What Is A Discount Vision Plan?

Similar to a discount dental plan, a discount vision plan is not insurance. It's a vision coverage plan where participating vision care providers agree to a discounted fee for their services. If you are an individual, a family, or a group, you might save a lot of money on vision care using such a plan. All you have to do is show your membership card at any participating plan provider to receive most vision services at discounted fees.

Retail Locations

Most plans include thousands of participating eye care locations all across the nation. Usually, members of a discount vision plan will save on glasses, contacts (excluding disposables), eye exams, and surgical procedures. Participating care providers normally include ophthalmologists, optometrists, independent optical centers, and national chain locations like Pearle Vision, JC Penney Optical, Sears Optical, LensCrafters, and EyeMasters stores. The retail location portion of most plans usually includes savings from 10-60% at thousands of locations. Typically you can save on most frames, lenses and specialty items such as tints, scratch resistant coatings, and ultraviolet protection. Some plans even offer satisfaction guarantees and lowest price guarantees.

Mail Order Contacts

Some plans offer their own mail order contact program. You could expect savings from 10-40% on most major brands and including disposables, torics, bifocals, and gas permeable lenses. Prescriptions are usually kept on file adding convenience, and there is often no limit on the number of times the membership may be used during the year

Ophthalmology Services

With the increasing popularity of laser surgery, the number of ophthalmology service providers that accept discount vision plans is continually growing. You can expect to receive discounts from national chains and independent ophthalmologists on refractive surgery. Savings for typically range from 10-30% on surgical procedures including LASIK. At some locations, free LASIK screening is included