Best vision insurance companies of April 2024
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 4:14 a.m. UTC April 1, 2024
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The best vision insurance companies of 2024 are Anthem and UnitedHealthcare, according to our analysis of rates and coverage options.
The best vision insurance of 2024
- Best vision insurance for bifocals and trifocals: Anthem.
- Best budget vision insurance: UnitedHealthcare.
- Best for additional discounts: EyeMed.
- Best vision insurance for glasses: VSP.
- Best vision insurance for contacts: Humana.
Compare vision insurance costs
Anthem
Top scoring plan
Blue View Vision Enhanced
Vision insurance network
More than 40,000 providers at over 30,000 locations
UnitedHealthcare
Top scoring plan
Plan A
Vision insurance network
More than 120,000 access points
Why trust our vision insurance experts
Our team of vision insurance experts evaluates hundreds of insurance products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 12 vision plans analyzed.
- 120 data points compared.
- 5 levels of fact-checking.
Best vision insurance companies
Compare the best vision insurance plans
| VISION INSURANCE COMPANY | TOP-SCORING VISION INSURANCE PLAN | OUR RATING | AVERAGE MONTHLY COST | LEARN MORE | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Anthem | Blue View Vision Enhanced | $19 | Learn More Via Healthcare Marketplace’s website | |||||||
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 UnitedHealthcare | Plan A | $11 | Learn More Via Healthcare Marketplace’s website | |||||||
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 EyeMed | EyeMed Bold | $18 | Learn More Via Healthcare Marketplace’s website | |||||||
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 VSP | Standard | $17 | Learn More Via Healthcare Marketplace’s website | |||||||
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 Humana | Humana Vision | $16 | Learn More Via Healthcare Marketplace’s website | |||||||
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Vision insurance rates are based on a 30-year-old shopping for vision insurance in California. Your rates may differ.
Methodology
We analyzed 12 vision insurance plans to determine the best vision insurance. Each vision insurance plan was eligible for up to 100 points, based on its performance in the following key categories:
- Cost: 40 points.
- Exam copay: 20 points.
- Glasses copay: 10 points.
- Contacts copay: 10 points.
- Bifocal/trifocal copay: 10 points.
- Frames/Contacts allowance: 10 points.
How much is vision insurance?
Vision insurance can cost as low as $5 per month for coverage. How much you’ll pay for vision insurance will depend on where you live, your age, the vision benefits you choose and the insurance company.
The average vision care coverage premium is between $5 and $30 monthly. The price increases for plans with more comprehensive coverage options.
Family plans cost more than individual policies, though the more family members your benefit plan covers, the more cost-effective it can be.
How to save on vision insurance
Although vision insurance is less expensive than even the most affordable health insurance plans, there are still ways to save:
- Only buy a plan if the benefits outweigh the cost. If you have good vision, you probably don’t need the expense of vision insurance coverage. But vision policies are usually worth the cost if you have vision problems and wear glasses or contact lenses.
- Compare vision insurance policies. Like other types of insurance, comparing plan options and out-of-pocket costs like copays and allowances can help you determine which plan best fits your individual needs.
- Stay in-network to reap maximum benefits. Most vision insurance plans have a network of eye care providers that offer yearly eye exams at the lowest price, sometimes at no cost. But if you go out of network, you’ll pay higher copays, may not have an allowance and could even be denied coverage.
- Use an HSA or FSA to pay for care, products and services. A health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) allows you to use pre-tax dollars for eligible healthcare expenses. If you’re eligible for either an HSA or FSA, you can use the money to pay for things like eyeglasses, contacts, eye exams, cataract surgery and LASIK surgery — whether your vision plan covers it or not.
What does vision insurance cover?
Although vision plans can vary by insurance company and plan type, in general, vision insurance covers the following products and services:
- Annual eye exam.
- Annual allowance for eyeglass frames and single-vision corrective lenses.
- Annual contact lens allowance, though you typically have to choose between the glasses and contacts allowance — you can’t use both.
- Lens enhancements such as anti-glare, blue light coatings, UV protection and scratch-resistant coatings.
- Bifocals, trifocals and progressive lenses.
- Discount programs for contact lenses and glasses purchases exceeding the plan allowance.
What does vision insurance not cover?
LASIK surgeries and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) are elective surgeries not covered by vision insurance. However, you may get a discount on corrective laser eye surgeries through your vision insurance plan.
