Vision Insurance And Managed
Care.
Vision insurance coverage, in most cases, is a supplement to regular health
insurance—which traditionally covers drastic eye injury or disease. How vision
insurance differs from plan to plan can vary, but generally speaking, vision
insurance coverage is a wellness benefit above and beyond traditional health
insurance that is designed to provide (and help reduce cost for) routine
preventive care such as eye exams, eyewear, and other services provided by your
eye care professional.
While the tips that follow can help you, they are not
designed to replace the much-needed conversation you should have with your
vision plan administrator or provider. Each vision insurance policy is
different—so too are the answers to the questions you are likely to have.
Understand your plan:
Most vision insurance plans have websites. Or literature.
Or both. And companies that provide vision insurance coverage to employees often
have HR professionals. Each in their own way is a capable guide to the benefits
and limitations of your vision insurance plan. The point is, know your plan!
Some plans (often called copay/allowance plans) offer a
fixed dollar amount of coverage for eye exams and eyewear, with the remainder of
the cost paid by you. Other plans (often called discount plans) cover eye exams
fully, and offer a flat discount on eyewear, so you'll receive a certain
percentage off your total purchase.
Know that you have flexibility:
Even if a particular frame or a lens option is not fully
covered by your vision insurance, you can still select it. Your eye care
professional can find the best way to apply your vision benefits as a discount
to your final purchase. There are ways to maximize your vision insurance
coverage, and your eye care professional knows how within the context of your
vision insurance plan.
Keep medical coverage in mind
Remember, though not traditional health insurance, some
vision benefits are wrapped into traditional medical plans. Read medical
benefits carefully, so you do not overlook this potential coverage, and savings,
on services and products you need from your eye care professional.
Use it or lose it, Part 1:
Most vision insurance plans allow yearly eye exams, yet
many people simply forget to schedule an appointment! Don’t pass up this
opportunity to take the minimum precautionary step toward preserving your
healthy sight. Eye exams also provide insight into your overall health, since
diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes can be detected by your eye
doctor. It’s an easy way to maximize your vision insurance coverage.
Use
our automatic eye exam reminder tool.
Use it or lose it, Part 2:
Flexible spending dollars expire annually! If you have a
flexible spending account (also called an HSA/Health Savings Account), those
dollars can be used for vision care (eye exams) and vision wear (lenses and
frames). If you still have money in your account and need to use it by the end
of the year, get that eye exam you’ve been putting off, or consider purchasing a
second pair of eyewear!