Vision insurance is a special kind of insurance that helps you pay for things related to taking care of your eyes. This includes regular check-ups with the eye doctor, getting glasses or contacts if you need them, and sometimes even discounts on procedures like LASIK surgery to correct your vision.
Unlike regular health insurance, which covers a lot of different medical needs, vision insurance focuses specifically on eye care. So if you want to make sure you can take care of your eyes without paying a lot of money out of pocket, having vision coverage is really important.
What Is Vision Care Insurance?
Vision insurance helps cover the cost of routine eye checkups, getting glasses or contacts, and sometimes surgeries like LASIK. The plan might pay for everything up to a certain amount, or you might need to pay a set fee or a percentage of the cost.
How Does Work
This insurance lets you get coverage either from your job or straight from an insurance company. It can cover things like glasses, eye check-ups, and other eye care services. You pay a fee, called a premium, to have this insurance. It’s often cheaper than regular health insurance.
There are two main types of vision coverage: one works like regular health insurance, and the other gives discounts on eye care services. They offer different benefits and ways of working, so you can pick what’s best for you.
What Does Vision Insurance Cover
Vision insurance usually pays for:
- Eye check-ups once a year
- The lenses of glasses
- Glasses frames
- Fitting for contact lenses
- Contact lenses
Some plans might also cover extra things like special appointments for protecting your lenses or having LASIK surgery. These plans might have limits on how much they’ll pay for certain brands of frames and contacts, and you might need to pay for the rest yourself.
What Vision Insurance Doesn’t Cover
What’s Not Included:
- Getting more than one eye checkup in a year
- Buying glasses or contacts without a prescription
- Paying more than what’s allowed for glasses and lenses
- Big medical procedures (your health insurance covers these) Extra charges from the eye doctor
Knowing what this insurance does and doesn’t cover helps you choose wisely about your eye care and money.
How Much Does Vision Insurance Cost
Most individual vision plans cost around $10 to $30 each month. You might also have to pay a little extra when you visit the eye doctor. These plans can help you save a lot on glasses, contacts, and other eye care stuff. They also offer discounts on different eye treatments and surgeries.
Companies That Offer Vision Insurance
Several companies offer vision coverage plans, including:
- VSP Vision Care
- EyeMed Vision Care
- Davis Vision
- Spectera (UnitedHealthcare Vision)
- Humana Vision
- Aetna Vision
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Vision
- Cigna Vision
These options are just a small sample, as numerous other insurance companies offer Vision coverage. It’s crucial to thoroughly research and compare policies to find the one that best suits your needs.
Is It Worth It?
Vision insurance isn’t required, but it can help with eye care costs. Whether you should get it depends on how often you need eye check-ups and if you need glasses or contacts. If you rarely have eye problems or no one in your family has had serious eye issues, you might not need it.
You can still get eye care without insurance. Just check with your eye doctor to see which insurance they accept. If your doctor doesn’t take a certain insurance, it might not be worth it to get that plan unless you’re okay with switching doctors. Think about what eye care you need and which doctor you prefer to help you decide if vision insurance is worth it for you.