If you get an eye infection or a broken jaw, standard medical insurance steps in. But if you want a routine eye exam for glasses, or a teeth cleaning, your standard health plan will reject it completely.
The Historical Split
Decades ago, dentists and optometrists fought hard to remain independent professions, totally separate from standard hospital medicine. As a result, insurance companies built completely separate "mini-insurances" for them.
Is Dental Insurance worth it?
Dental insurance is actually more like a "coupon book" than real insurance. Usually, they cap the total benefit at $1,500 a year. If you need a $5,000 root canal, they pay $1,500 and you pay the rest. It's fantastic for cheap routine cleanings, but terrible for massive disasters.