit plans such as deductibles, copays and annual maximum.

• Use simple examples to show how benefits work in real life.

When employees understand their coverage, they are far more likely to use it.

Emphasize preventive care and overall health

Many employees view dental and vision care as optional unless there’s a problem. This mindset often leads to skipped exams and delayed treatment.

Regular preventive care plays a key role in overall health:

• Dental exams can detect early signs of cavities, gum disease, and even broader health conditions.

• Eye exams can identify vision changes, eye diseases, and indicators of conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.

• Preventive services are often covered at 100 percent or with minimal cost.

Positioning dental and vision care as part of preventive health, not just corrective care, helps employees see the value of routine visits.

Make provider access easy and visible

Even when employees want to use their benefits, they may delay care if finding a provider feels inconvenient.

Employers can reduce this friction by:

• Sharing direct links to provider search tools.

• Highlighting in-network dentists, eye doctors, and retail vision locations.

• Providing guidance on scheduling appointments.

When access is simple and visible, employees are more likely to follow through.

Use timely reminders throughout the year

Dental and vision benefits are easy to forget once open enrollment ends. Well-timed reminders can significantly improve utilization.

Effective reminder moments include:

• At the start of the plan year

• Mid-year check-ins

• Before benefits reset at the end of the year

Short reminders like “Your dental cleanings are covered, schedule your visit” can prompt employees to take action without overwhelming them.

Address common misconceptions directly

Misunderstandings can prevent employees from using their benefits even when coverage is available.

Common misconceptions include:

• Dental and vision care only matter if something is wrong.

• Vision insurance doesn’t offer meaningful savings.

• Using benefits will be expensive.

Proactively addressing these assumptions with clear explanations helps remove hesitation and builds confidence in using coverage.

Highlight cost savings and real-world value

Employees don’t always realize how much money they can save by using their dental and vision benefits.

Ways to demonstrate value include:

• Comparing the cost of exams, cleanings, or eyewear with and without coverage

• Highlighting discounts on frames, lenses, or additional vision services

• Reinforcing that preventive care is often covered at no cost

Showing tangible savings helps employees see benefits as a practical financial tool, not just an abstract perk.

Encourage year-round engagement, not just enrollment

Dental and vision benefits shouldn’t disappear from conversations after enrollment season.

To maintain awareness:

• Include benefit reminders in wellness newsletters

  • A great resource for this is our Monthly Content Calendar, where we share free graphics with information and tips to keep your employees healthy.

• Connect vision care to screen-time, ergonomics, or eye strain topics.

• Promote dental and vision care during health awareness months. A couple of our favorite awareness months are:

  • February: National Children's Dental Health Month

  • March: Save Your Vison Month

  • April: Oral Cancer Awareness Month

  • May: Healthy Vision Month

  • October: National Dental Hygiene Month

Consistent, light-touch communication keeps benefits top of mind without overwhelming employees. You don’t need a big campaign for each month. Even one short reminder can meaningfully improve utilization.

Support HR teams with ready-to-use resources

HR teams play a key role in benefits communication, but they often juggle many responsibilities. Providing simple, ready-to-use tools makes it easier to promote utilization.

Helpful resources include:

• One-page dental and vision benefit summaries.

• FAQs addressing common employee questions.

• Email or intranet templates for reminders.

When HR teams feel confident explaining benefits, employees are more likely to engage with them.

Improving employee utilization of dental and vision benefits isn’t about offering more, it’s about helping employees better understand and use what’s already available. Clear education, easy access, timely reminders, and consistent communication can significantly increase engagement. When employees take advantage of preventive care, everyone benefits, from improved health outcomes to stronger satisfaction with the overall benefits package.