Should we offer voluntary or ancillary benefits (vision, dental, hospital indemnity, accident, critical illness)?

Voluntary and ancillary benefits can strengthen your overall package by adding financial protection and peace of mind — especially when paired with accessible primary care. They’re affordable for employers, valued by employees, and help round out your coverage offering.

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Popular Ancillary Benefits

• Vision and Dental:
  Why it matters: These are the most frequently used ancillary benefits and highly valued by employees. Regular exams and cleanings can prevent bigger health issues — for example, eye exams can detect diabetes early, and dental visits help prevent infections that could lead to ER visits.
  Employer insight: Affordable to bundle and easy to administer, these plans boost employee satisfaction and perception of value.
• Hospital Indemnity:
  Why it matters: Provides lump-sum cash payments if an employee is hospitalized, helping offset out-of-pocket expenses not covered by traditional or high-deductible plans.
  Employer insight: Ideal for teams with HDHPs or MEC plans — it offers protection from financial strain during unexpected events.
• Accident Insurance:
  Why it matters: Pays cash benefits directly to employees for accidental injuries like fractures or sprains.
  Employer insight: Great for physical or hourly workforces, this adds financial protection without increasing employer premiums.
• Critical Illness Coverage:
  Why it matters: Provides a lump-sum payment upon diagnosis of serious illnesses such as cancer, stroke, or heart disease.
  Employer insight: Helps employees manage financial stress during recovery and supports morale and retention.

How to offer them effectively:

‍Offer these benefits voluntarily (employee-paid) to give workers flexibility without increasing employer costs. Keep enrollment simple, transparent, and easy to understand so employees know how and when to use their coverage.

Vitable strengthens your core offering with built-in, $0 primary care that keeps employees healthy day-to-day — reducing the need for high-cost emergency or hospital care. Ancillary benefits can then complement that foundation by providing financial protection for rare, high-cost events.

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Voluntary and ancillary benefits enhance protection, satisfaction, and retention — but primary care should always come first. Together, they create a complete, cost-effective health benefits experience that employees understand, value, and use.

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