TRS-Care Dental and TRS-Care Vision are separate, optional plans for eligible Texas retirees. You can choose dental, vision, or both without enrolling in TRS-Care medical coverage. For coverage starting January 1, 2027, the annual enrollment window is October 1–December 7, 2026.
The first two things to check are your eligibility and the coverage year. A 2026 enrollment announcement can describe benefits that start in 2027; it does not mean those benefits already apply to a dental appointment this year.
Sources: TRS dental and vision overview and current plan resources.
Quick decision: which coverage do you need?
| Your question | What to check |
|---|---|
| Do I want dental, vision, or both? | Each plan has its own premium and election |
| Can my family enroll? | TRS eligibility and dependent documentation |
| Will my usual dentist or eye-care provider participate? | The network for the specific TRS plan |
| Is a major procedure planned? | A written treatment estimate, deductible and remaining benefit maximum |
| Am I already enrolled? | Automatic continuation and whether changes are needed |
Do not compare these options using only the premium. A low monthly charge can coexist with limits on how much the plan pays for a particular service.
Who can enroll?
The plans are offered to TRS-Care-eligible retirees and eligible dependents. A TRS pension by itself does not establish every aspect of health-plan eligibility. Service retirement, disability retirement and dependent coverage have their own requirements.
TRS lists spouses and qualifying children among eligible dependents, with documentation required in some situations. If your household situation is unusual, obtain a determination before treating a premium tier as an enrollment entitlement.
See TRS eligibility and enrollment for the underlying rules. For medical insurance before Medicare, use our separate Texas teacher health insurance before 65 guide.
2027 monthly premiums
The following rates are from the 2027 TRS-Care Plan Highlights, not the older PDF still linked from some FAQ pages.
| Coverage tier | Dental per month | Vision per month | Both per month | Both for 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retiree only | $41.64 | $6.89 | $48.53 | $582.36 |
| Retiree + spouse | $83.29 | $13.79 | $97.08 | $1,164.96 |
| Retiree + child(ren) | $87.45 | $15.57 | $103.02 | $1,236.24 |
| Retiree + family | $129.93 | $24.08 | $154.01 | $1,848.12 |
Source: 2027 TRS-Care Plan Highlights, page 2. Combined and annual amounts are our arithmetic: dental plus vision, then multiplied by 12. They exclude medical premiums, deductibles, copayments and other treatment costs.
Takeaway: a retiree choosing both plans should budget $582.36 in annual premiums before allowing for any patient charges. That is a premium calculation, not a prediction of total annual health spending.
What the dental plan pays
The 2027 summary lists these in-network percentages and limits:
| Dental item | 2027 summary |
|---|---|
| Type A diagnostic and preventive services | 100% of the negotiated fee, subject to plan terms |
| Type B basic services | 70% of the negotiated fee |
| Type C major services | 50% of the negotiated fee |
| Individual deductible | $50; waived for diagnostic and preventive services |
| Family deductible | $150; diagnostic and preventive waiver applies |
| Individual annual benefit maximum | $1,500 for Type B and C services |
Source: 2027 Plan Highlights.
An annual benefit maximum is a limit on plan payments, not a cap on your own bills. Do not read the $1,500 amount as a guarantee that you will never spend more than $1,500 on dental care.
Ask for an estimate that identifies the covered procedure, negotiated fee, deductible, plan payment and patient responsibility. The result can depend on service limits and how much of the annual benefit has already been used.
The preventive-care incentive
TRS describes an incentive for completing two exams and two cleanings during the plan year: the following year's annual maximum can increase by $250, with total increases capped at $500. It is an increase in future benefit capacity, not a cash payment to the retiree.
Read the 2027 dental benefits flyer for that feature and provider-search information. Confirm your own eligibility for the increase with the insurer rather than adding it automatically to your first-year budget.
Why the network and treatment estimate matter
The summary uses negotiated fees for in-network care and a Maximum Allowable Charge for out-of-network reimbursement. The same printed coverage percentage can therefore apply to a different amount. Ask the dental office to confirm participation in the specific plan, not merely whether it “accepts MetLife.”
