Vision Insurance - Do You Need It?

Although it is unquestionably imperative to have good vision, it may or may not be critical to have vision insurance. Many consumers overvalue this coverage and pay too much for it.

To know whether you get what you paid for when you purchase vision coverage, it is imperative to know what eye coverage covers and what it doesn't include. Having knowledge of the limitations of vision coverage is necessary to determine whether you should pay extra for the coverage.

You should know what the extra coverage will include. Vision coverage covers expenses that are associated with prescription eye glasses or contacts. Typically vision or eye insurance will cover an eye examination. It may also cover part of the cost of prescription lenses.

You should also know what it doesn't cover. Vision insurance does not cover the expenses associated with eye trauma or diseases that impact the eye. Medical insurance will usually cover these health care costs.

Neither your optical insurance nor your medical coverage is likely to include coverage for laser eye surgery. Surgery to improve vision is usually specifically excluded by medical coverage policies. This is different from surgery to restore vision.

The standard health care insurance policy will exclude coverage for corrective lenses. Typical health care insurance policies don't cover for the eye exams necessary to get corrective lenses. Corrective lenses can be either prescription contacts or prescription eyeglasses.

Medical expenses associated with eye injuries and diseases that affect sight are still paid for as part of the health benefit. A separate eye or vision coverage rider is not necessary to have eye injuries covered. Many consumers pay extra for vision or eye coverage because they believe that their medical policy will not cover anything associated with sight.

When comparing medical coverage policies that include vision or eye insurance, be sure to see how extensive their coverage is. Since some eye care insurance policies will only cover the cost of the examination, those policies are less valuable than insurance plans that will not only cover the exam but will also pay towards glasses.

Another issue to consider is the availability of eye care professionals. Most vision plans will limit the places you can go to have your eye exam to network providers. You should make sure that there are optometrists or optometrists near you and that you will feel comfortable using those optometrists or optometrists.

It is a waste of money to pay for eye care coverage only to find that none of the in network eye doctors are ones you can or want to visit. Often consumers will routinely check to make sure that their physicians are in the network, but will forget to check for dentists and optometrists.

Knowing the value of the added coverage is essential if you are going to make the right choice. If the eye or vision insurance only includes an annual exam, you should call an optometrist and ask what a vision examination costs. If the policy also pays something toward glasses you should add that to the cost of the exam. Multiply the cost by the number of family members that will be covered. Then divide that cost by 12 of your policy premiums are being paid monthly. This will allow you to properly compare the extra cost of having eye or vision coverage with the additional cost for the coverage.

Eye insurance is often worth the additional costs, but sometimes it won't be. Frequently people will compare different plans that are otherwise the same and choose the one that has eye care coverage without the properly weighing the costs and benefits. Now you know how to look at the costs and benefits and only pay extra if the additional coverage is worth the additional price.

Alston J. Balkcom has been a Connecticut insurance agent since 1985. His practice primarly involves helping Connecticut residents find health insurance. His focus is on those who do not qualify for health insurance through their employers. Most of his clients reach him after visiting his web site. He has taken several advanced courses over the years to increase his knowledge of health and other types of insurance. His resume includes time with Metropolitan Life, and Mutual of Omaha.

by Alston Balkcom - September 28, 2010

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