How to Find the Cheapest Vision Plans
Vision insurance isn’t always included in your health insurance plan, but eye care is still essential. You may need to enroll in a supplementary vision insurance plan individually or in addition to your health and dental plans. You can find affordable vision plans ranging from $10 to $20 monthly. These plans vary in their benefits, copays, and coverage options.
Cheapest Vision Plans from Four States
Most insurance plans will cover eye exams, glasses, and contacts with a copay or up to a certain amount. Additional benefits like LASIK, sunglasses, and contact lens solutions may also be discounted for plan holders. The following tables show the cheapest vision plans in New York, Texas, California, and Florida, according to eHealthInsurance.com.
Cheapest Vision Plans in New York
| Vision Plan | Monthly Rate | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| VSP Vision Care Standard Plan | 12.54/month | Eye exam: Covered in full after $15 copay |
| Prescription lenses: $25 copay | ||
Contact lens: $0 copay
| ||
| Davis Vision Designer Plan Basic | $10.41/month | Eye exam: $15 copay every 12 months |
| Prescription lenses: $25 copay every 12 months | ||
| Contact lens: $130 allowance every 12 months | ||
| Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield - Blue View Vision Value | $11.56/month | Eye exam: $20 copay once per calendar year |
| Prescription lenses: $20 copay once per calendar yet | ||
| Elective Contact lens: $80 allowance once per calendar year | ||
| Non Elective Contact lens: Covered in full once per calendar year |
Cheapest Vision Plans in California
| Vision Plan | Monthly Rate | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| SureBridge Premiere Vision | $9.00/month | Eye exam: Covered in full in-network |
| Prescription frames: $10 copay with $120 allowance | ||
| Contact lens: $10 copay with $120 allowance | ||
| Davis Vision Designer Plan Basic | $11.61/month | Eye exam: $15 copay every 12 months |
| Prescription lenses: $25 copay every 12 months | ||
| Contact lens: $130 allowance every 12 months | ||
| Anthem Blue View Vision Value | $12.23/month | Eye exam: $20 copay once per calendar year |
| Prescription lenses: $20 copay once per calendar yet | ||
| Elective Contact lens: $80 allowance once per calendar year | ||
| Non Elective Contact lens: Covered in full once per calendar year |
Cheapest Vision Plans in Texas
| Vision Plan | Monthly Rate | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| SureBridge Premiere Vision | $9.00/month | Eye exam: Covered in full in-network |
| Prescription frames: $10 copay with $120 allowance | ||
| Contact lens: $10 copay with $120 allowance | ||
| UnitedHealthcare Plan B | $15.70/month | Eye exam: $10 copay once every 12 months |
| Prescription lenses: $10 copay every 12 months | ||
| Elective Contact lens: $0 copay | ||
| Non Elective Contact lens: $150 allowance | ||
| VSP Vision Care Plus Plan | $22.06/month | Eye exam: Covered in full after $15 copay |
| Prescription lenses: $25 copay | ||
| Contact lens: $0 copay |
Cheapest Vision Plan in Florida
| Vision Plan | Monthly Rate | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Humana Vision Plus Plan | $12.70/month | Eye exam: $10 copay every 12 months |
| Prescription Lenses: $10 copay every 12 months | ||
| Contact lens: $0 copay for standard lens | ||
| Davis Vision Designer Plan Basic | $11.05/month | Eye exam: $15 copay every 12 months |
| Prescription lenses: $25 copay every 12 months | ||
| Contact lens: $130 allowance every 12 months | ||
| UnitedHealthcare Plan B | $14.30/month | Eye exam: $10 copay once every 12 months |
| Prescription lenses: $10 copay every 12 months | ||
| Elective Contact lens: $0 copay | ||
| Non Elective Contact lens: $150 allowance |
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What is Included in Vision Insurance?
You can check if your medical insurance has any vision insurance options if you are insured. Some plans cover vision services, such as routine eye exams, as preventative services. For example, Humana, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, and other common health insurance plans can provide quotes based on age, state, and coverage needs. This is often at an increased monthly premium rate to access routine eye exams, prescription lens frames, and contact lens exams. You can expect to pay a $10 to $20 copay or less if the provider is in your network.
