Understanding Your Vision Benefits
Health insurance of any kind can be complex in nature and hard to navigate. When it comes to a vision plan – a component of insurance that is often additional and opt-in – it’s important to know how to get the most out of your vision benefits and take full advantage of all your plan affords.
At iCare Vision, helping you achieve and maintain healthy, comfortable vision is our goal. Let us walk you through some basics of vision insurance so you can feel confident using your benefits and coming to see us when you need to.
Basic Vision Insurance Components
- Insurance Coverage: Vision insurance coverage is the services and materials designated as benefits, such as an annual health eye exam.
- Copay: A copay is a fixed amount of money you are required to pay the doctor at the time of your appointment. The amount of your copayment amount depends on your specific plan.
- Allowance: An allowance is a fixed amount your plan covers to purchase frames and/or other eyewear.
- Deductible: A deductible is the amount you are required to pay for vision care services before your vision plan will pay its portion of the costs. For the majority of insurance plans, deductibles are annual amounts.
- Exclusions: Exclusions are eye care services that are not covered by your insurance plan.
What Type of Vision Plan Do You Have?
Do you have an HMO?
With an HMO (health maintenance organization), plan participants are usually required to obtain vision services only from in-network providers.
Do you have a PPO?
With vision insurance that is joined to a PPO (preferred provider organization), plan participants can usually utilize out-of-network providers, but at a greater cost. In-network providers are typically less expensive and – depending on your specific coverage and co-payment requirement – can be completely covered.
Are your vision benefits added on to an indemnity insurance plan?
With vision insurance that is added to an indemnity insurance plan, participants can typically use any provider they want.
Did you purchase vision benefits directly from a vision insurance company?
With vision benefits that are purchased directly from a vision insurance company, the plan will – more than likely – function like a PPO plan.
The majority of the time, eye care provider networks contract with vision insurance organizations. Through these contract arrangements, eye care services are offered to you, and all other vision insurance plan participants, at discounted rates.
Have Additional Questions? We’re Here to Help
Healthy vision is crucial to your overall health. If you have additional questions or want to inquire about specific iCare Vision services, get in touch with us today.
We’re happy to help and are here to exceed your vision needs.
