Dental and Vision Insurance: Why They’re Essential Employee Health Benefits

The employee health benefits landscape in 2025 demonstrates a notable shift beyond traditional base salary and core medical coverage. According to MetLife’s 2025 Employee Benefit Trends Study, workers increasingly expect benefit packages that address everyday health needs, including preventive and ongoing care such as dental insurance plans and vision insurance plans.

The study highlights several important trends shaping employee expectations:

• Employees increasingly prioritise dental benefits and vision benefits as key factors when considering job offers.
• Flexible and tailored employee health benefit packages significantly improve employee retention and satisfaction.
• Younger generations especially value workplace health initiatives that promote preventive care and long-term wellbeing.
• Benefits covering preventive and ongoing care have become essential to fulfilling modern workforce expectations and enhancing overall employee health.

These trends highlight the critical importance of adapting employee wellness programmes and employee wellness benefits to support holistic wellbeing and retention today.

Dental and vision insurance plans offer more than just routine check-ups; they play a vital role in supporting overall employee wellness and long-term health outcomes.

Here’s why they matter:

• Prevention equals productivity : Regular dental and vision examinations can uncover broader health issues early, helping to reduce absenteeism and long-term medical costs.

• Improved mental wellbeing : Employees with access to dental and vision care without financial stress are less likely to experience anxiety or distractions related to health concerns.

• Inclusive coverage : Offering voluntary employee benefits such as group dental insurance and group vision insurance signals that employers value holistic health, addressing more than just emergency medical needs.

• Enhanced employee satisfaction and productivity : Providing dental & vision workplace benefits can drive employee happiness, boost overall job satisfaction, motivation, and productivity by reducing health-related distractions and discomfort.

For HR professionals, dental and vision coverage goes beyond employee wellbeing; it delivers measurable business impact. Employers who offer comprehensive packages stand out in competitive markets.

Key benefits of offering robust employee health benefits include:

• Attracting top talent with compelling employee perks
• Boosting retention rates by aligning employee benefits and perks with real-life needs
• Enhancing workforce resilience through employee wellbeing programmes and access to preventive care
• Reinforcing your employer brand as one that values personalised and progressive healthcare

For International Governmental Organisations (IGOs), where global mobility and multicultural teams are the norm, offering equitable and adaptable benefits is especially crucial.

IGOs should consider:

• Bundling medical, dental, and vision insurance into a unified, seamless solution
• Offering flexible employee benefits that accommodate diverse family and personal needs
• Using employee benefit programmes that scale efficiently across borders and jurisdictions to help close the global benefits gap and deliver equitable health coverage worldwide
• Monitoring uptake of voluntary employee benefits to continuously adjust offerings based on usage patterns and employee feedback

This approach not only safeguards employee protection but also demonstrates a strong commitment to workforce wellbeing and inclusivity across all locations.

Top employee benefits packages in 2025 increasingly feature preventive dental and vision coverage along with supportive resources that enhance utilisation and wellbeing. When building or optimising your benefits strategy, be sure to include:

• Preventive dental and vision coverage to support early detection and long-term health
• Clear, ongoing employee communications explaining how to access and maximise benefits
• Voluntary options for enhanced care or dependants to provide flexibility and choice
• Wellness resources that complement dental and vision benefits, promoting holistic health
• Access to digital tools such as tele-dentistry and online vision assessments for convenience and wider reach

Learn more about promoting equity and comprehensive protection through Global Health Insurance, which includes medical, dental, and vision coverage. Explore Allianz Partners’ Business Hub for innovative global employee benefits solutions designed to meet the needs of today’s diverse and mobile workforce.