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Are you not seeing 20/20? Your vision is essential. You shouldn’t neglect your eye health, but glasses and other vision care can be expensive. Can vision insurance help you get the care you need for your precious eyesight or is it just a waste of money?
Luckily, vision insurance plans are more affordable than you’d expect and a small monthly payment can actually save you hundreds of dollars every year. We’ve read between the lines on the various vision insurance plans available to help you see which policy is a perfect pair for you to try on.
Article Overview
- What Is Vision Insurance?
- Is Vision Insurance Worth It?
- 10 Largest Eye Insurance Companies
- Top 3 Plans
- Other Plans
- Do You Need Glasses (Or Can You Wait)?
- Other Insurance
What Is Vision Insurance?
Basic vision insurance works similar to other types of insurance in that you pay a monthly premium (or payment) that prevents you from spending a more substantial lump sum of money out of pocket all at once (which can save you money in the long run which we’ll get into more in the next section).
However, if you need eye surgery or have significant medical issues with your eyes, those conditions should be covered by your regular health insurance plan. Vision insurance is more for general eye wellness and ensuring your vision is in overall good health.
Vision insurance typically covers:
- An eye examination
- Pupil dilation
- Diagnosis of any conditions (such as astigmatism)
- Prescription for lenses (or contact lenses)
- Eyeglass frames, eyeglass lenses and/or contact lenses
Some plans even include partial coverage for refractive surgery, such as LASIK and PRK.
There are two main types of vision insurance:
- As part of a comprehensive health insurance plan
- As an ancillary, stand-alone plan
Some employers offer one of these options in their employee benefits packages. But not all employers do, leaving you on your own to weed through all of the individual vision plans on the market.
Is Vision Insurance Worth It?
Everyone should get eye exams on a yearly basis. But, vision insurance only makes sense financially if you need to pay for prescription glasses or contacts. Otherwise, you’ll end up spending more on insurance in the long run than if you pay for your eye exam alone.
Getting new lenses or glasses requires an up to date prescription from an optometrist. So insurance pays for itself by covering both your annual trip to the doctor and new frames. Savings on eyeglasses and contacts are especially significant if you have to cover multiple family members.
TIP: When shopping for a policy, be sure to consider the specific types of products and services offered and pay close attention to vision insurance quotes.
What Are The Largest Vision Insurance Companies?
Before we get to our review of the best vision plans for individuals, let’s first take a look at the big players. The table below lists the top 10 largest eye insurance companies in the U.S.
They’re ranked by vision insurance market share. We’ve indicated the companies that offer plans for individuals (not through an employer) with an asterisk (*).
| Rank | Company | Total Participants |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | EyeMed Vision Care | 159,000,000 |
| 2. | VSP Vision Care* | 54,767,676 |
| 3. | Davis Vision | 50,000,000 |
| 4. | OptumHealth Vision & UnitedHealthcare Vision* | 17,683,369 |
| 5. | Cigna | 3,266,690 |
| 6. | WellPoint Inc. | 2,444,000 |
| 7. | Advantica Eyecare Inc. | 2,000,000 |
| 8. | Guardian Life Insurance Co. | 1,220,000 |
| 9. | Ameritas Group* | 985,685 |
| 10. | Principal Financial Group | 191,782 |
Best Vision Insurance Plans For Individuals
The following vision insurance plan features are standard for the industry:
- Coverage is for one eye exam and equipment once every 12 months.
- Most plans cover eyeglasses OR contact lenses every 12 months (not both).
- Most plans require a 12-month contract.
We’ve based our reviews on the variable factors, such as vision insurance cost and value, where insurance is accepted, special coverage and more.
Winner: VSP Vision Care Direct Review
We’ve chosen VSP Vision Care Direct as the best eye insurance for individuals and families. With several plans to choose from, VSP gives you more flexibility in finding the type of coverage that fits your needs.
Some plans are even customizable. Copays and allowances care competitive. And more than 33,000 vision care providers in all 50 states accept VSP.
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Pricing
The following pricing is for VSP Direct’s Standard Plan. Be sure to check out their enhanced plans, where you can enjoy savings on premier lens features.
Monthly Premiums
Monthly premiums vary by state. Below are estimates for North Carolina. View your estimate for free.
- Individual: $16.01/month
- Two People: $30.31/month
- Family Plan: $41.49/month
Standard Benefits
- $15 copay for eye exam
- $150 allowance for frames
- $25 copay for eyeglass lenses
- $150 allowance for contact lenses
Runner-Up: UnitedHealthcare Vision Review
UnitedHealthcare Vision Insurance stands out for its Vision Plan B that covers a pair of glasses AND contact lenses during a 12-month period. They also have a standard Vision Plan A that covers one of the two. If you live in one of the 30 states UnitedHealthcare serves, give them a closer look.
UnitedHealthcare Vision insurance is available in these states: AL, AR, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, WV and WY.
