You might know if you’ve had a routine dental exam recently.

Of course, I’m just an insurance guy not a dentist. But we should all know the correlation between good oral health and overall health. Periodontal disease is a predictor of cardiovascular disease.

Last week I asked if you can force an employee to take health coverage .Well, now I’ll ask, can you force an employee to have their annual physical or dental and vision exams?

Employers are finding creative ways to incent preventive care. Exam only dental and vision plans are a fraction of the cost of traditional coverage. Some employers are paying those premiums and then rewarding employees who get exams with contributions to their Health Savings Accounts.

It isn’t enough preventive care is covered at 100%. Now there are insurers offering premium discounts to each employee engaged in healthy behaviors.

Sadly, fewer than half of us regularly seek preventive care. I’d like to think the numbers are better for our Tips readers.

Am I right?