A pretreatment estimate is especially useful for crowns, bridges, dentures and other expensive work. It helps separate a covered procedure from the amount the plan expects to pay. It is still necessary to review eligibility, service dates, remaining benefits and the final claim determination.
Use the official plan's MetLife dental page and the benefit certificate for product details. Do not postpone urgent treatment solely because a future plan year has a different allowance; discuss clinical timing with your dentist.
What to check in the vision plan
The 2027 highlights list a $15 in-network routine eye-exam copay, a $10 lens copay, and a $150 frame allowance with a 20% discount on the overage. They list different reimbursement amounts for out-of-network services.
These benefits are not a promise that every pair of glasses, lens upgrade or eye-care visit costs only the copay. Before ordering, request an itemized quote for the examination, frames, lenses, enhancements and any amount above the applicable allowance.
Sources: 2027 Plan Highlights and the official MetLife vision plan page.
If you already have vision benefits through a medical plan, compare the benefits rather than assuming the optional plan either duplicates everything or covers every gap. TRS links a specific comparison from its dental and vision FAQs.
Enrollment for the 2027 plan year
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| First-time annual enrollment | Apply during October 1–December 7, 2026 for January 1, 2027 coverage |
| Already enrolled and keeping coverage | TRS says existing coverage automatically continues into 2027 |
| Adding dependents or changing an existing election | Follow the current TRS forms and instructions during enrollment |
| Considering cancellation | Review the full-year commitment and written termination requirements first |
Sources: September 2026 enrollment announcement, enrollment instructions, and plan FAQs.
For first-time enrollment, TRS directs retirees to MyTRS, the Health tab, and the dental/vision application. Review household details and selected plans, submit the application, and keep the confirmation. Existing members changing or ending coverage are directed to the appropriate TRS Health forms.
Enrollment is for the full calendar plan year. Do not assume you can buy a few months of coverage around one procedure. Ask TRS about any additional opportunity or household change that applies to you.
Do not confuse dental enrollment with medical enrollment
The recurring annual enrollment described here is for dental and vision. It does not establish a general annual right to enter or re-enter TRS-Care medical and pharmacy coverage. Those programs have separate initial, special and other specifically announced enrollment opportunities.
Medical enrollment at age 65 is a separate process; see the TRS-Care Medicare transition checklist.
A reminder about dental enrollment should not be used as permission to cancel a medical plan on the assumption that you can easily return later.
Before you submit
Confirm your plan-year rates, household tier, provider network and any planned treatment. Keep medical premiums separate from dental and vision premiums in your budget. If you are choosing a retirement date, review the separate Texas TRS retirement timeline; this annual enrollment does not determine when your pension starts.
Frequently asked questions
Must I enroll in both dental and vision?
No. They are separate plans, and eligible retirees can choose either or both.
Must I have TRS-Care medical coverage?
No. TRS says the dental and vision plans are stand-alone options for eligible retirees; medical enrollment is not required to select them.
When do I enroll for January 2027 coverage?
The announced annual window is October 1–December 7, 2026. Verify the current instructions before submitting a change.
Is the dental annual maximum a limit on my own expenses?
No. It limits applicable plan benefits. Your own costs can exceed that amount.
Does existing dental or vision coverage renew automatically?
TRS says existing coverage automatically continues into 2027 if you do not make changes. Review your election and any dependent changes.
Can I cancel whenever I want?
TRS describes annual enrollment cancellation and a written termination process, rather than month-to-month cancellation. Contact TRS before assuming an exception applies.
Official Sources
Sources reviewed October 18, 2026. Benefits and rates above are for the 2027 plan year; enrollment dates are in 2026.
- TRS-Care Dental and Vision overview
- 2027 TRS-Care Plan Highlights
- TRS-Care Plan Resources, 2027 materials
- September 2026 dental and vision enrollment announcement
- TRS enrollment instructions
- TRS dental and vision FAQs
- TRS eligibility rules
- 2027 dental benefits flyer
- MetLife TRS-Care Dental
- MetLife TRS-Care Vision
Editorial Note
This is educational information, not medical, dental, insurance, tax or individualized financial advice. Plan documents and individual claim determinations govern coverage. This guide does not recommend treatment or promise that a particular procedure will be paid. See our methodology.