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Monthly Premiums
Monthly premiums vary by state. Below are estimates for Plan A (glasses OR contact lenses) in North Carolina. Plan B premiums (glasses AND contacts) are an additional $5+ per month.
- Individual: $11.40/month
- Couple: $18.60/month
- Family of Four: $33/month
Standard Benefits
- $10 copay for eye exam
- $150 allowance for frames
- $10 copay for eyeglass lenses
- $0 copay for select list of contact lenses
- $125 allowance for non-select contact lenses (Plan A)
- $150 allowance for non-select contact lenses (Plan B)
3rd Place: Ameritas Group Review
Ameritas, a large U.S. life insurance provider, offers two individual vision insurance policies and access to VSP’s network of 33,000 providers or EyeMed’s network of 78,000. Whether you get VSP or EyeMed depends on your state of residence and the specific plan you choose.
Ameritas’ PrimeStar Vision Select plan is a cheap vision insurance alternative if you only need coverage for glasses or contacts once every 24 months. Their PrimeStar Vision Choice plan gives you competitive premiums, copays and allowances for once-every-12-month coverage.
Both plans cover an annual eye exam.
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Monthly Premiums
Monthly premiums vary by state. Below are estimates for North Carolina.
| PrimeStar Vision Select Plan | PrimeStar Vision Choice Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Glasses or Contact Lenses Once Every 24 Months | Glasses or Contact Lenses Once Every 12 Months | |
| One Person | $10.67/month | $16.34/month |
| Two People | $19.63/month | $30.07/month |
| Family | $29.34/month | $44.94/month |
Standard Benefits
Standard benefits include the following copays and allowances. Ameritas also provides discounts for premium lens features.
| PrimeStar Vision Select | PrimeStar Vision Choice | |
|---|---|---|
| Glasses or Contact Lenses Once Every 24 Months | Glasses or Contact Lenses Once Every 12 Months | |
| Eyeglass Exam Copay | $25 | $10 |
| Contact Lens Exam Copay | $15 | Up to $60 |
| Eyeglass Lens Copay | $25 | $20 |
| Allowance for Frames | $130 | $150 |
| Allowances for Contact Lenses | $130 | $150 |
More Vision Insurance Plans Reviewed
The following vision plans didn’t make out top three, but each has unique features you’ll want to consider.
EyeBenefits Review
EyeBenefits is a savings plan rather than a traditional vision insurance company. You pay a low yearly fee and get roughly 20% to 30% discounts on eye examinations and products — and there’s no limit to the number of times you can use your benefits. You can purchase coverage from one to three years.
The EyeBenefits Provider Networks consists of 12,000 optical and LASIK locations nationwide, including popular national and regional chains like VisionWorks, LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, and Target Optical.
This vision care plan is best for people who have simple vision needs, and it makes an excellent supplement to your vision insurance plan.
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Pricing
Single plans are $30/year; Family plans are $45/year. EyeBenefits offers a 30-day cancellation refund. Discounts are as follows:
| Independent Optical Locations | Regional Optical Locations | National Chain Locations | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eyeglass Exam | 10%-20% | 10%-20% | $5 off |
| Contact Exam | 10%-20% | 10%-20% | $5 off |
| Frames | 15%-30% | 10%-50% | 30% |
| Eyeglass Lenses | 15%-25% | 10%-30% | 30% |
| Contact Lenses (Non Disposable) |
10%-20% | 10%-20% | 15% |
Humana Vision Review
Humana, a well-known insurance provider, offers one vision plan with the option to add on family members. Compared to other eye insurers, Humana’s plan has higher than average premiums, an enrollment fee — and exam copays are higher than average.
Like most other vision insurance, this plan covers exams and products once every 12 months.
Humana Vision does offer added discounts on extra features, such as tinting, progressive lenses, anti-reflection, scratch-resistance and more. But unless you want these special add-ons, you can find better savings elsewhere.
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Monthly Premiums
Monthly premiums vary by state. Below are estimates for North Carolina.
- Individual: $15.99/month
- Couple: $27.99/month
- Family of Four: $45.99/month
Standard Benefits
- $15 copay for eyeglass exam
- $40 copay for contact lens exam
- $150 allowance for frames (then you pay 80%)
- $25 copay for standard plastic eyeglass lenses
- $150 allowance for conventional and disposable contact lenses
- Additional copays available for premium lens features
Do You Need Glasses (Or Can You Wait)?
Many of us who require glasses or contacts recall the days when we held off taking the plunge into the vision wear pool until it became a necessity. If you’re on the fence about whether you need glasses yet, take a peek at this brief video to help you determine if it’s time.
Best Dental And Health Insurance Providers
When shopping for supplemental insurance to accompany your health insurance, in addition to the top vision insurance plans, you may also be seeking dental insurance. We’ve got you covered with review of the best dental insurance.
If you are not sure where to start your search for a health insurance plan, take a look at our review of eHealthInsurance, which lets you get quotes for multiple types of health insurance.
