When it comes to taking care of your vision, it pays to be insured. Vision care insurance is a type of insurance that helps individuals cover costs associated with vision care, including regular eye exams, contact lenses, prescription eyeglasses, and vision correction surgery. Vision care insurance usually covers an array of services, including diagnostic and preventative vision care, as well as corrective vision care.

Under most vision care policies, insured individuals receive routine eye exams and may be provided with coverage for vision correction products, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses. Most vision care insurance also pays for diagnostic tests such as visual acuity measurements, eye-muscle balance tests, glaucoma tests, retinal photography, and visual field testing. In addition, vision care insurance can often include discounts on laser vision correction surgery.

Vision care insurance can be offered as an individual benefit plan or as an add-on to an employer’s health insurance plan. If provided as an individual benefit plan, it can typically be purchased as either an individual or a family policy. If provided as a benefit through an employer, the policy typically covers all full-time employees, dependents, as well as retirees.

The cost of vision care insurance varies depending on a variety of factors, including age and coverage limits, as well as how comprehensive the policy is. In most cases, employers are required to fully cover the cost of vision care insurance, while an individual policy may require a co-pay. Keep in mind that there may be a waiting period before coverage kicks in, so be sure to ask your employer or insurer about any time limits or pre-existing conditions.

For people who already have good vision, including individuals who do not wear glasses or contacts, vision care insurance may not be worth the cost. On the other hand, individuals who require routine eye exams, eyeglasses, and contact lenses, may find that vision care insurance helps to make purchasing these items more affordable. Additionally, for older individuals who may be more prone to vision issues, investing in vision care insurance can help safeguard against possible eye problems and vision loss.