Colonial Life Vision Insurance
How Colonial Life Vision Coverage Works
Colonial Life offers vision insurance as a voluntary worksite benefit sold through employers. You enroll during your company's benefits period, and premiums are deducted from your paycheck. This coverage is not typically available as an individual purchase outside of an employer arrangement.
Colonial Life first launched vision coverage in January 2013, expanding from its traditional accident and disability worksite benefits. The vision product adds eye care coverage to the other voluntary benefits Colonial Life offers through employers.
Colonial Life vision coverage is offered as an optional vision rider attached to the dental insurance policy. You cannot purchase vision-only coverage from Colonial Life. You add the vision rider to your dental plan during enrollment to get both benefits under one policy.
This structure means your vision and dental coverage are linked. If you want Colonial Life vision benefits, you also carry their dental plan. Check with your employer about whether the dental plan with the vision rider fits your needs compared to other available options.
Members access a national vision network that includes independent optometrists, ophthalmologists, and retail chains. You have flexibility to use different providers for your exam and for your eyewear. For example, you can get your exam with one eye doctor and order contacts from another provider, as long as both are in the network.
The network covers a broad range of locations. Before scheduling, verify that your preferred eye doctor participates in the Colonial Life vision network to get the best rates.
What Colonial Life Vision Covers
Colonial Life vision covers one routine eye exam per 12-month period. Your exam includes visual acuity testing, a refraction for your glasses or contacts prescription, and a screening for eye conditions. The copay amount depends on your employer's specific plan design.
If your eye doctor discovers a medical condition during the routine exam, that portion of the visit falls under your medical insurance. Colonial Life vision covers the routine component only.
The plan covers eyeglass frames and lenses once per 12-month period. Specific dollar allowances for frames and lenses vary by employer group plan design and are not published as standard amounts. You need to review your enrollment documents for the exact allowances that apply to your coverage.
Lens upgrades like progressive lenses, anti-reflective coatings, and high-index materials may carry additional costs beyond your base allowance. Ask your provider about covered options and upgrade pricing before ordering.
Colonial Life covers contact lenses as an alternative to eyeglasses for each benefit period. Like most vision plans, you choose one or the other, not both. Your contact lens allowance depends on your employer's plan configuration.
Contact lens fitting and evaluation may require a separate appointment and copay beyond your standard exam benefit. Ask your eye doctor about the fitting cost when scheduling your exam.
Colonial Life vision does not cover medical eye conditions. Glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and other diseases are billed to your medical insurance. Elective procedures like LASIK are also excluded from the vision rider benefit.
Cosmetic eyewear features, non-prescription sunglasses, and amounts above your plan's allowances are your responsibility. Check your plan documents for a full list of exclusions.
Using Your Colonial Life Vision Benefits
Choose an eye doctor from the Colonial Life vision network and call their office to schedule. Let them know you have Colonial Life vision coverage when you book. Bring your insurance card and any plan documents to your appointment.
You can split your exam and eyewear between two different in-network providers if that works better for you. This flexibility lets you see the optometrist you trust for your exam and purchase glasses or contacts from the retailer with the best prices.
Claims are filed through Colonial Life using their vision claim forms. In-network providers may file claims on your behalf. If you visit an out-of-network provider, you pay the full cost and submit the claim form with your itemized receipt for reimbursement.
Keep copies of all receipts and claim forms. These records help if a claim is delayed, denied, or reimbursed at an unexpected amount.
Specific benefit amounts are not publicly listed because they vary by employer. Your enrollment documents contain the dollar allowances, copays, and covered services for your plan. If you cannot find your documents, contact your employer's benefits office or Colonial Life directly for your plan details.
Review your benefits each year during open enrollment. Employers can change plan designs, allowances, and available options from year to year.
Colonial Life Vision Questions
No. Vision coverage from Colonial Life is offered as a rider attached to the dental insurance policy. You must enroll in the dental plan to add vision benefits. If you want standalone vision coverage, explore other vision-only plans available through your employer or on the individual market.
Check the Colonial Life provider directory online or call their member services line. The national network includes both independent eye care practices and retail chain locations. Verify your provider's participation before your appointment.
Your out-of-pocket cost depends on the frame and lens allowances in your specific employer plan, the frames you choose, and any lens upgrades you add. Review your enrollment documents for your allowance amounts, then ask your in-network provider for pricing on the options you want.
Colonial Life vision is a worksite benefit available through employer enrollment. Individual purchase outside of an employer arrangement is not typically available. Contact Colonial Life to ask about any individual options that may exist in your state.
No. Eye emergencies are covered by your medical insurance, not your Colonial Life vision rider. If you experience sudden vision loss, eye trauma, or a chemical exposure, seek immediate care through your medical plan's emergency benefits.
No. You choose one or the other per 12-month benefit period. Use your materials benefit for either eyeglasses or contact lenses. Plan your purchase based on which option provides the most value for your needs.
Adding the vision rider increases your total premium for the combined dental-vision policy. The additional cost varies by employer plan design. Compare the premium increase against the value of the vision benefits to determine whether the rider is worth adding. Your HR department can provide the specific cost difference between the dental-only policy and the dental-plus-vision policy.
Portability depends on the specific policy terms your employer selected. Some Colonial Life worksite policies allow you to continue coverage after leaving your employer by paying the premium directly. Contact Colonial Life to ask about portability options before your last day of employment. If you cannot keep the policy, schedule your final eye exam and use your materials benefit before coverage ends.
Check With Your Employer
Ask your employer's benefits office whether Colonial Life vision coverage is available as a rider to the dental plan. Review your options during open enrollment and compare them to other vision plans your employer offers.