Paying out-of-pocket for yearly dental checkups probably won't break the bank. But what happens if you need more serious dental work? Whether you live in Texas or anywhere else in the country, a root canal or crown can easily cost more than $1,000. If you're working, and your employer-sponsored group health insurance plan includes dental coverage as part of its benefits package, the financial blow will be less severe.

If you're not working or you're not offered a dental plan where you work, you still have the option of purchasing separate dental insurance. Dental indemnity or fee-for-service plans allow participants to visit any credentialed dentist or dental specialist they wish. The participant pays the dentist at the time of service and gets reimbursed according to the plan's coverage. This is a plan for those who enjoy the freedom of provider selection and don't mind a higher monthly premium and greater out-of-pocket expense.

Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO) plans require members to seek all services through their assigned dentist. These affordable plans offer preventive services at little or no cost to the member. DMO plans differ in premium and copay levels. Dental PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans offer patients the choice of an indemnity plan and the affordability of a managed care plan.

Having dental insurance often does not entitle you to immediate benefits. Many of the individual dental health care plans in Dallas, Houston and throughout Texas have a waiting period for certain procedures. Routine care is usually covered immediately, but you often need to be covered for six months or more before you are covered for more expensive procedures.

And while vision insurance has become a mainstay benefit for employees at larger companies, there are still many individuals who pay out of pocket for their glasses and eye exams. For those who don't get vision coverage with their health insurance benefits package, it may be purchased separately. And it's usually provided in the form of a Vision Maintenance Organization (VMO) or PPO network. Coverage generally includes yearly eye exams and a percentage of the cost of eyeglasses and contact lenses. Some plans cover all or a part of the cost of laser corrective surgery as well.

In addition to insurance plans, discounts plans are very common for both dental and vision. Discount plans entitle you to care, glasses, and contacts from selected providers at a reduced price. Discount plans may be available through your employer, your health insurance plan, and numerous social and professional groups or they may be purchased directly. Sometimes discount plans are combined with insurance with some services being insured and with discounts for the other services.

If you're a young, healthy individual and you're insured, you may not need more than regular dental and vision exams just to catch any problems before they get serious. So you could purchase individual dental and vision plans to supplement your current health plan. But if you're a young, healthy individual who not only needs dental and vision but health insurance as well, you should take a look at the revolutionary comprehensive individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for people like you. Precedent's health insurance plans also include dental and vision coverage, as well as prescription drug coinsurance, all for a low monthly premium of around $100 per month for most people.