Be an Educated Consumer with Your Vision Insurance

Understanding your vision insurance is as important as understanding any purchase you make as a consumer. Having all the knowledge possible allows you to make a solid choice in electing your insurance coverage. This choice will allow you to identify the full benefits of your plan’s coverage each and every year.

You can make the most out of your insurance coverage by keeping in mind one important idea: ‘Use It or Lose It”.

Most Insurance plans or spending accounts operate under a use it or lose it philosophy. Most notably Eye Med and VSP, as well as Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). They each have a cut-off date after which the money you have set aside disappears into their employer’s insurance plans.

As an example – if someone chooses to use their plan benefits late in the year, they might not be scheduled to return to their doctor for more than a year. Missing a year completely, you have lost benefits available that could amount to hundreds of dollars. The missed benefits could have resulted in prescription sunglasses or a back up pair of glasses in case of damage.

The same is true if you are on a set schedule to visit your eye care provider every other year. Visit your optical shop to see what benefits are available to you every year—so you don’t miss out. Even if your insurance doesn’t provide full coverage, you may be up for substantial discounts of up to 40% off retail pricing for a second or third pair of glasses.

Lens upgrades are also overlooked, but can be a greatly discounted through insurance providers. The new advancements in lens technology make upgrades worth the investment depending on your preference and wear time so don’t hesitate to ask the opticians during your visit about discounts. For instance, the new digital progressives can cost $100 – $300 more than older progressive lenses, but through VSP or EyeMed the cost can be as little as $30. The greatly improved Anti-Glare and Transitions lenses can sometimes be purchased at half the price.

Contact lenses are another option for many eye glass wearers. With more that 30 million people in the United States, it makes sense insurance companies have begun to work them into health care plans. Many plans will now allow optical shops to bill for either glass or contacts. For those who play sports or whose work requires them to wear goggles, contacts can be a game changer. Have your optician investigate the costs of either option for you and pick which holds the better value for you and your needs. Some vision plans may occasionally offer a multiple pair benefit which may allow you to get both.

At Massachusetts Eye Associates, our optical staff are experts at helping you realize the best value for your insurance plans. Call us at any of our three optical shops or stop by for a consultation. We would be delighted to help you!