Vision is such an integral part of living that people seldom stop to its worth. Without it, a person cannot read printed text, watch television, see loved ones or drive. In order to protect this valuable ability, eye doctors have developed technologies that can keep vision sharp years longer than ever before. This comes at a price, however. To offset the cost, there is vision insurance.

What is vision insurance?

This type of insurance provides full or partial coverage for the cost of visiting the eye doctor. It may also provide some coverage of the expense of eye glasses, contact lenses and medications related to eye problems.

For vision, the focus of the doctors is to prevent illness rather than to cure it. With regular exams, opthomologists can discover problems early and treat them quickly. They can also provide tools and education to patients to help them maintain good eye health.

Who needs it?

Vision insurance is a good investment for anyone who values the health of their eyes and those of their family members. Eye exams, glasses, contact lenses and other treatments can become costly. By having insurance coverage, those costs are significantly reduced.

How does it work?

Most vision insurance allows for a specific number of eye exams per year. In most cases, this is one exam annually per person. However, some only cover for an exam once every two years. In some cases, a small co-pay required, usually less than $25 per person.

What does it cover?

Most vision policies cover a fixed number of eye doctor visits per year. In addition, they cover all or most of the cost of eye glasses, contact lenses or doctor administered treatments. For glasses, the policy may only cover for certain types of frames and lenses. Or, it may restrict the covered amount for glasses. For instance, the policy may allow up to $125.00 for a set of eye glass frames. If the chosen set is priced higher, the patient has to pay the difference out of their pocket.

What are the premiums?

If an individual has insurance coverage at work, vision, like dental, is often included in that package at no extra cost. However, if the person has to provide their own coverage, premiums are generally low. The total premium depends on the amount of coverage needed and the number of people covered.

Why pay for it?

Eye exams alone can cost hundreds of dollars each. With quality vision insurance, this can be reduced to less than ten percent of the true cost. Add to that the cost of glasses or contact lenses, again hundreds of dollars per person, and the small premiums and co-pays begin to seem minor in comparison.

If a person values their vision, regular exams, quality glasses and professional treatment for eye-related illnesses are priceless. Yet, these valuable services can be expensive without a good insurance policy to offset the costs. Those needing coverage should talk to a qualified insurance agent.