**Do not miss the giveaway at the bottom of this post!**
Since the fourth grade, I’ve been wearing glasses. I’m almost blind without them and a visit to the eye doctor is important for me each year.
I find that without insurance I am less likely to go get an eye exam because of the cost.
While calling around for our most recent eye appointments, the prices varied. Most places quoted anywhere between $200-$300 per visit. Multiply that by a family of 5, and it can be expensive.
This post is sponsored by VSP Vision Care Plans
Why you might want to consider a vision plan:
Eyes are a picture of your overall health
Even if you have good vision, as you start to age it’s important to see the eye doctor.
During your exam, your eye doctor will look for eye muscle imbalance, vision disorders, and eye disease that could potentially cause future problems.
Family-Sized
Sure, if it’s just you — it might be easy to absorb the cost of an eye exam, but add a whole family and the cost will add up quickly!
If you and/or your family need glasses on top of that, you might find that it’s truly out of your budget.
With VSP, you can make small monthly payments toward your annual plan. Most plans cover an eye exam and/or glasses, plus coverage for lens enhancements.
Also, as kids grow, their eyes can change rapidly. You might be looking at a pair every year (or even more often). That can get really pricey!
Better Doctors
With VSP you can pick from a large network of doctors conveniently located near your work or home.
VSP has the best vision plan out there and I’ve used my benefits a number of times with ease.
Plans start as low as $17/month. Typical annual savings are more than $200/year and members have access to $2,500 savings from leading industry brands.
To find a VSP plan in your area, just enter your zip code
My copays are $15 for an eye exam and $25 for glasses, plus savings on the thin lenses I need and any special coatings I prefer. That can be a HUGE savings for a family!
So, now it’s your turn — how has vision insurance or your eye doctor helped you? Tell me in the comments!
VSP has been nice enough to offer one lucky reader to get a $100 VISA gift card by entering below:
Lynness says
I need to pull out our vision plan and compare costs- we have 5 out of 7 of us in glasses, and I fully expect the others will need them at some point…
Hilary Erickson says
Yeah, do it!
Elizabeth Miller says
With my daughter who wears glasses, a hubby who is real borderline of needing them, and me who needs readers, a vision plan is a must for us.
Hilary Erickson says
Sounds like it!
Isabel says
I really like your post, they are being very helpful in my pregnancy. Thank you!!!!
Hilary Erickson says
Awh! I’m so glad!
Amanda says
My insurance doesn’t cover vision for the family. However, my family has a history of eye health issues that need to be addressed periodically. A vision plan would definitely help us be able to be proactive with our health.
Hilary Erickson says
Yeah, it would!
heather says
A vision plan would be good for me because I really need an eye exam and some new reading glasses.
Hilary Erickson says
Sure would!
Linda Szymoniak says
My husband and I have a really good vision plan through his work – in fact, it’s VSP! In this day and age, it’s vital that you have health insurance, but vision and dental are also essential to maintain your health long-term.
Hilary Erickson says
We have always had VSP through our company (when we had a company to work for). 🙂
Angela Higgs says
When my daughter was in 2nd grade she was having trouble reading and we wanted to make sure that her vision was not part of the problem. Because we had eye insurance, I made appointments for both her and our kindergarten son at the same time. My son was reading, doing simple math and academically preforming above grade level. We had no idea that we would leave the eye doctor’s office with him being the one with problems. Our daughter’s vision was perfect. Our son was diagnosed with amblyopia, a condition where the neuropathways between the brain and one eye did not develop properly. The best they could correct the vision in his weak eye was 20/200. He had to wear a patch over his strong eye to force that weak eye to work for about a year. We were very glad that we had vision insurance and that I took both kids in. Our son is now a senior in high school, while he still wears glasses, his uncorrected vision in that “weak eye” is about 20/30; a far cry from what it was when he was 6 years old.
Hilary Erickson says
Thank goodness for the insurance! 🙂
Madilyn A Davis says
Thank God for good insurance. My husband has eye insurance through work and it’s VSP. We both got glasses this year. Walked out owing nothing! We had to get frames that they had in a section ,most of them
N says
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shannon fowler says
I have contacts, and I need to have my vision examined again. I also need to get glasses so I can see at night when I take out my contacts.
Steve Weber says
A vision plan is good for anyone because you never know what’s going to happen with your eye sight.. it’s a precious thing and should not be taken for granted.
seyma Shabbir says
Vision plan is great for me because I have diabetes and I have 2 sons. Diabetes means I need to get my eyes checked annually and with kids, their vision changes so much during development and having a plan saves me money!
latoya says
I’ve been wearing glasses since I was in elementary school. For me, it really is a need because insurance helps to cover the cost of the yearly exam and the cost of the glasses..
Geena O'Banion says
Sounds good to me……
Geena O'Banion says
Sounds good to me……msybe it will provide info
Mya Murphy says
I wear glasses… mine are 10 years old, and my fiance wears contacts… Seriously, eye exam are a must!!
sheila ressel says
I have worn glasses since I was in 10th grade and I have to change my prescription every 3-4 years or so so a vision plan would definitely be good for me.
monique s says
I am an eyeglasses wearer, so a vision plan will make sure I have the right prescription and let me get new frames from time to time at a good price
Kelly Kimmell says
My daughter & I both wear glasses. So, it would be a good idea for me to compare coverage.
Phyllis Huebbe says
I’ve had Lazio surgery but I’m getting older so I still need glasses for reading