Dental insurance provides approximately 170 million Americans with coverage for routine diagnostic, preventive, restorative, and many other dental services.  Dental coverage is often part of a comprehensive employee benefits package and also available to individuals in many markets.  Dental insurance encourages use of preventive dental services that have been proven to prevent unnecessary dental decay and periodontal diseases.  For example, the use of sealants and the application of fluorides have proven to be successful in preventing tooth decay in children and they are broadly covered and promoted by dental insurance plans.

Disability income (DI) insurance is private coverage that protects working Americans against the risk that a disabling illness or injury will prevent them from earning a paycheck for an extended period of time. Also referred to as “income protection,” DI  coverage replaces a significant portion of income lost to disability, enabling disabled working Americans and their families to keep a roof overhead and food on the table – and protecting them from taking on additional debt or losing their assets. Disability income protection insurers also have unique expertise and capacity to help ill or injured employees to regain their ability to work.

Long-term care (LTC) insurance provides benefits to help millions of Americans and their families manage the potentially significant costs of LTC.  LTC insurance pays for skilled care provided by professionals such as therapists and also personal care provided by trained health aides. Most policies cover care in the person’s home, an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. LTC coverage helps protect financial assets so that individuals and families can have the financial resources to pay for the care they may need. This takes the potential burden of care off families and provides peace of mind that individuals will be able to afford the type of care they may need and choose. LTC insurance costs only a fraction of what it would cost consumers if they had to pay for care completely on their own.

Medicare supplement (Medigap) insurance is private health insurance designed to supplement Medicare. It offers coverage, at varying levels, for the significant out-of-pocket costs that are not covered by Medicare, such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Medigap coverage allows seniors and younger Medicare enrollees with disabilities – many of whom are on fixed incomes – to budget for medical costs and avoid the confusion and inconvenience of handling complex medical bills. Medigap plans are used by over 11 million seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries, offering them a sense of security about both the predictable and unexpected costs associated with medical care.

Supplemental health insurance products augment more comprehensive health care coverage, such as major medical insurance or government programs (Medicare and TRICARE). These products provide additional financial protection to consumers for medical expenses not covered by the more comprehensive coverage or for nonmedical expenses that can arise during a serious illness (such as childcare, travel, and lost income). Not intended to replace or be issued in lieu of comprehensive, major medical coverage, supplemental products provide valuable financial peace of mind to millions of families.

Vision insurance provides services and benefits required to maintain good eyesight and for the early detection of eye disease and other serious vision problems. Typical vision insurance coverage supplements major medical coverage by providing benefits that cover some of the costs related to: eye exams; eye glasses (including lenses); and contacts. Vision benefit plans do not cover the treatment of eye diseases however, as that is covered under major medical insurance.