SLA Insurance Agency - Vision Insurance


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Vision Insurance FAQ

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What Is Vision Insurance?

Where Can I Get Vision Insurance?

What Kinds of Vision Insurance Plans Are Available?

What Does Vision Insurance Cost?

What Kinds of Vision Care Are Available through Medicare ?

How often should I have my eyes examined?

When should my child have his/her first eye exam?

What is the difference between a routine eye exam and a contact lens exam?

What is the difference between planned replacement contact lenses and disposable contact lenses?

Why should I have a regular eye exam?

What Is Vision Insurance?


	Potentially high costs of regular eye examinations and prescription eyewear can be of real concern, especially for large families. You might be able to defray at least some of these costs by looking into acquiring vision insurance for yourself or better understanding the plan your company already provides. First, you must understand that vision insurance only supplements regular health insurance. Regular health insurance plans protect you against financial losses due to unexpected eye injury or disease. Vision insurance, on the other hand, is a wellness benefit designed to provide routine, preventive eye care such as eye exams, eyewear, and other services at a reduced cost.

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Where Can I Get Vision Insurance?


	Group vision insurance can be obtained through your company, association, school district, etc., or through a government program such as Medicare or Medicaid. Also, as an individual, you might consider the option of purchasing your own vision benefit plan. Vision insurance is often a value-added benefit linked to indemnity health insurance, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and preferred provider organizations (PPOs) that have contracted with managed vision care networks to provide eye care services.

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What Kinds of Vision Insurance Plans Are Available?


	Vision insurance typically comes in the form of either a vision benefits package or a discount vision plan. Typically, a vision benefits package provides enrollees eye care services in exchange for an annual premium or membership fee, a yearly deductible (a dollar amount) for each enrolled member, and a co-pay (a smaller dollar amount) each time a member accesses a service. A discount vision plan provides eye care at fixed discounted rates after an annual premium or membership fee and a deductible are paid. Both kinds of vision insurance can be custom-designed to meet the different requirements of a wide range of customers. Vision insurance generally covers the following basic services: Annual eye examinations, including dilation Eyeglass frames Eyeglass lenses Contact lenses LASIK and PRK vision correction at discounted rates Generally, services acquired from network providers are cheaper than services from out-of-network providers.

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What Does Vision Insurance Cost?


	Vision insurance costs vary, depending upon how the program is designed. Typically, you pay for group vision insurance through payroll deductions or flexible spending accounts (FSAs). An FSA, sometimes called a cafeteria plan, allows an employee to use pre-tax dollars to purchase selected health benefits such as vision insurance. You save money because you receive the full benefit of income that has been set aside for health costs, making it not subject to or reduced by taxation. If, however, you have purchased an individual vision insurance plan, you can expect to be billed monthly or annually.

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What Kinds of Vision Care Are Available through Medicare?


	Medicare's policy has four parts for qualified citizens who participate in the program, as well as access to supplemental insurance. These aspects of Medicare coverage include: Part A, Hospital Insurance: This covers part of the costs incurred while in a hospital, rehabilitation facility, or hospice. It also pays for some homecare costs. Vision problems that are considered medical conditions, such as eye emergencies from trauma, would be covered here. Part B, Medical Insurance: This covers part of the costs of doctor visits and some other medical services not included in Part A. Again, medical vision problems such as those related to eye diseases would be covered in this section. Part C, Known as Medicare Advantage (MA): This gives Medicare participants enrolled in parts A and B of the program the option of joining one of a variety of health plans (not available in every area) that have contracted with the federal government to provide health care. Typically, MA plans provide more benefits than Parts A and B. They also charge higher premiums. But these premiums can include entitlement to extra vision benefits including at least some coverage for routine eye exams, eyeglasses, or contact lenses. Part D, Coverage for Prescription Drugs: As with any medical condition, you likely would qualify for coverage for eye diseases such as glaucoma requiring eye drops to control internal (intraocular) eye pressure. Medigap Policies: Individuals enrolled only in Medicare Parts A and B also can opt to purchase a plan from among about 10 different Medigap insurance policies. Medigap is a supplemental insurance policy that pays expenses not covered by Medicare Parts A and B. Members of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans do not need to purchase Medigap because their policies already fill the gaps associated with Medicare Parts A and B. Unlike Medicare Advantage (see Part C above), Medigap policies may cover medical conditions such as eye diseases but do not include extra vision benefits for eye exams and artificial lenses.

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How often should I have my eyes examined?


	You and your eye care provider should determine the eye exam schedule that best meets your eye care needs. The American Optometric Association recommends that adults age 19 to 40 with normal vision receive eye exams every two to three years, adults 41 to 60 receive eye exams every two years, and adults 61 and older receive annual eye exams. People with vision problems, including those who wear prescriptions, should visit their eye care professional at least annually.

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When should my child have his/her first eye exam?


	You and your eye care provider should determine the eye exam schedule that best meets your child’s eye care needs. The American Optometric Association recommends that infants receive their first eye exam before six months of age, then again at age three, as well as before the child begins first grade. Regular eye exams should be conducted every other year thereafter.

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What is the difference between a routine eye exam and a contact lens exam?


	Routine eye exams are designed to detect vision problems and are an important preventive measure for maintaining your overall health and wellness. In fact, eye exams can be used to spot symptoms of diseases and conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, cataracts, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, lupus, AIDS, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Graves’ disease. Contact lens exams are designed to evaluate your vision with contact lenses. Your eye care provider will check to ensure the contacts fit properly.

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What is the difference between planned replacement contact lenses and disposable contact lenses?


	Planned replacements are not the same as disposable contact lenses. Our planned replacement contact lenses are replaced at a planned interval. Our planned replacement lenses have been approved for daily wear up to 30 days. Disposable contact lenses are designed to be used daily for a 2 week maximum. Always follow your practitioner's instructions for their replacement schedule and care.

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Why should I have a regular eye exam?


	Regular eye examinations are important to your overall health. In fact, eye exams can be used to spot symptoms of diseases and conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, cataracts, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, lupus, AIDS, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Grave's disease. Chances are you, or someone in your family, needs vision correction. Nearly 80 percent of U.S. residents 18 and over need vision correction. Additionally, computer eyestrain has been named the number one occupational hazard of the 21st century, because nearly nine out of every 10 workers experience symptoms of computer eyestrain.

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