A lot of you might have been taken aback while reading the title of this article, because most people aren’t even aware that the concept of vision insurance exists!
This World Sight Day 2018, a day observed globally to draw attention to blindness, vision impairment and eyecare advocacy, here are a few things you should know about vision insurance.
What is vision insurance?
Vision insurance or vision care coverage is meant to take care of your eyecare costs, which could include routine preventive care checkups and eyewear expenses. Just like health insurance, vision insurance can help reduce your vision care costs significantly.
Do I really need vision insurance?
Most adults need some degree of vision correction at some point of time in life. While several people conveniently avoid taking eye exams on a regular basis, it is important that a certain frequency is maintained:
- For people aged 18 to 40 – Every five years
- For people aged 40 to 60 – Every three years
- For people aged 60 and above – Every year
According to the experts at Seniority, this should be the ideal frequency for different age groups when it comes to taking an eye exam.
Eye checkups can not only correct your vision problems (if any), but also help detect certain medical issues. So, even if you have ‘perfect’ 20/20 vision, you shouldn’t skip your eye checkups. And the following kinds of people must make sure they definitely don’t miss their eye exams:
- Those who suffer from poor vision
- Those who have a history of eye-related diseases in the family
- Those who suffer from a condition that could potentially increase the risk of eye diseases (like diabetes)
How does vision insurance work?
Here is the full lowdown of what most vision insurance policies cover :
- Preventive care – Eye exams and vision tests
- Eyeglasses and frames
- Lens protection coat for glasses (anti-scratch)
- Contact lenses
- Discount on corrective treatment
- Daily disposable contact lens coverage
Basically, when you pay a predefined monthly or annual premium, most costs associated with vision care are taken care of by your vision insurance policy.
Benefits of vision insurance
Why spend money out of your pocket on things like premium eyewear, expensive lenses and eye examinations when you can opt for vision insurance? Here are a few advantages of opting for a vision plan:
- The premiums are generally quite low
- Your visits to eye doctors or optometrists are taken care of
- Some policies even offer to cover treatment costs
- There is no strain on your wallet when the doctor recommends a pair of glasses or advises using contact lenses
There are several types of vision insurance policies and plans available for individuals, families and even corporate ones for employees. However, make sure you are fully aware of the costs, benefits, inclusions and exclusions before settling for a vision insurance plan. Even though it may sound very similar to medical insurance coverage, it is quite different in a lot of ways. One simple way to understand what your vision insurance plan entails is by asking your eye doctor’s front office staff for help.
Did You Know?
2017 million people have moderate or severe distance vision impairment. This 11th October, on the 18th World Sight Day, here’s hoping that those with vision impairments can get access to the right Eye Care Everywhere.
