Specialty benefits for a happier, healthier workforce

Your employees deserve total care and coverage. Combining your group medical with dental, vision, and life benefits helps ensure that their health and security needs are fully covered. That’s better for them – and for your business, too.

  • Stay competitive by offering total health benefits

    More and more, employers are seeing the value of integrating group medical and specialty benefits – dental, vision, and life coverage – into one convenient, consolidated, total health experience.

  • $575 billion in U.S. business revenue was lost in 2020 due to poor employee health<sup>1</sup>

  • Specialty and medical together is a win-win.

    Adding dental, vision, and life to an existing group medical plan leads to a lower overall cost of health care (COHC), fewer missed days, and a healthier workforce. Employers also enjoy added cost savings, streamlined administration, and a wealth of coverage benefits, including:

    • Financial advantages

      You’ll have access to bundling discounts and tailored funding arrangements that fit the needs of your employees and your company.

    • Access to large provider networks

      Improved access to care throughout our service areas means you can offer employees who are switching to our plans a seamless transition with minimal disruption.

    • Coordinated benefits

      Coordinating care has been proven to deliver better employee outcomes and a more satisfied workforce.

    • A streamlined experience

      Bundling medical and specialty coverage delivers a more streamlined administrative experience for you and one-stop support for your company’s employees.

  • Proven savings

  • $375 PMPY<sup>2</sup>

    reduction in medical costs for members receiving periodontal disease treatment

  • $5M<sup>3</sup>

    average COHC savings when medical is paired with vision vs. medical coverage alone

  • 3-6% lower<sup>2</sup>

    COHC for members with integrated specialty and medical coverage vs. medical alone

  • Why add dental coverage?

    92.4 million working hours are lost to emergency dental care.<sup>4</sup>

  • A larger network of providers delivers choice and convenience

    With access to one of the largest dental PPO (DPPO) and dental HMO (DHMO) provider networks in California, Blue Shield offers employees flexibility and savings. Employer groups can select any Blue Shield dental plan with or without Blue Shield medical coverage.

    • Ortho

      Lifetime/annual orthopedic options

      At-home orthopedic care through SmileDirectClub

      Coverage for Invisalign

      Enhanced contract limitations on major services

      Crown/bridges/dentures replacement every 5 years

      No missing tooth exclusion

    • Preventive benefits

      3rd cleaning for pregnant women

      Oral cancer screening

      Caries risk management program

      Ongoing network review

      Ensures optimal access to care for employees

  • Dental care by the numbers

  • 1,900+

    dental HMO provider locations in California, one of the state’s largest DHMO networks

  • 46,000+

    DPPO access points means more care options for employees across the state

  • +36.7%

    DPPO network discount delivers maximal savings for employers offering PPO coverage

  • 28%

    net effective discount means no matter which dental plan you choose, you save

  • Why add vision coverage?

    $48.4 billion in productivity is lost due to vision impairment.<sup>5</sup>

  • The largest vision network in California

    Blue Shield’s vision plans provide the access, benefits, and plan choices employees are looking for. Plus, better eye health can improve employee productivity. That’s why considering a vision plan makes good business sense.

    • Industry-leading lens benefits

      Progressive lenses, anti-reflective coating, Plano benefits, and photochromic lenses are covered in plans with a $130 (for 101+ employees) and $150 frame allowance

      All plans cover polycarbonate lenses for dependent children to provide extra protection against breakage

      Contact lens benefits

      Hearing aid discounts

    • Access where employees want it

      Our vision network is a mix of medical and retail optical centers including Costco, Sam’s Club, Target, and many more

      Rate guarantees

      2-year rate guarantee for groups with fewer than 100 employees

      4-year rate guarantee for new or existing groups with 101 or more employees

  • Vision care by the numbers

  • 12,000+

    access points across California

  • 157,000+

    nationwide access points via our BlueCard network

  • Up to 20%

    discounts on LASIK eye surgery

  • Why add life coverage?

    70% of households would face financial hardship without their primary wage earner.<sup>6</sup>

  • Life benefits your employees can use now

    Life insurance is a convenient way to help employees protect their families from financial and unexpected life challenges. And it comes with travel assistance and other perks your employees can use today.

    • Travel assistance services

      Employees can get travel and medical assistance when more than 100 miles from home, including:

      Lost document assistance, including visas and passports

      Legal referrals, emergency cash, and bail assistance

      Immunization requirements

      Medical and dental referrals

      Hospital admission coordination

      Refill/replacement of prescription medication and eyewear

    • LifeReferrals 24/7

      Employees and beneficiaries have access to legal, grief, and financial counseling

      LifeReferrals can also direct members and beneficiaries to local community resources

      Rate guarantees

      2-year rate guarantee for groups of fewer than 100 employees

      3-year rate guarantee for new and existing groups with 101 or more employees

Want to talk? Contact us to discuss your needs.

  • 1. Integrated Benefits Institute, December 2020

    2. Based on industry journal reporting

    3. Based on Blue Shield of California internal reports

    4. Kelekar U, Naavaal S. Hours Lost to Planned and Unplanned Dental Visits Among US Adults, Preventing Chronic Disease, 2018;15:170225. www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2018/17_0225.htm

    5. “COST OF VISION PROBLEMS: The Economic Burden of Vision Loss and Eye Disorders in the United States”, Economic Burden of Vision Final Report, https://preventblindness.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Economic-Burden-of-Vision-Final-Report_130611_0.pdf

    6. “Facts About Life 2016”, LIMRA