You might assume that if you have a healthcare insurance policy, it also includes vision coverage.
Most health insurance plans, however, do not cover vision care, so you’ll need to purchase a separate vision insurance plan to cover the cost of eye exams, prescription glasses, and contact lenses.
If you’re one of the 150 million people in the United States who needs vision correction, or if you have another type of vision-related disorder, having vision insurance means you can get affordable eye care.
In this post, we’ll look at the best vision insurance companies for 2023. We’ll tell you how you can get these vision policies and how much they cost.
Make sure you read this post to the end because it’ll be very informative and insightful.
Table of contents
What are the Best Vision Insurance Companies?
Below are the best vision insurance companies of 2023.
1. Vision Service Plan
With over 88 million members worldwide and over 40,000 network doctors, Vision Service Plan (VSP) was founded in 1955 and has steadily grown to become the largest vision insurer in the United States.
VSP is our top pick because it offers a variety of plans, flexible coverage, and a range of price points. VSP has an A- financial stability rating from AM Best and an A+ client satisfaction rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Premiums start at $13 per month, with a low $15 copay for an eye exam and $25 for basic lenses.
This policy covers up to $150 in new frames or contact lenses, with some brands covering up to $170. For a fee, you can customize your plan with add-ons like scratch-resistant and anti-glare coatings and progressive lenses.
Although insurance policies do not cover the entire cost of LASIK surgery, they do provide a 5%–15% discount coupon. There are also discounts available for people with diabetes who may have vision problems.
VSP offers the Standard plan across the country, but the other three options are only available in certain states. You can sign up at any time and start receiving benefits the next day.
Read Also: What Is Vision Insurance? Overview and How it works in 2023
2. UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is the largest health insurance company in the United States, with 80,000 providers spread across 44 states and an AM Best financial rating of A (excellent).
They offer a generous discount of up to 35% off LASIK surgery if you use QualSight LASIK, which is why it’s our top recommendation for LASIK.
Golden Rule Insurance underwrites UHC vision policies unavailable in Alaska, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New York, or New Mexico.
There is no waiting period for either of the available vision insurance plans. Plan A is designed for people who wear glasses or contact lenses and has monthly premiums of around $12. Plan B, with monthly premiums of around $16, includes allowances for glasses and contact lenses.
Contact lenses, and eyeglass lenses and frames, are covered to varying degrees by insurance policies.
Annual eye exams are $10 with both plans and include a $150 in-network allowance for frames (or up to $75 out of network), as well as a $10 copay for lenses and no copay for contact lenses.
Bundling other UHC insurance products, such as health or dental policies, can also result in discounts.
Direct Vision may not be as well-known as some of its competitors, but it is backed by Ameritas Insurance, a market leader with an A rating from AM Best and an A+ from Standard & Poor’s.
3. Direct Vision
Direct Vision is the clear winner in our best for budget category, with plans starting at $9 per month and discounts on eyeglasses, frames, and LASIK surgery.
Through their partners VSP and EyeMed, Direct Vision offers plans to people aged 18 and up. There are two tiers to the plans, each of which includes an annual eye exam for a $15 copay.
Both plans include a $150 frame or contact lens allowance and a $25 copay for single, bifocal, or trifocal lenses. The basic plan provides the allowance every two years rather than annually, which is the difference between the tiers.
If your glasses need to be adjusted after you receive them, you can go to a Lenscrafters location near you.
You can also pay a higher fee to use out-of-network providers. For instance, the maximum allowance for eye exams is $50, and the policyholder is responsible for the remaining balance.
Except in Massachusetts, Maryland, Montana, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, plans are available nationwide.
4. Davis Vision
Davis Vision began in 1917 as an optical laboratory in New York. The network includes four out of five major eyecare retailers, and you can get in-network exams and eyewear at locations all over the country.
It has its own line of glasses, with pairs starting at $40 and including a breakage warranty. Superior Vision is a company that sells individual plans. Versant Health owns both Davis Vision and Superior Vision.
This vision insurance offers three plans: Essential, Classic, and Premier. The Essential plan starts at just $12.50 per month and includes $15 eye exams, full lens coverage, and a $125 frame allowance.
