If you have health insurance, you might assume it includes vision benefits—but that’s not always the case. Learn more about vision insurance and why it’s an important addition to your coverage.
Why Vision Insurance Matters
Neither Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans nor Original Medicare cover adult vision care. Health insurance generally covers medical issues related to your eyes, such as cataracts or retinal conditions, but it doesn’t extend to routine services- this is where vision insurance steps in.
Vision insurance covers routine vision services such as eye exams, allowances for glasses or contacts, and discounts on services such as LASIK. It’s designed to help you manage ongoing vision care costs and ensure you have access to the care you need.
Shopping for Vision Insurance
If you’re considering vision insurance, here are some factors to keep in mind:
- Provider Network: Most plans have a network so be sure to check if your eye doctor is in-network.
- Deductibles and Copayments: Understand the out-of-pocket costs you may face, including your deductible (the amount you pay before insurance kicks in) and copays for services.
- Coverage Details: Find out if the plan includes extras like scratch-resistant coatings or enhanced lenses.
- Benefit Maximum: Check on the frequency of covered services (e.g., one pair of glasses every 12-24 months) so you’re aware of how often you can receive services and if there’s a limit on how much your plan will pay for them each year.
- Waiting Periods: Be aware of any waiting period before your benefits take effect.
Pairing Vision Insurance with Other Coverage
You can purchase vision insurance as a stand-alone plan or bundle it with other coverage, such as dental insurance. Bundling can be a cost-effective way to get additional coverage, especially if the premium for a paired plan is comparable to a stand-alone vision plan.
Some insurers also offer vision riders, which allows you to add vision care to an existing dental plan for an additional cost. These plans provide a comprehensive way to address multiple health needs under one policy.
When choosing a bundled plan, review the maximum benefits and understand how the elements work together. This ensures you’re maximizing your coverage and meeting your specific needs.
What Vision Plans Typically Cover
Vision plans generally include benefits such as:
- Coverage for eyeglass lenses, frames, and contact lenses.
- Discounts or partial coverage for lens coatings and treatments like anti-reflective coating, scratch resistance, or blue light protection.
- Some plans offer discounts or partial coverage for corrective vision procedures like LASIK or PRK, though full coverage is rare.
- Out-of-network coverage (though it may not include in-network discounts).
- Coverage options for all ages.
Get Covered Today
AMAC is proud to offer vision insurance through VSP (Ameritas) and United Healthcare. Individual and family plans are available with the option to bundle with dental coverage through AMAC’s exclusive Liberty Dental plan. Whether you’re looking for routine eye exam coverage or assistance with prescription eyewear, vision insurance can help fill the gaps in your health plan. Investing in vision insurance today can help you save on future costs while ensuring your eyes get the care they deserve!
Since plans vary by location, please contact us directly for quotes.
Got questions about vision insurance? Take a glance at the benefits, or call a licensed insurance agent at 800-750-9615 to discuss your options. Or request a quote by email below.
Medicare advantage plans do cover eye care, and most of them also have coverage for glasses. As someone who used to work in an ophthalmologist’s office, I would recommend an Advantage plan over VSP. VSP mostly covers optometrists and only a few ophthalmologists (mainly the ophthalmologist office that has an optometrist on staff). For those that do not know the difference between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist, an ophthalmologist is an MD 1st that specializes in the eyes, and an optometrist goes to school mainly to examine eyes for glasses and are taught how to diagnose eye diseases but not all of them know how to treat. Many eye diseases are d/t systemic problems that ODs may not be aware of. Most of us who are over the age of 50 have cataracts and once you have cataract surgery you would not need to have LASIK since the IOLs that are used in cataract surgery can correct for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. You can even get a multifocal IOL so you do not need reading glasses. However, if you also have AMD a multifocal IOL is not recommended since it cuts down on the amount of light entering the eye. Plus if you go to an optometrist and he finds a medical problem with your eyes, he/she will likely refer you to an ophthalmologist. And as long as you have a medical diagnosis like cataracts, the exam will be covered by medical insurance. I could go on but this is too long as it is.
Thank you for this article. I was just about to change insurance providers and this article encouraged me to ask about vision and dental coverage. Perfect timing!