3 Paths for Getting Vision Insurance

More than 12 million adults age 40 and older suffer from vision impairment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number is expected to double by 2050 as baby boomers get older. “Visual acuity deteriorates for many of us as we age,” says Gregg Ratkovic, president of Medicare at eHealth, an online insurance marketplace. “That’s normal, and that’s what vision insurance is [for].”

Traditional Medicare’s Part B only covers vision care when it’s a medical condition, such as cataracts, dry eye, glaucoma or vision health related to diabetes. Medicare Part B will even pay for a pair of eyeglasses after cataract surgery. But if there’s no underlying medical condition, you’re on your own. Although you have several ways to get vision coverage, whether it’s cost effective depends on the eyewear you need and your provider because private insurers restrict where you get care.

Individual Plans

Most vision insurance plans cover one eye exam a year, with a fixed dollar allowance going toward eyeglasses or contacts either once a year or once every two years, Ratkovic says.

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