The Classic plan costs around $20.62 per month and includes a $150 frame allowance. The Premier plan costs $22.50 per month and includes a $200 frame allowance.
Discounts on LASIK and other health-related services are also available through Davis Vision’s coverage.
It offers hearing aid discounts, has a Fit Fwd wellness program, and a diabetic outreach program.
This company understands the flaws in traditional health insurance and has created programs to address them.
Read Also: 15 Largest Health Insurance Companies in the World | 2023
5. Humana
Humana has an AM Best rating of A- and a Standard & Poor’s rating of BBB+. It is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
Vision insurance plans are available in Washington, D.C., and all other states except for Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Humana Vision has a network of 95,000 locations.
The simplicity of Humana’s plans, and the discount you get if you go over your contract or frame allowance, are two things we like about them (rare with other companies).
You’ll get a $150 allowance for glasses or contacts, to begin with. If you go over your frame allowance, you’ll get a 20% discount on your balance, and other add-ons and services.
You’ll get a 15% discount on your contact lens balance if you spend more than the allowance.
Humana will cover the cost of materials if your contacts are deemed medically necessary, but you will not be covered if you have had corneal or elective refractive surgery in the past. Only in-network providers are eligible for these discounts.
After paying a $35 enrollment fee (no fee if you bundle it with their dental plans), your monthly premium will begin at $11.49 with no waiting period.
For an in-network annual eye exam, you’ll have to pay a $15 copay, a $40 copay for standard contact lens exams, a $25 copay for standard plastic lenses, and a $15 copay for lens options.
6. Ameritas
Ameritas serves over 4 million customers and has received high ratings from AM Best (A) and Standard & Poor’s (A+).
It was founded in 1887 and was originally known as The Old Line Bankers Life Insurance Company of Nebraska. There are no waiting periods for any of the plans available nationwide.
Ameritas offers two tiers of family-friendly plans, starting at $23.47 per month. All tiers provide free eye exams (full coverage), but the lower tier only provides contacts or eyeglass lenses and frames every 24 months, with a $25 eye exam deductible and a $130 frame or contact allowance.
The higher tier includes a $10 copay for eye exams and a $150 frame or contact lens allowance every 12 months.
Read Also: Best Health Insurance Companies In Florida
FAQs
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) does not require adult vision insurance; only children’s coverage is required. The amount of insurance you need varies from person to person, and there is no set minimum coverage requirement.
Although there is no hard and fast rule, if you find yourself in a situation where annual eye exams are recommended and other care, such as glasses or contacts lenses, is required, vision insurance can save you a lot of money. If you’re considering additional treatment, discounts on optional procedures like LASIK may be included.
According to our research, Direct Vision vision insurance is the most widely accepted, with coverage available in all 50 states and a network of over 155,000 providers.
According to our research, basic vision insurance premiums started at around $9 per month. These plans include an annual eye exam and a prescription for glasses or contact lenses. You’ll also have to pay a copay, and depending on the plan and your location, you might have to meet a deductible before the insurance kicks in.
You’ll get a larger allowance for eyewear and lower or no copays for eye exams if you choose a more comprehensive plan, which costs around $30 per month.
Many vision insurance companies offer different levels of coverage. Annual eye exams and a certain amount for frames and lenses or contact lenses are covered by all plans, including the basic ones. Contact lens care and fitting appointments, different lenses and coatings, lens protection, accidental breakage for eyewear, and an increased allowance for designer frames may all be covered under a more comprehensive policy.
Before you buy a vision insurance policy, make sure you ask about any exclusions. Information should also be available in the policy’s terms and conditions.
Vision insurance policies do not cover medical treatments for eye conditions. General health insurance, not a vision insurance policy, would cover things like injury treatment, cataract surgery, and antibiotics for infections. Replacement of damaged eyeglasses, non-prescription reading glasses, and additional eye exams beyond one year are all standard exclusions.
Conclusion
The companies that made our top vision insurance companies list have a mix of positive and negative characteristics.
Others offer immediate coverage and low prices, while others have large provider networks and high coverage limits. We hope you found this post as helpful as promised. We wish you the very best in your search.
Cheers.
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