How to Make the Most of Your Vision Insurance

According to information collected by OvernightGlasses, approximately 66% of American adults use some form of vision correction. Unfortunately, not everyone has vision insurance that covers the cost of vision correction. If you want to save money and take a proactive approach to your eye health, signing up for a vision insurance plan can be beneficial in the short and long term. It includes annual exams, contact lens prescriptions, new glasses, and even offers discounts on vision correction surgeries like LASIK surgery.

Fortunately, most employers offer vision insurance for less than $20 a month. Some can even get it down to $7 or even less. But if you’re self-employed, you can also find affordable vision insurance options where you get your health insurance.

For example, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield offers two vision insurance plans, Horizon Vista V and Horizon Panorama V. The latter includes a $10 eye exam per calendar year, a $25 deductible for eyeglasses, and up to $130 in contact lens allowance. VSP offers a low-cost plan for $13 per month, with coverage of up to $150 for contact lenses or frames.

It's important to remember that vision insurance doesn't fully cover all eye health costs, except for annual eye exams, but there are ways to make the most of your plan.

Who Should Have Vision Insurance?

Aside from the cost, it's important to take care of your eye health, especially if you have other underlying conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

“One of the side effects of diabetes and high blood pressure, if they’re not controlled, is vision changes,” says Dr. Mina Pee Han, an ophthalmologist based in New Jersey. “So we want to make sure that all stays stable.”

She recommends that people with diabetes come in for a checkup every six months. Otherwise, the annual checkup covered by your vision insurance plan is sufficient. (Note: Seeing an ophthalmologist, not an optometrist, will affect your regular health insurance plan, but will not affect your vision, although both are related to eye health.)

For parents with children, Dr. Hahn recommends taking your children for regular eye exams. She has seen an increase in myopia in children as screen time increases. There are ways to prevent myopia from getting worse, such as wearing contact lenses and controlling myopia, but the sooner you catch it, the better.

How can I maximize my visual tolerance?

All vision insurance plans have a set allowance for contact lens wear, glasses, frames, and lenses. Which one you choose is a matter of personality. “Both glasses and contact lenses are good ways to correct your vision,” says Dr. Hahn.

If you wear both contact lenses and glasses, unfortunately you cannot use your allowance for both, so you will need to decide where to use your vision plan each year.

To get the most value for your money, buying new glasses every new calendar year can save you more money than buying contact lenses. The combined allowance for frames and lenses is often greater than the amount set for contact lenses. You can also save money by choosing a regular frame or reusing an old frame and only replacing the lenses.

Ask your eye doctor about discounts

For contact lens wearers, most eye clinics will match the prices of 1-800 Contacts. Also, clinics often offer manufacturer discounts, which can save you even more when you buy directly from the clinic. It is also best to buy a year’s supply of contact lenses in bulk.

Companies like VSP also offer additional discounts and offers that you can find directly on their website. Currently, they are offering a deal that will save you up to $310 on your yearly contact lens supply.

If you need contact lenses every year, you should see your eye doctor. The FDA classifies contact lenses as medical devices, so you always need a prescription. Each state has different laws regarding prescription expiration dates, so check with your eye doctor and your insurance plan to see what is required.

Visit an eye doctor within your network

Using in-network doctors can help you lower your costs and find more potential discounts. “You can get the best value for your money by going with the products that the retailer and the insurance company have set up,” says Greg Leifer, president of West Coast Insurance Group. Just like health insurance sites, you can search online vision insurance sites to find in-network eye doctors near you.

Depending on your plan, you may be able to get some refunds from out-of-network retailers. However, this process takes time. You may have to submit a claim and wait for approval before you can receive your refund. Places like Warby Parker have made it easy for customers to initiate the refund process. So if you happen to find glasses or sunglasses that aren’t included in your plan, there are ways around it.

It's okay to comparison shop

If you don’t like the prices or options offered by your eye doctor, it’s okay to get a prescription and compare. Use your vision plan’s online dashboard to find in-network retailers in your area and see what they offer. The dashboard may also show you discounts and deals offered by each store, as well as online-only retailers included in your plan. Big-box stores should also be on the list, as they can offer great savings on frames and contact lenses and may be in-network. Costco Optical accepts many of the major vision insurance plans and is a good choice if you’re a member or considering joining.

At the end of the day, read the summary of benefits to understand what is and is not covered by your vision insurance plan. Each insurance company has different allowances for glasses, lenses, and contact lenses, so carefully consider what you really need and what you want to prioritize.

The post How to Make the Most of Your Vision Insurance first appeared on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.