Routine eye care exams are preventive measures that everyone should have in place because it’s during such checkups that a qualified optometrist can look for near or far vision problems as well as signs of serious medical conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes, not to mention cancer too. Optical care is often overlooked and unless someone already has existing eye problems, it’s usually the last thing on our minds when choosing a health insurance provider.

What people don’t realize vision is an essential medical need for keeping your overall health and wellness and while eye care insurance is generally supplemental to other types of medical insurance policies it can do a lot in terms of offsetting the general costs of routine checkups including vision correction wear that may be prescribed.

Anyone who is paying an arm and a leg for an insurance plan needs benefits that are worth paying for and an annual eye exam is one of the main benefits, and in this case, the best vision insurance companies offer copay that covers all but $10 to 15 of the exam cost to save you the most money. Most insurers cover the cost up to a certain limit, usually around $100 or $ for premium plans cover so that if your frames or contacts, for example, cost more than that amount, some insurers apply a discount to the remaining cost thus offering an allowance for frames or contact lenses. 

The best vision insurance companies have a broad network of approved providers and while the benefits tend to be weaker, they extend coverage to out-of-network providers if, for instance, your regular eye care doctor isn’t part of the network. Vision insurance may cover the following:

• Annual routine eye exam
• Eyeglass frames, lenses, and contacts fitting
• Optical care for major medical problems
• Scheduled discounts on all eye-related expenses
• Discounted rates for LASIK and PRK

It’s important that no matter which insurer you choose, go with a company that can work with your individual eye care needs plus ensure that you fully understand the costs and benefits associated with the plan you are considering. Note that if you are eligible for a group plan, you can obtain vision insurance through your company, group association, school alternatively, via a government program such as Medicare or Medicaid. If you are self-employed most vision policy providers may offer plans that you can purchase individually.

Here are examples of reputable vision insurance providers though the costs may vary by state of residence;

1. VSP Individual Vision Plan is perfect as it offers allowances on frames and contacts, including copays on exams and lenses
2. EyeMed has the lowest premiums for standard plans and has no copays on optical exams
3. United Healthcare has a broad network of providers, including Costco and Target retail stores
4. Vision Plan of America plans only has $6 a month premium
5. Humana is ideal for families

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