Medical VS Vision Insurance
At our insurance agency, we have clients coming in to ask us all kinds of questions. Recently we had a client hesitantly ask us, “What is the difference between medical and vision insurance?” We want to start by saying no question about insurance is a bad question! It can get confusing if you don’t deal with it every day, this is what you have an insurance agent for! We are going to answer what vision insurance is and how it differs from health insurance policies.
What is Vision Insurance?
Vision insurance is a wellness plan to help with your routine eye care. The goal is to help reduce costs so you are more likely to take care of your eyes thus preventing vision or eye damage in the future. The coverage revolves around exams with the ultimate goal of vision correction.
Typical insurance benefits include:
- Annual exams
- Glasses frames
- Glasses lens
- Contacts
*Please note that each plan is different, and benefits are dependent on individual plans.
How Does Vision Insurance Compare to Medical Insurance?
Now that you know what is covered in a vision plan, let’s talk about how a medical plan differs. In short, most medical policies protect you from unexpected costs due to an eye injury and/or disease. For example, if you suddenly lost vision, have eye complications from diabetes, or even have dry eyes – these instances will be covered under a medical plan.
In addition, if you are prescribed medication for your eyes, for a condition that is considered medically necessary, this would be covered by your medical plan, not your vision plan. If you are more of a visual learner, check out this video!
Common Vision Plan Questions.
Here are some additional questions answered when it comes to vision insurance:
1. Are contact lens fittings included in vision insurance?
This is one of those “it depends on the plan” questions. For most plans it does. Just ask your agent to make sure you are covered.
2. What is a discount plan?
This plan is where you pay a discounted rate of the total fee, the discount will depend on the specific plan. A copay is not set-in place with this type of plan.
3. Will Medicare cover me if I want new glasses or contacts?
Medicare does not cover annual vision exams. The only way Medicare could kick in is if a person is considered at risk for glaucoma or has diabetes.
Recap
Please note that you should talk to your insurance provider about your specific plan. At Thams Agency, we are experts when it comes to vision insurance. If you want to get a quote or just talk through your current plan, we are here to help. Just give us a call at (712) 263-3193 or email us at team@thamsagency.com.