How Vision and Medical Coverage Work Together
Allison Schmuecker
| 2 min read
Travel and coffee enthusiast, lover of hiking in the mountains and strolling down busy city streets. I’m a Michigan State University marketing student who enjoys experiencing all aspects of life and telling creative stories about it. If you can’t find me, I can typically be found sipping on a latte at a local coffee shop, painting with friends, or running back in the trails to clear my head.
Is vision insurance a priority? Whether you’re an individual or employer, there are several benefits to having additional coverage. Here’s how it enhances medical plans to provide members with more comprehensive care. How does vision coverage work? Vision insurance prioritizes the maintenance and treatment of eye health. Depending on the plan, it covers various services occurring once every 12 or 24 months. This includes preventive care like routine eye exams, or prescription glasses and contact lenses. If a patient requires an extra visit for the same service, they must wait until the following year or pay out-of-pocket. What vision plans are available? Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan offers vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP)*. The combination of Blue Cross health insurance and vision benefits is Blue Vision Connection, where members have access to nearly 30,000 preferred providers—including Costco Optical and Visionworks. VSP also provides members with supplemental resources such as exam reminders, educational materials and online tools. This can help patients find a doctor and better manage their personal accounts. Blue Vision Connection offers a variety of employer-based plans through VSP:
- Large Group: A comprehensive vision package exclusive to large group customers. This includes three coverage options: Blue Vision (full-service plan), Blue Vision Exam Plus, and Blue Vision Exam Plus Allowance.
- Small Group: Full-service plans
What’s the benefit of combined coverage? In collaboration with medical, vision coverage can go beyond eye health. During routine eye exams, doctors can detect serious health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and myopia (nearsightedness), which is prevalent among school-aged children. It allows for specialty treatment as well as broader care. In business, combined coverage helps employers to be more competitive. A generous benefit package can help attract and retain talent, plus boost productivity. In fact, 98% of employees feel that employers who offer vision insurance care more about their general health. Consequently, this can improve company culture and increase motivation. For more information on vision care, check out these posts:
- Why Dental and Vision Care Are Important for Michigan Employees
- The Importance of Using Your Vision Benefits
- Vision and Dental Coverage: The Gift to Your Employees that Keeps on Giving
*VSP is an independent company that provides vision benefit services for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network customers. VSP is a registered trademark of Vision Service Plan. Photo credit: Vasyl Dolmatov
