When small business owners think about employee benefits, health insurance usually dominates the conversation. But dental and vision coverage — often treated as afterthoughts — can be just as important to your employees and just as powerful as a recruiting and retention tool. Here’s why these ancillary benefits deserve a closer look, and how to offer them affordably.
Why Employees Value Dental and Vision Coverage
Dental and vision problems are among the most common health issues adults face, yet they’re often excluded from standard medical plans. For employees, the cost of a single dental crown or a pair of prescription eyeglasses can run into hundreds or thousands of dollars out of pocket. When you offer dental and vision coverage, you’re helping employees manage predictable, everyday health expenses — which they notice and appreciate far more than many other benefits.
The Recruiting and Retention Impact
In a competitive labor market, benefits packages increasingly determine whether candidates accept offers and whether employees stay. According to surveys, dental insurance consistently ranks as one of the top three most desired employee benefits — often ahead of paid time off. Vision coverage is similarly valued, particularly for employees who wear glasses or contacts. Offering these benefits signals that you care about your team’s wellbeing, not just their paycheck.
How Much Does It Cost Employers?
The good news is that dental and vision plans are among the most affordable employee benefits available. Employer-sponsored dental plans often run $20–50 per employee per month for basic coverage, and vision plans can be even less. Many employers offer dental and vision as voluntary benefits — meaning employees pay the full premium through payroll deductions — which costs the employer nothing but still provides the group discount and the convenience of payroll deduction.
What to Look for in a Dental Plan
When evaluating dental plans, look for coverage that includes preventive care (cleanings and exams) at 100%, basic restorative services (fillings, extractions) at a reasonable co-pay, and major services (crowns, bridges, root canals) with meaningful coverage. Check the annual maximum benefit, the waiting period for major services, and whether your employees’ preferred dentists are in-network. PPO dental plans tend to offer the most flexibility for employees who want to keep their existing dentist.
Supplemental Benefits That Round Out Your Package
Beyond dental and vision, consider offering supplemental benefits like short-term disability insurance, life insurance, and accident coverage through voluntary payroll deductions. These products cost employees just a few dollars per paycheck and provide meaningful financial protection. They also differentiate your benefits package at virtually no cost to the business.
Build a Better Benefits Package With Pinkerton
At Pinkerton Payroll & Insurance, we help Florida businesses design comprehensive benefits packages that fit their budgets and attract the talent they need. From group health to dental, vision, and supplemental coverage, we handle the shopping, enrollment, and payroll integration so you don’t have to. Explore our benefits solutions or call 941.584.8606 to get started.
