See the bigger picture: What your eyes and mouth reveal about your heart

February is American Heart Month, so it’s a great time to think about the habits that support your heart health, like eating well, staying active, and getting regular teeth cleanings and eye exams. Vision and oral health play an important role in your holistic well-being, and can offer early signals about what’s happening in your body.

By making preventive eye and dental care a priority, you can take control of your health and enjoy a higher quality of life.

What your eyes and smile are saying

Your eyes and mouth tell a bigger story about your health than you might expect. Regular dental checkups identify gum disease and chronic oral inflammation, which have been linked to increased risk of heart disease. Eye exams can detect changes in blood vessels and other indicators that may point to cardiovascular or metabolic concerns. These routine appointments give your providers valuable information and help catch potential issues early, even before symptoms appear, so you can take action sooner.

Your Stanford benefits keep your eyes and smile shining bright

Stanford benefits are designed to make preventive care accessible and easy to use. 

All Stanford health plans cover one routine eye exam per year, which can be scheduled through your primary care physician. Visit the Health & Life Plans page to learn more about what’s covered through your medical plan. 

If you’re enrolled in the employee vision plan (VSP), your plan pays for one exam annually and provides coverage for glasses and contacts. 

If you’re enrolled in one of the Delta Dental plans, you have coverage for preventive checkups and twice-yearly cleanings at no cost to you. You also have coverage for basic and major services if you have a problem. Plus, if you have a qualifying medical diagnosis, such as diabetes or heart disease, you may be eligible for the SmileWay benefit, which provides enhanced dental treatment, including three or more cleanings a year. Both dental plans give you access to Delta Dental’s large national provider network, with new dental groups and providers continually joining the network.

Tip: Use your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) funds to cover eligible vision and dental expenses, such as contact lenses, eyeglass frames, and dental fillings. You can also use your HSA and HCFSA for office visit copays. Click the links above to see a complete list of qualifying expenses. 

Schedule your care — even when you feel fine

Scheduling routine care now helps you build healthy habits that support you throughout the year. And when you stay consistent with preventive care, you may reduce the need for more complex and costly treatment later. 

To receive the highest level of coverage and keep costs lower, be sure to choose in-network providers:

• Dental: Visit deltadental.com to search for providers and estimate costs.
• Vision: Visit vsp.com or call 800-877-7195 to find an eye doctor.