Chad is one of the regional representatives for Emeritus’ individual dental and vision plans. He will introduce Emeritus, explain what sets the company apart, review the plans, discuss the quoting and enrollment process, and highlight marketing tools to support agents. Chad can be reached via the QR code on your screen or his mobile number, and he encourages contact for any questions or support regarding dental and vision.

Emeritus is based in Lincoln, Nebraska, and has been serving customers since the late 1800s. It is a mutual company with an A rating, and while it offers multiple products, its core expertise is in dental insurance, which it has provided since 1959. Emeritus serves more than six million customers in its dental market and operates one of the largest dental provider networks in the country, giving clients flexibility to go in- or out-of-network for services.

Dental and vision coverage has become increasingly important because these services play a crucial role in overall health. Preventive visits often uncover early signs of other conditions, making coverage essential. For instance, gum disease is linked to nearly sixty other health issues, including diabetes, heart conditions, and Alzheimer’s, while one in five people have had non-eye-related health issues detected by their vision provider. Additionally, 90% of adults aged 20 to 64 have some form of tooth decay, highlighting the need for both preventive care and comprehensive coverage. Standalone dental and vision plans are beneficial for anyone aged 18 and older, offering larger, more robust coverage than some Medicare Advantage benefits and functioning as primary insurance without coordination of benefits. Coverage is portable, following the policyholder as long as premiums are paid, and benefits can increase over time.

Emeritus has received national recognition, including being ranked one of the best dental insurance companies by CNN Underscored in 2024, and for the second consecutive year, Forbes Advisor named its Prime Star Complete plan the best dental insurance for seniors. Emeritus offers next-day coverage for new enrollees, with flexibility to delay start dates up to 90 days. Preventive, basic, and major services generally have no waiting periods, with a few state-specific exceptions. Credit for prior coverage is available on all plans, allowing clients replacing a fully insured dental plan to qualify for higher co-insurance levels if the previous coverage was in place for at least 12 months and the enrollment occurs within 60 days of termination. Pricing is zip code-based with no age or gender restrictions, and policies are guaranteed issue with no maximum age.

The Prime Star lineup includes three plans: Prime Star Light, Prime Star Boost, and Prime Star Complete, each designed for different client needs and price points. Prime Star Light targets younger clients or those seeking basic coverage, with a $750 first-year maximum and $1,500 in the second year. Deductibles are zero for preventive services and $50 for basic and major services. Preventive care is fully covered in-network and does not count toward the annual maximum, a feature called Preventive Plus. Basic services are covered at 50% in the first year and 80% in the second year, while major services are covered at 10% initially and 20% in year two. Implants are not included in this plan to maintain affordability.

Prime Star Boost offers a $1,500 first-year maximum, rising to $2,000 in the second year, with similar deductibles and preventive coverage as the Light plan. This plan includes additional features for families, such as sealants and space maintainers for children, and orthodontic coverage for those under 19, with 15% coverage in the first year and 50% in the second, up to a $1,000 lifetime maximum. Basic services start at 65% coverage in the first year and 80% in the second, while major services, including crowns, bridges, dentures, implants, and teeth whitening, are covered at 20% initially and 50% in the second year. Credit for prior coverage allows clients to maintain the same maximum benefit while receiving the highest co-insurance levels immediately.

Prime Star Complete is designed for seniors, offering a $2,500 first-year maximum and $3,000 in the second year, with zero deductible for preventive care and $50 for basic and major services. Preventive care is fully covered in-network and 90% out-of-network, with Preventive Plus included. Basic services start at 80% coverage and major services at 20%, increasing to 50% in the second year. The plan includes comprehensive coverage for crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants, and provides hearing benefits with reimbursement for annual exams and hearing aids, all without a waiting period.

If you purchase your dental plan today, hearing aid benefits are available right away. Emeritus will cover up to $75 for a hearing exam, and hearing aids are reimbursed up to $200 per year, totaling $400 over two years, separate from your dental maximum. This makes it a nice extra feature to highlight for clients. Emeritus has one of the nation’s largest dental networks with over 673,000 access points and around 139,000 unique providers, covering both the U.S. and Mexico. Choosing an in-network provider gives clients significant discounts on services, often at least 25%, sometimes up to 50%. For example, a crown that costs $1,194 without a network discount drops to $647 when using an Emeritus provider. After applying the insurance plan, the client might pay only $518 initially and $324 in year two, showing substantial savings.

Emeritus also offers vision coverage independently or bundled with dental. There are two vision partners, VSP and iMed. VSP, the Prime Star Choice plan, has providers like Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Visionworks, and Pearl Vision. Exams have a $10 deductible and lenses are fully covered, with a $150 allowance for frames or contacts annually. The iMed Prime Star Select plan includes retailers like LensCrafters, Target, and local shops, with a $25 deductible, fully covered lenses, and a $130 allowance for frames or contacts, but the frames and lenses are reimbursed every 24 months instead of 12. VSP typically costs about $16 per person per month, and iMed around $11.

Enrollment and quoting are handled online through your personal URL, the “pearl” link, which allows clients to quote and enroll themselves. Everything starts with a zip code to pull specific prices and plans for that area. The process is electronic and simple, taking five to six minutes. Clients enter basic information, including prior coverage if applicable, then payment information, and finally agree to terms electronically. Temporary ID cards are emailed immediately, and physical cards are mailed within 7–10 days. The system credits all sales back to the agent.

Marketing materials, including printable client resources, state-specific documents, and social media-ready content, are available on the agent marketing site at explore.emeritus.com/agent. You can also create QR codes linking directly to your personal enrollment page, which works well for postcards, office drop-offs, or mailers. Emeritus has been rated the best dental insurance for seniors in 2023 and 2024.

Agents often ask whether dental insurance is worth it. Preventive care alone provides value, and major procedures can save clients significant costs. Emeritus allows upgrades or downgrades between plans. For instance, a client starting on the lower-tier Prime Star Light plan can upgrade to Complete after the policy anniversary to maximize benefits. Bundling dental and vision can be done in most states, except Massachusetts, and some counties in Pennsylvania have indemnity options that require additional verification.

The key takeaway for agents is that you don’t need to be a dental or vision expert. Emeritus provides support, handles claims, and offers affordable, flexible plans with one of the nation’s largest networks. Agents can confidently present the plans to clients knowing the coverage is reliable, the pricing is competitive, and marketing tools are readily available.

This keeps the information flowing, highlights the benefits, and makes it easy to understand for someone who might use this summary to explain plans to clients.