- The main advantage of vision insurance is that it reduces your out-of-pocket expenses for routine eye care. For some, it's the ideal way to maintain good eye health. If you have highly specific needs for prescription eyewear, like special lenses, coatings, or other more expensive needs, vision insurance could be a worthwhile investment.
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Updated March 7, 2024
In a nutshell
Vision insurance is specifically designed to cover eye care costs related to routine, preventative care and prescription eyewear, such as glasses and contacts.
- Your health insurance plan most likely covers more complex vision problems that require medication or surgery.
- Like medical health insurance, the idea of vision insurance is to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
- However, this will depend on your coverage type and your recurring eye care needs.
How does vision insurance work?
Like health insurance, you are required to pay monthly premiums to keep your insurance active. Depending on your plan, you'll pay a monthly or annual premium so that your insurer pays for a portion or all of your vision-related services.
The specifics of what is covered and how much you pay out of pocket vary depending on your vision plan. Some plans may require a copay, meaning you must pay a predetermined fee at the time of service. Other insurers may require you to meet a deductible or out-of-pocket amount, usually in a year, before they start covering your eye care bills.
What does vision insurance cover?
Vision insurance plans typically cover routine eye exams and prescription eyewear. Some plans may offer discounts on elective vision correction surgery, such as LASIK.
There are some things that this insurance likely won't cover. It doesn't provide coverage for medical eye care, which includes treatment for conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, or other complex eye issues. Your regular health insurance would normally cover this type of medical care.
How much does vision insurance cost?
Costs vary depending on your plan. You can expect to pay between $5 and $25 monthly for individual plans through an employer program. The cost to cover a family will be more, typically based on the number of people participating in the plan.
Pros and cons
Pros:
Cons:
- The downside is that some people will not use the benefits enough to justify the premiums. For instance, they may only get eye exams and prescription eyewear occasionally. This type of person may be better off paying out of pocket or joining a vision discount program.
- Also, some people may discover that they have vision benefits through their regular health insurance. In this case, a separate vision plan is unnecessary.
Is vision insurance worth it?
Vision insurance is only worth it if your premiums garner enough of a discount on your routine eye care that you come out ahead. If your annual eye care needs only amount to $150, but your premiums are $240 a year, it may make more sense to save up what you would have paid in premiums and pay for services out-of-pocket.
How do I get vision insurance?
Most employer insurance programs include the option to sign up for both dental and vision insurance plans in addition to medical insurance. Sometimes, healthcare plans may include both insurance plans at no extra charge.
You can sign up for individual vision coverage or a vision discount plan if you are unemployed or self-employed. VSP Vision Care offers plans through employers and those who need individual coverage.
What are the alternatives to vision insurance?
As mentioned, you could pay for your eyecare exams and prescription eyewear out of pocket. Setting aside a certain amount of money each month into a savings account could be enough to cover infrequent eye care needs.
Another option would be to participate in a discount vision program. A discount vision program is an alternative to traditional vision insurance.
Instead of paying a monthly premium for a certain amount of coverage, you'd pay an annual or monthly fee to get discounts on many of the same eyecare services you'd get with vision insurance. This might include things like eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses.
You also get access to a network of eye care providers more likely to honor the discount schedule. Typically, the coverage with these programs is not as comprehensive as it would be with actual vision insurance, though they can be a more economical alternative for some. In some cases, the coverage is very similar to vision insurance plans.
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No matter what kind of care plan you choose, be sure to read the fine print to know exactly what you're getting in terms of benefits. Sometimes, you'll find some plans offer duplicate benefits, like healthcare plans that include vision coverage. In other cases, you may find the premiums don't justify the benefits, or a discount plan makes more sense. Weigh your options carefully and choose the arrangement that works best for you.
AP Buyline’s content is created independently of The Associated Press newsroom. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about our policies and terms here.