We are in the midst of open enrollment. What else should you be thinking about besides major medical insurance or enrolling in some kind of insurance? What about vision insurance?
Well, I get a lot of questions about vision insurance. A lot of people are used to having vision insurance from their employers, but now, if they are self-employed or no longer receiving employer-based insurance, they ask if it is necessary and worth having.
Usually, the answer depends on my client and their needs. Vision insurance is usually very inexpensive through an employer. It’s a little bit more expensive on your own, so we just need to make sure that it makes sense for you. Usually, vision coverage is not covered with major medical insurance, except for going to the doctor once a year for an eye exam (that is, the actual eye exam, not for a contact lens exam). If you don’t’ wear glasses or contacts, or don’t think you’re going to need glasses or contacts, anytime soon, you probably don’t need vision insurance. If you have family members that do wear glasses or contacts, then it usually does make sense to get vision coverage. Remember, it is very important to make sure you pick a good plan so that you get what you need and it’s worth what you’re paying for.
The plan that I like the most and highly recommend is called VSP. You’ve probably heard of it, it is a plan that a lot of employers offer. There is an individual VSP plan that you can get that works very much like the employer plan. Similar to the employer plan, there is still a copay, and it still has an annual allowance for glasses or contacts. The main difference is that it just costs a little bit more than it would through your employer.
One of the main reasons I like it is because it’s a nationwide plan. VSP is one of the largest nationwide vision providers in the country. So, more than likely, your optometrist already takes it, which is a plus. Another benefit is that you can get coverage for yourself, your entire family, or just one member of the family who needs it. It doesn’t have to be everyone in the family. My role is to talk with you and find out who needs the coverage, and what kind, and recommend the best options for you. I go through your needs very thoroughly to make sure the vision insurance makes sense both for the coverage you’ll receive and for the price of the plan.
If you’d like to book an appointment with me, we can review the different coverages available during open enrollment, and see if it makes sense to change your vision coverage or start new coverage.