For example, UnitedHealthcare’s Plan A offers 20% to 35% off LASIK surgery at more than 900 QualSight locations. EyeMed vision care plans include a 15% discount on laser correction at U.S. Laser Network locations. You can also get 15% off the regular price or 5% discounted pricing at contracted facilities through VSP.
What to look for in a vision insurance plan
Consider the following factors when searching for a vision insurance plan to meet your specific needs.
Low monthly premiums
Vision insurance costs vary by plan type and coverage level. When researching vision plans, find one that meets your needs and budget. For instance, consider a higher allowance for frames or contacts if you wear them. If you need bifocals, trifocals or progressive lenses, focus on vision insurance companies offering lower copays.
According to our research, UnitedHealthcare’s Plan A is the most affordable of the best vision insurance plans, averaging $11 per month. Humana Vision is also inexpensive, at $16 monthly.
Annual eye exam coverage
Routine eye exams are essential for eye health, whether you have vision problems or perfect vision. According to the CDC, an eye exam can reveal common eye conditions that can cause vision loss or blindness, including:
- Cataracts.
- Glaucoma.
- Diabetic retinopathy.
- Age-related macular degeneration.
The best eye insurance plan will offer low-cost annual vision exams. Anthem Blue View Vision Enhanced, UnitedHealthcare Plan A and EyeMed Bold each have a $10 eye exam copay.
Allowances for eyewear and contact lenses
Eyeglasses and contacts can be expensive, so finding a good vision insurance policy with a generous allowance makes the plan cost worth it. Policy benefits vary, with most vision insurance policies offering a fixed allowance, usually between $100 and $250 per year for either contacts or glasses. If you expect to pay more, look for a plan offering a discount for the remaining balance.
Ease of access and customer service
For a vision plan to be worth the cost, you want it to be accessible, not just when enrolling but also when you need customer service or to file a claim. Check vision insurance reviews online to get a good idea of which vision insurance company will meet your needs during enrollment and after signing up.
Network coverage
Although you may not plan on moving, you never know what the future holds. Choosing a vision insurance plan with a vast coverage network in every state and a long list of eye doctors can help ensure coverage at your new home or while traveling.
Humana’s vision insurance policies are accepted at 95,000 locations. EyeMed’s network extends to over 70,000 locations and providers, while UnitedHealthcare has more than 120,000 access point locations.
How to buy vision insurance
There are multiple ways you can buy vision insurance:
- As part of a health insurance plan.
- Combined with a dental insurance plan.
- As a stand-alone vision plan.
Your employer may offer vision insurance combined with health or dental insurance, or as a stand-alone policy. This is usually the most affordable option, but the available plan might not offer the best vision insurance for your needs.
All plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace include vision coverage for children, but only some include vision coverage for adults. The Marketplace does not offer stand-alone vision insurance plans.
You can purchase vision insurance directly through an insurance company or by contacting a vision insurance agent or broker.
Compare vision insurance costs
Anthem
Top scoring plan
Blue View Vision Enhanced
Vision insurance network
More than 40,000 providers at over 30,000 locations
UnitedHealthcare
Top scoring plan
Plan A
Vision insurance network
More than 120,000 access points
Best vision insurance FAQs
UnitedHealthcare offers the most widely accepted vision insurance of the plans we reviewed. As one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States, UnitedHealthcare has more than 120,000 access points for vision care, products and services.
How much vision insurance coverage you need depends on whether you prefer contacts or glasses and if you need annual eye exams. If you have good vision but want to get an annual exam for your eye health, consider a low-cost policy with a low exam copay. But if you wear contacts or eyeglasses, pay attention to the frame and contact lens allowance amounts and relevant discount programs.
If you don’t have perfect vision, insurance may be worth it. Vision insurance can lower the cost of eye exams, glasses and contacts. You can also get discounts on lens enhancements and LASIK surgery. To know if a plan is worth it, determine how much you spend on an annual exam, contacts or glasses to see if it will save you money.
Our research shows the best vision insurance for glasses is VSP Standard. You get a $150 frame allowance with 20% off additional frame costs, plus the option to upgrade to a $230 allowance. VSP will also give you 20% off extra frames and 30% off lens enhancements like scratch resistance and blue light-blocking coatings.
For contacts, our research shows the best vision insurance plan is Humana Vision. Humana offers a $150 allowance on contact lenses and an additional 15% for conventional contacts if you exceed the allowance.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
