Vision insurance
People depend on their eyes for almost everything they do. Vision insurance helps make exams, prescription glasses, contacts, and other kinds of eye care more affordable. Whether you want coverage for yourself or your business, we'll help you find a plan that fits your budget.
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Even if you have a medical plan, you still need vision insurance
Vision insurance plans complement health insurance because preventive eye care is essential to your overall health. The most prevalent disabling childhood conditions are vision disorders, and less than 22% of preschool children get vision screenings.²
Coverage options
There are two main ways to get vision insurance. Both are good options:
A workplace plan
Many employers offer vision benefits. These plans are a good way to help keep employees healthier and happier with affordable group coverage rates and easy payroll deductions.
204.1 million US adults
households use corrective eyewear, including glasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, and reading glasses.³
About 80%
of Americans report using digital devices for more than two hours per day. It's the leading cause of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), otherwise known as digital eye strain.⁴
Poor eyesight
may be misdiagnosed as a learning disorder in children and can make it hard for children to pay attention or complete their homework.⁵
Who is vision insurance for?
Even if you have perfect eyesight, it's important to have annual eye exams to make sure you still see clearly. Most of us eventually need vision correction.
What does vision insurance cover?
It covers routine eye exams to detect vision problems and helps pay for glasses and contact lenses — things not typically covered by health insurance.
Why should I get vision insurance?
Vision care is vital to overall health, and coverage helps encourage an annual eye exam. It also covers glasses and contacts, making them easier to afford.
A vision insurance plan helps protect eye health, which is related to overall health and wellness. Vision plans provide coverage for routine eye exams, and there are typically no waiting periods before you can start using your benefits with network providers. Vision plans also help make it easier to pay for glasses and contacts with discounts at participating network providers. Even if your eyes don't currently need correction, modern life — and digital screens — can create stress and problems for your eyes. Vision coverage helps promote regular eye examinations and care, which is vital for general health because an eye exam can detect diseases like glaucoma and diabetes.⁶
These plans typically fit most budgets, with options starting at just a few dollars a month. Combined vision and dental insurance plans are also available. You can buy vision insurance directly from an insurance company like Guardian. Many employers also include vision insurance plans as part of their employee benefits package; that may be a good choice to consider if available.
Like a dental plan, a vision plan provides coverage for routine exams with a network eye doctor. It also provides a discount that lowers out-of-pocket costs on glasses and contacts needed to correct eyesight issues. To access your benefits and discounts (and/or cost-share allowance), you typically need to go to a network provider. If you get vision coverage from an insurance company, it's usually easy to find the care you and your family need. For example, Guardian offers thousands of providers to choose from, including convenient retail vision service locations such as Costco, Walmart, and Visionworks.
Many serious treatments, such as non-elective surgery to correct an eye injury, are typically covered by a health plan instead of a vision plan. However, many vision plans do cover laser vision correction procedures and related vision care costs with eye doctors.
You depend on your eyes every day. Take care of them.
Corrective lenses, preventive care, and annual exams help ensure that your eyes perform at their best. No matter what shape your eyes are in now, you'll likely need vision correction at some point in your life. That's why more and more people who care about their health ensure they have access to quality vision care.
Need individual vision insurance right now?
Find a plan and enroll today. With Guardian, there’s no waiting period for eye exams and discounts on lenses and glasses!
Dental insurance
Dental insurance helps keep your mouth and body healthier by covering regular preventive oral care. And it helps cover costs every time you visit the dentist — even if you need major work.
Disability insurance
If you’re unable to work due to injury or medical condition, where will you get income to live on? Disability insurance can help support your family when it’s needed most.
Life insurance
If people depend on your income for support, what will happen to them if something happens to you? Life insurance can be a vital source of financial support.
1 Medline Plus, Diabetes eye exams, 2022
2 CDC, Vision Loss and Age, 2020
3 Vision Monday, The Vision Council Releases Consumer inSights Q1 2022 Report, 2022
4 Optometrists Network, Digital Eye Strain: Myths and Facts, 2020
5 Additude, ADHD and Vision: Could Your Child’s Eyesight Be the Problem?, 2021
6 Medline Plus, Diabetes eye exams, 2022
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Guardian’s Group Vision Insurance is underwritten and issued by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY. Products are not available in all states. Policy limitations and exclusions apply. Optional riders and/or features may incur additional costs. Generic Policy Form # GP-1-GVSN-19. The state approved form is the governing document.
Individual Vision insurance is provided by VSP and billing and premium collection services for such vision insurance are conducted by DTC GLIC, LLC (d/b/a DTC GLIC Insurance Sales, LLC in California). DTC GLIC, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America ("Guardian"). Guardian and DTC GLIC, LLC are not affiliated with VSP and Guardian and DTC GLIC, LLC do not assume any responsibility or liability for non-Guardian products or services, including those offered by VSP. DTC GLIC, LLC is the agent for The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries (“Guardian”) for all individual products underwritten and issued by Guardian and certain third-party insurers through guardianlife.com. DTC GLIC, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and is a licensed agent for life, accident and health insurance products.
TruHearing’s digital hearing aid discount plan is available only to customers who purchase a VSP vision product and is not insurance. TruHearing is an independent third party not affiliated with Guardian. The discounts for hearing aids are available only from participating TruHearing providers and will vary depending on the provider or service received. TruHearing does not make payments to providers for the services received under the discount plan. You are obligated to pay for all medical or ancillary services but will receive a discount from those TruHearing providers that have contracted with TruHearing. Not available in WA, UT, MD or CA. To obtain additional information go to TruHearing.com or call 1-800-3341807.
Guardian® is a registered trademark of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. ©Copyright 2023 The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America.