Best Vision Insurance Companies of 2023

Best vision insurance companies of November 2023

Mandy Sleight

BLUEPRINT

Updated 2:39 p.m. UTC Nov. 27, 2023

The best vision insurance companies are Anthem and UnitedHealthcare, according to our analysis of rates and coverage options.

Top-rated vision insurance of 2023

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

Why trust our vision insurance experts

Our team of 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

Blueprint Rating

What you should know

Anthem’s Blue View Vision Enhanced plan is accepted at over 40,000 providers nationwide. If you need bifocals or trifocals, Anthem’s copay is only $10. You can also get a once-per-year $150 frame allowance to help make your glasses more affordable.

Pros and cons

Pros

Extensive network of providers at over 30,000 locations nationwide.
$10 exam and glasses copay.
No copay for contacts.

Cons

Does not provide a discount for laser vision correction.
More expensive premiums than competitors.

Blueprint Rating

What you should know

Although UnitedHealthcare’s Plan A is the most budget-friendly vision insurance plan in our rating, you’ll only pay a $10 copay for your eye exam and glasses. You won’t have a copay if you get contacts. There’s a generous $150 allowance for contacts or frames, but you’ll only get a $75 frame allowance if you buy frames outside of UnitedHealthcare’s 120,000 access point network.

Pros and cons

Pros

Cheap vision insurance plan.
No copay for contacts.
$10 copay for an eye exam or glasses.
No maximum age limit for plans.

Cons

Low allowance of $60 for bifocals and $80 for trifocals.

Blueprint Rating

What you should know

The EyeMed Bold vision insurance plan is accepted by more than 70,000 providers across the United States. The eye exam copay is just $10 and while there is no copay for contacts, you’ll pay a $20 copay for eyeglass frames. In addition to plan benefits, you can get 40% off extra pairs of prescription glasses, 30% off items not covered by the plan and 15% off the retail price of LASIK.

Pros and cons

Pros

$130 frame allowance with 20% discount on remaining balance.
$20 bifocal and trifocal copay.
$0 contacts copay.
$10 eye exam copay.

Cons

Higher premium cost than other vision insurance competitors.
$20 glasses copay is higher than some competitors.

Blueprint Rating

What you should know

VSP’s Standard vision coverage offers a $150 frame allowance for glasses wearers, with a 20% discount for the remaining balance. You can upgrade to the EasyOptions plan to get a frame allowance of $230. VSP offers a bonus $40 on select frame brands and you can save up to 30% on lens enhancements like scratch resistance, anti-glare and progressive lenses. Want more than one pair? You’ll get 20% off your glasses and enhancements.

Pros and cons

Pros

$150 frame allowance plus additional 20% off for remaining balance.
Optional upgrade to $230 for frames or contacts.
Select frame brands receive one-year free warranty and $40 savings.

Cons

$25 glasses copay.
$15 eye exam copay.
Higher premium than competitors.

Blueprint Rating

What you should know

Humana’s vision plan offers contact wearers affordable premiums and a generous $150 contacts allowance. If you get conventional nondisposable contact lenses, you’re eligible for 15% off for the balance.

Pros and cons

Pros

Affordable premiums compared to competitors.
$150 contacts allowance.
15% discount on nondisposables above $150.

Cons

$40 contact eye exam copay.
$35 one-time enrollment fee.
$25 copay for bifocals and trifocals.

Compare the best vision insurance quotes

Vision insurance company	Top-scoring vision insurance plan	Our rating	Average monthly cost
Anthem	Blue View Vision Enhanced	5 stars	$19
UnitedHealthcare	Plan A	5 stars	$11
EyeMed	EyeMed Bold	4.5 stars	$18
VSP	Standard	4 stars	$17
Humana	Humana Vision	4 stars	$16

^{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 does vision insurance cost?

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.

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.