Vision Insurance Companies
Major Vision Insurance Carriers
VSP (Vision Service Plan) is the largest not-for-profit vision insurance provider in the United States, serving over 80 million members through a network of 39,000 or more eye doctors, according to VSP (2024). VSP's network includes independent private-practice optometrists and ophthalmologists, giving members access to local eye care professionals in most areas. Many employer-sponsored vision plans use VSP as their carrier.
VSP also sells individual and family plans for people who do not have employer-sponsored coverage. Members can search the VSP provider directory to find participating doctors by zip code.
EyeMed is the fastest-growing vision benefits company in the country, serving approximately 46 million members through a network of over 44,000 independent and retail providers, according to EyeMed (2024). EyeMed's network includes both independent practices and major retail optical locations. EyeMed offers individual plans, family plans, and group employer plans.
EyeMed and VSP together command approximately 85 percent of the U.S. vision insurance market, according to AllAboutVision (2024). If you have vision insurance through your employer, your plan is likely administered by one of these two carriers.
Davis Vision serves approximately 22 million members and was founded in 1964, according to AllAboutVision (2024). Davis Vision focuses on providing strong corrective lens coverage, including glasses and contact lenses, through a network of private-practice eye doctors and retail partners. Many government employee plans and union benefit programs use Davis Vision.
Davis Vision plans are primarily available through employer groups and benefit programs. Individual plans may not be available in all areas. If your employer offers Davis Vision, your benefits work similarly to other vision carriers with an exam benefit and eyewear allowance.
Several other insurance companies offer vision benefits as part of broader health plans or as standalone products. Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and MetLife each offer vision plans through their own or partner provider networks. These carriers may bundle vision with medical or dental coverage, or offer it as a separate benefit through your employer.
Smaller regional carriers and discount vision plans also operate in specific markets. If your employer does not offer vision insurance, you can purchase individual plans from most major carriers or explore vision discount programs that provide reduced pricing at participating providers.
What Vision Insurance Covers
Vision insurance plans cover one routine eye exam per year, according to AllAboutVision (2024). During this exam, your eye doctor checks your visual acuity, updates your eyeglass or contact lens prescription, and screens for common eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy (damage to blood vessels in the back of your eye). Most plans require a small copay at your appointment.
Your exam benefit renews each plan year, and you lose it if you do not use it before renewal. Schedule your annual exam early in your benefit period to get full value from your coverage.
After your exam, your plan provides an allowance toward prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. Copays and allowance amounts vary by plan tier and carrier, according to AllAboutVision (2024). Frame allowances apply to one pair of glasses per benefit period, and lens coverage includes standard single-vision, bifocal, or progressive options. You pay the difference if your selections exceed the allowance.
Most plans require you to choose between glasses and contacts for each benefit period. Contact lens benefits include an allowance toward lens purchases and may involve a separate fitting fee for the contact lens evaluation. After your primary benefit is used, many carriers offer discounts on additional purchases.
Vision insurance covers routine preventive eye care and corrective eyewear. Medical eye conditions, eye diseases, injuries, and surgeries fall under your medical health insurance, not your vision plan. If your eye doctor finds glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, or diabetic eye damage during your routine exam, that care shifts to your medical insurance with different copays and cost-sharing rules.
LASIK and PRK laser vision correction are not covered by standard vision insurance, but most major carriers offer negotiated discounts of typically 15 to 20 percent off standard pricing through preferred provider networks, according to NVision Centers (2024). Ask your carrier about available LASIK discount programs.
How to Choose a Vision Plan
Your choice between carriers depends partly on which eye doctors participate in each network. If you have a preferred eye doctor, check whether they are in-network with the plan you are considering. VSP's network emphasizes independent practices, while EyeMed's network includes both independent providers and retail optical chains. In-network visits cost less than out-of-network visits.
In-network providers submit claims directly to your insurance carrier on your behalf, according to AllAboutVision (2024). If you visit an out-of-network provider, you typically pay the full cost upfront and submit a claim for partial reimbursement from your carrier.
Vision insurance plans come in different tiers with varying premiums, copays, and allowances. Basic plans cost less per month but offer lower frame allowances and may have higher copays. Premium plans cost more but provide larger eyewear allowances, lower copays, and additional discounts on extras like lens coatings and second-pair purchases.
Calculate your total annual cost by adding up 12 months of premiums, your expected copays, and any out-of-pocket costs above your allowance. Compare that total to what you would pay out of pocket without insurance to see whether the plan saves you money based on your typical eye care and eyewear needs.
You should seek immediate eye care if you experience sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, new floaters or flashing lights, eye injury, double vision, or a chemical splash in your eye. These symptoms require urgent evaluation and fall under your medical insurance, not your vision plan. Go to an eye doctor who handles urgent visits or an emergency room.
Schedule regular eye exams through your vision plan to catch conditions early. Many eye diseases, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, develop without noticeable symptoms in their early stages. Your routine exam is your best tool for early detection.
Questions About Vision Insurance Plans
Medical insurance and vision insurance serve different purposes. Medical insurance covers treatment for eye diseases, injuries, and conditions like cataracts or glaucoma. Vision insurance covers routine preventive exams and corrective eyewear like glasses and contacts. If you wear glasses or contacts, vision insurance can reduce your annual eye care costs.
You get the most benefit by visiting an in-network provider. Most plans allow out-of-network visits, but you pay more and must file your own claim for partial reimbursement. Check your plan's provider directory to find participating eye doctors before scheduling.
Your eye doctor bills the medical portion of your visit to your health insurance instead of your vision plan. You may owe a different copay or deductible for the medical diagnosis and any follow-up tests or treatment. Your vision plan copay still applies to the routine exam portion.
Individual vision insurance works well if you need new glasses or contacts every year and visit the eye doctor annually. Add up the plan's annual premiums and copays and compare that total to your expected out-of-pocket costs without insurance. If the plan saves you money, it is worth the premium.
Some plans let you apply your eyewear allowance toward prescription sunglasses instead of regular glasses. Others classify prescription sunglasses as a second-pair purchase eligible for a post-benefit discount. Check your plan summary to see how your carrier handles prescription sunglasses.
Most major carriers offer a negotiated LASIK discount through preferred laser surgery providers. You pay the discounted price out of pocket because LASIK is not a covered benefit. Your carrier's member portal or customer service line can tell you which LASIK providers participate and what discount percentage applies.
Find the Right Vision Plan
Choosing the right vision insurance helps you manage the cost of eye exams and eyewear. Compare carriers, check which providers are in-network, and schedule your annual exam to keep your prescription current and your eyes healthy.