photo credit: WillVision Photography
Vision insurance is not for everybody. There are some people who are blessed with perfect eyesight and simply don’t need it. On the other hand, if you have a family of five and everyone wears glasses, then vision insurance should be on the top of your list. Most people, however, fall somewhere in the middle. Here are some tips that can help you determine whether or not glasses insurance is right for you and your family.
Consider the Family
The first thing to do when considering vision insurance is to look at your family. How many people wear glasses or contacts currently? Is someone complaining about his or her vision? If you have two or more people in your covered family who have vision problems, then vision insurance is probably a good idea for you.
Review Your Family History
It is also important to look at the vision history for each person in the family. How often have prescriptions changed? And how often are new glasses or contacts needed? If you realize that the prescriptions for yourself and your spouse have changed every year for the last three years, then you are probably excellent candidates for vision insurance. On the other hand, if your prescriptions are stable and you find that you are only getting new glasses once every four years, then a vision insurance policy may not be necessary.
Estimate Vision Needs
In addition to reviewing your family’s vision history, try to anticipate your family’s vision needs for the coming year. Has your son been wearing the same glasses for three years and desperately needs another pair? Is your daughter creeping closer to the television and you suspect it’s because she can’t see? You can sometimes anticipate when a year will bring heavy expenses at the optometrist. If you think this might be one of those years, then it may be time to invest in vision insurance.
Choosing a vision insurance plan can be overwhelming. Sometimes they are offered through your employer, making the decision as simple as crunching the numbers to see if you would receive more in benefits this year than you would pay in. Other times, you will need to seek out an individual insurance plan. When reviewing your options, it is important to consider the following before you make your decision:
• Look at the costs
If you know that everyone in your family is due for an exam, then you might want to avoid polices with high co-pays on exams. If you know that there are several people in the family who will need new frames, then try to choose a plan that offers good coverage on materials. Consider all the costs associated with each plan, and determine which will be the best for your budget.
• Compare Plans
Lay the plans down side by side to compare them. By creating a comparison chart, you can see at a glance the co-pays, premiums, discounts, and services covered with each plan. You will be able to determine which plan will save you the most money while still meeting your needs. It is also important to look at which doctors are “in-network” with each plan. If you have a doctor you really like, discovering that he is in-network can help you make your decision.
Once you have chosen your insurance plan, take time to read through it and understand it. Vision insurance is by no means a necessity in today’s economy. However, it is typically an affordable insurance designed to help you keep your sight in top condition. If you have family members with glasses, it is usually worth having. Review the terms and understand the policy so that you will be ready when you, or someone in your family, need to visit the eye doctor.
Sara Roberts writes for Just Eyewear, a prescription glasses and sunglasses retailer.
Recent Comments