What Does Vision Insurance Cover?

If you can’t see well, you’ll likely face quite a few challenges. You might struggle to read, work or even operate heavy machinery. In the wrong situations, a lack of vision could prove dangerous to both yourself and others. Therefore, you’ll probably want to receive regular vision care. Can your health insurance help you with this? 

You’ll only receive insurance for your vision care if your health plan offers that coverage or if you elect that coverage separately. Carefully review your policy to see what your coverage does or does not include. 

Do I have vision insurance? 

Vision care is a lot different from other types of health care. Therefore, many standard health insurance plans do not automatically offer vision insurance.  

With most plans, you’ll need to add vision insurance as an additional policy layer. You might also be able to get vision coverage through a totally separate plan. Multiple options exist. Talk to your insurer to determine which course of action is best for you. 

What will your vision insurance plan cover? 

All vision plans will vary. However, they usually offer coverage for some or all the following services: 

Eye exams—Your eye doctor will test your sight distance and the light responses in your eyes. They’ll also often check you for a variety of other conditions, like cataracts or glaucoma. 

Eyeglass frames—If you need new glasses, coverage might pay some or all the frame cost. 

Lenses—Eyeglass lenses will vary. However, most plans cover a variety of lenses. 

Contact lenses—Rather than wearing glasses, you might choose contact lenses. Many will have coverage under your plan. 

Not all plans will cover all services, so talk with your doctor before they perform any tests or diagnostics. Also, keep in mind that almost all plans will have residual costs. These might include copayments, deductibles or coinsurance. For that reason, expect to pay a portion of the cost of your care yourself. 

Sometimes, your health insurance might step in alongside your existing vision coverage. For example, if your doctor discovers signs of glaucoma or cataracts, your health plan might pay for further testing and care. Furthermore, your health plan will likely pay for ophthalmic surgery or care for specialty eye diseases. 

Therefore, before receiving vision care, it’s wise to talk to your insurance company. Find out what your plan covers, and how it works alongside health insurance. Usually, the process of enrolling in vision insurance can prove convenient and simple.