When it comes to supporting your health and wellbeing, there are essentially three types of insurance that are commonly acquired:
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
And, typically, if your medical insurance plan is through your employer you will have both dental and vision offered with it as a “package deal”, so to speak.
If, however, you elect to purchase your own insurance, or you are self-employed, then you have several insurance options to choose from. And vision insurance is offered by a wide range and large number of providers.
The 10 Top Vision Insurance Providers
Much like medical, or health, insurance choosing a vision insurance provider is not simply a matter of finding the lowest monthly premiums. Coverage details, co-pays, exceptions, and added features are all aspects to be considered.
We reviewed the various rankings, reviews, and ratings available and composed a list of the top ten vision insurance companies according to a general consensus:
1. VSP Vision Care
VSP is the nation’s largest vision insurance provider and is considered the best overall vision insurance company by most reviewers. Headquartered in Rancho Cordova, California, VSP is offered by tens of thousands of employers and has alliances with several health care insurance providers.
2. EyeMed
Considered the best for their plan options, EyeMed is America’s fastest-growing vision benefits company. EyeMed serves 46 million members. EyeMed members can choose from as many as 87,500 eye care providers nationwide, according to the company’s website.
3. UnitedHealthcare
Seen as the best provider for wellness eye care and for Lasik, UnitedHealthcare is probably better known for their healthcare coverage, but they also provide vision insurance and own and operate the Spectera Eyecare Network.
4. Direct Vision Insurance
With low-cost insurance plans for online shoppers, Direct Vision also works with over 12,000 agents who provide coverage to over 125,000 customers in the U.S. They aim to provide affordable insurance plans to households and small businesses across the United States with high-quality products. Plans are underwritten by Ameritas Life Insurance.
5. Humana
Humana is considered the best vision insurance provider for overall value and the best for contact lens users. Another healthcare coverage provider offering vision insurance, Humana is based in Louisville, Kentucky, with over 20 million members in the U.S. as of 2020.
6. Ameritas
Offering some of the best plans for families, Ameritas is also one of the oldest insurance companies in the United States, providing life, health, dental, and vision plans to many individuals and families.
7. Davis Vision
With the most comprehensive coverage among vision insurance providers, Davis Vision was founded in 1964 and has built a solid reputation in the vision care industry, providing benefits and services to 22 million members across the U.S. Davis Vision has an extensive network of service providers at more than 68,000 locations nationwide.
8. Anthem Blue View Vision Insurance
Backed by a huge insurance company, Anthem Blue is linkable to existing health or dental plans and is also Medicare/Medicaid supported.
9. Aetna
A subsidiary of CVS Health Corporation, Aetna offers insurance options for employers, employees, health care professionals, and individuals.
10. Aflac
Aflac is an insurance company and the largest supplemental insurance in the United States for specific needs, one of which is vision. Aflac offers voluntary insurance to more than 50 million people around the world.
Vision Care Costs
According to an article at Retirement Living, the average cost for vision care without insurance can easily add up over the course of a year.
“The average price of an eye exam is around $150. Glasses frames and lenses can easily set you back at least $200, even if you need only basic vision correction. A contact lens fitting without vision insurance can cost around $100, and that’s before you buy the lenses.”
Similar to health insurance, vision insurance is based on an annual premium that is often divided into monthly payments. These rates for your premium will vary depending on certain factors:
- Where you purchased it.
- Where you live.
- If your children are students.
An overview of costs from Benziga revealed the following:
For an Individual: Vision insurance can cost as little as $5 a month. Most hover around the $10-$15 per month, which can amount to $60-$180 per year.
For a Family: Once you reach family status, the premium in some cases will not increase. This means that once you have three kids, the fourth one generally will not affect your premium. A family of four can expect to pay about $40 to $80 per month, depending on the level of coverage selected.
What Vision Insurance Covers
Vision insurance plans typically provide different levels of coverage, often categorized as standard, basic, enhanced, and advanced. Generally, vision insurance will provide a level of coverage for the following:
- Eye exam: Customers are entitled to one vision exam per year and only have a copay of between $10 to $20 for most insurers.
- Eyeglass frames: This benefit usually comes as an allowance of anywhere between $120 to $220. This benefit is provided only once per year.
- Eyeglass lenses: Lenses often require a copay of about $20-$30, also per year.
- Contact lenses: These will require either a copay or an allowance.
- LASIK surgery: Most insurers offer a discount on corrective surgery. The discount amount varies but is generally about $500.
Do you really need vision insurance?
If you do not have glasses today, you may think it’s not necessary. Perhaps. But keep in mind that most adults need vision correction: 66% of Americans 18 and over report using glasses, contacts or both, according to the National Eye Institute.
Your Local Resource for Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
J.C. Lewis Insurance is a long-time family-owned firm and based in Sonoma County. Our team of expert brokers offers individual and family dental insurance plans.
In addition, we provide small business and individual health insurance plans from only the leading health insurance carriers that are licensed to do business in California.
In addition to being experienced, professional brokers, we are licensed and certified by each of these insurance carriers to offer coverage to individuals, families, and small group employers in addition to Medicare supplemental and prescription drug plans for seniors.
When you’re shopping for vision insurance for your employees, or for you and your family, you probably have several questions and concerns.
At J.C. Lewis Insurance Services we welcome your questions about insurance coverage and you can be confident that we will help you find the right solution.
