Although vision care is typically not covered by health insurance, it can affect your general health.
Compared to other types of insurance, vision insurance is typically far more affordable. To determine the top vision insurance providers, we investigated the data for a dozen different vision insurance policies.
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The Best Vision Insurance Companies
Best Overall Coverage: Anthem
Best Low-Cost Vision Plan: UnitedHealthcare
Best Frame and Contacts Allowance: EyeMed
Best For Glasses Wearers: VSP
Anthem
The Blue View Vision Enhanced plan from Anthem has outstanding monthly prices for vision insurance and rather significant features, such as a yearly allowance for frames and contacts.
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare’s Plan A offers low-cost coverage with excellent benefits and a large provider network.
EyeMed
EyeMed Bright offers excellent frame and contacts allowances and a low copay for exam
VSP (Vision Service Plan)
VSP EasyOptions allows coverage that doesn’t charge copays for bifocals and trifocals and has a competitive frames allowance.
What Is Vision Insurance?
In addition to covering the cost of eye exams, glasses, and contacts, vision insurance may also provide savings for additional treatments like LASIK surgery.
You must purchase additional vision insurance because it is often not included in health insurance. You can purchase coverage directly from insurance providers, or your company may include it in their benefits package.
What Does Vision Insurance Cover?
An annual eye exam is often covered by vision insurance, and it could contribute to the cost of glasses once or twice a year. Following is a list of goods and services frequently covered by vision insurance:
Annual eye exam
Allowance for glasses, either annually or every other year
Allowance for contact lenses, often annually
Lens enhancements like anti-glare, blue light reduction coatings, scratch resistance coatings and UV protection
Bifocals and trifocals
Discounts for glasses and/or contact lenses over the policy allowance
What Doesn’t Vision Insurance Cover?
Vision insurance doesn’t cover laser surgeries to correct vision—including photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and LASIK. Those surgeries are considered elective surgery. Vision insurance policies often provide discounts at participating locations for those services.
For instance, UnitedHealthcare’s Plan A offers a 35% discount on laser surgery at over 900 QualSight LASIK locations, EyeMed policies provide a 15% discount on the retail price at U.S. Laser Network locations and VSP provides an average 15% off the regular price or 5% off the promotional price at contracted facilities.
What to Look for in a Vision Insurance Plan
Consider the following factors when comparing vision insurance plans and looking for the option that best fits your needs.
Wide coverage
It is simplest to obtain coverage for vision insurance from a plan that is available in every state and has a sizable number of doctors within the provider network. In fact, if you move or require care while travelling, it’s more practical and helps avoid coverage gaps.More than 120,000 access points accept UnitedHealthcare vision insurance plans, Humana has 95,000 locations in its network of vision insurance providers, and the EyeMed Advantage network has more than 70,000 physicians and locations.
Low monthly premiums
Depending on your plan and coverage levels, prices change. When shopping for a new vision insurance plan, it’s crucial to keep your budget in mind. If you don’t want extensive coverage, you should steer clear of more expensive vision insurance policies. For instance, if you don’t wear glasses, a large frame allowance may not be necessary, but if you do, that allowance may be an essential component of a plan.
The least expensive vision insurance plans, according to our study, are offered by EyeMed Healthy ($5 per month), UnitedHealthcare’s Plan A ($11 per month), and Anthem’s Blue View Vision Value ($12 per month).
Full or partial coverage of annual eye examinations
Annual eye exams are covered by vision insurance, albeit not all vision insurance providers offer full coverage. Our investigation revealed that EyeMed Healthy does not have a copay for exams, contrary to what most vision insurance policies stipulate.
Eyewear and contact lens allowances
Know what your vision insurance plan will cover for glasses and contact lenses, whether you need them now or in the future. Up to a predetermined cost amount, such as $150 or $200, vision insurance will pay for eyeglass and contact lens frames. According to a plan, you might only be eligible for one allowance each year and be forced to pick between contacts and eyeglasses. If you go above the limit, the policy can provide you a discount on the remaining expenses.
Ease of access
When looking for and signing up for a vision insurance plan, as well as when you need to submit a claim or get in touch with a customer support agent, accessibility is crucial. Reading reviews can help you get a better picture of the vision insurance provider’s responsiveness in times of need, not just when you’re attempting to sign up for coverage.