Without insurance, the average cost of glasses and an eye exam is $576, and contact lenses without insurance range from $150 to 1000 per year. Enrolling in a vision plan can offset this steep cost. Most vision insurance plans offer a wide range of services to make these vision services more affordable. Vision insurance plans typically provide the following services and products:
- Annual eye exam
- Allowance or discounts for glasses
- Allowance for contact lenses
- Lens enhancements
- Bifocals and trifocals
About Vision-Only Insurances
If you enroll in a vision insurance plan, you can join vision-specific providers such as EyeMed and VSP. These may be a good option if you only need vision benefits if your health insurance does not offer vision services, if you visit an eye clinic regularly, or if you require corrective lenses. However, you may need medical insurance to cover eye health problems, eye injuries, eye diseases, and medications.
VSP Insurance is a vision insurance plan offering coverage for individuals and employees. You can sign up online through your employer or during the open enrollment period. Depending on the type of coverage you need, these plans will range from $13 to $76 a month. More premium plans will offer LASIK discounts. Some benefits of VSP coverage include:
- Annual eye exam
- Frame allowance of $150
- Standard lenses
- Corrective eyewear
- Preventative exams
A benefit of VSP insurance is that it is accepted by most major retailers, such as Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Costco, and BJ’s Wholesale Club. Many private optometry offices also accept this plan.
What Should I Look for in a Vision Insurance Plan?
If you’re deciding between vision plans, here are some considerations to pick the most appropriate and cost-effective plan for your needs.
Network
Enrolling in a vision plan that providers widely accept is more convenient. When you have a more extensive network of providers, you are less likely to pay additional fees for out-of-network providers. This also helps prevent gaps in care when you are traveling or need to see multiple specialists.
Coverage
You should check what your vision insurance does not cover. Medical and vision insurance will cover different things. Medical insurances offer more comprehensive coverage if you have multiple eye problems. Vision insurance will not cover “medical” eye problems, such as vision loss, dry eyes, infections, or eye exams for diabetes complications. If you need contact lenses, some vision insurance plans will offer limited contact lens fitting or evaluations. In this case, having a medical plan that includes vision services might be better.
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Monthly Premiums
Choosing a plan solely on the cheapest monthly premium can be easy. However, these plans often come with fewer benefits and more copays. If you need a high level of coverage, it might be more beneficial to pay more to receive a higher frame allowance or discounted contact lens.
Frequently Asked Questions about Affordable Vision Insurance Plans
Vision insurance plans, though necessary, may not be a component of your medical insurance plan. If you’re looking for an affordable way to meet your vision needs, these frequently asked questions may help you find low-cost services.
Does Medicare Cover Vision Services?
Unfortunately, Medicare does not offer coverage for routine eye exams, eyeglasses, or contact lenses. However, while Original Medicare Parts A and B do not cover vision care, some services may be partially covered if medically necessary. These procedures include eye exams for glaucoma and surgical cataract removal. Expanded Medicare Advantage Plans offer additional vision services to supplement your current plans.
What Should I Do if I Need Vision Care But I Don’t Have Insurance?
If you are an individual that doesn’t have vision insurance included or you are uninsured, there are still options for you to get affordable eye care. For example, you can get eye exams at Target, Costco, Walmart, and Sam’s Club ranging from $50 to $80. According to VisionCenter.org, cheap eye exams are typically available for $100 or less.
Once you have your vision prescription, online stores like EyeBuyDirect and America’s Best offer frames for as little as $9, excluding delivery fees. You can also get contact lenses from Costco for approximately $150.
Where Can I Get Glasses as a Student?
Various low-cost options for students provide free glasses and eye exams. Sight for Students is funded by Vision Service Plan to provide vision services to low-income students without insurance coverage who are 19 years or younger. Similarly, New Eyes is a non-profit volunteer optometry program that repurposes eyeglasses for in-need children.
Bottom Line
If you need vision insurance, there are various affordable options to provide you with eye exams, prescription eyeglasses, and contact lenses. Before you opt to expand your medical plan or enroll in a separate vision plan, it is essential to consider the monthly premiums and coverage included in your plan. If you do not want to enroll in a vision insurance plan, you can still have your necessary services at an accessible cost.
Blanche Palasi is a 2024 PharmD. Candidate currently attending St. John's University. A Queens native, she is passionate about helping patients identify and navigate social determinants of health.
