Vision Plan Overview

When to Consider a Vision Plan

If you or someone in your family routinely wears glasses or contacts to correct their vision, you may consider a vision plan as part of your personal/family insurance portfolio. While your medical plan provides coverage for an injury, disease or disorder of the eye, there usually isn't any coverage for correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

Also, if you are enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan, there is no routine vision coverage included with the policy.

Shop for Vision Plans in Your Area

You can shop online for plans in your area and enroll yourself. Click here and you will be directed to another page on our website with links to vision insurance companies to review your options and enroll online, if you choose.

Have questions before enrolling? Just call the number above and we will walk you through your options.

Learn About Vision Plans

What Does a Vision Plan Cover?

Vision care insurance usually covers the following services with a copay or an allowance toward your purchase.

• Annual eye exam
• Eyeglass lenses
• Eyeglass frames
• Contact lenses

Discounted procedures for LASIK and PRK vision correction may also be provided through the plan.

Important Vision Plan Elements to Compare

When choosing a vision plan, there are a number of things to evaluate when comparing policies.

• Eye exam cost: No cost or with a copay?
• Frequency of the eye exam: Once per year or every 12 months?
• Network:
  • Does the network include big box stores (Costco, Walmart, Lenscrafters) or is the focus on local independent providers?
  • Is the benefit amount reduced for big box stores?
  • Is there out of network coverage?
• Allowance for eyeglass lenses, frames, contacts: More is better but how much more does it cost? Is the allowance provided every 12 months or every 24 months?
• Waiting period: Do you need to be enrolled for a certain period of time before using the plan?

Question: Why do plans have a waiting period and/or require me to keep the coverage for at least 12 months?

Answer: These elements are put into place to avoid someone enrolling in the plan, receiving services, and then canceling. Having these elements within a plan helps to maintain modest premiums for all individuals enrolling in coverage.

This is a brief overview of the coverage that can be included in a vision insurance policy. You should read the policy thoroughly before purchasing coverage.