Vision Benefits vs Medical Insurance

Vision and medical insurance differ in their focus and coverage for eye care. Most of the time you can not use both Medical and Vision on the same day even if they are administered through the same insurance company. VSP has some exceptions

Medical Insurance:

• Focus: Medical treatment of eye conditions and injuries.

• Coverage:

• Medical eye exams for diagnosed conditions.

• Treatments for eye infections, injuries, and diseases.

• Eye surgeries for medical reasons.

• Visits to ophthalmologists

• Does not cover:

• "Annual" exams, Screening exams without a patient complaint

• Corrective eyewear (glasses, contacts).

• Vision therapies

Medical Insurance:

• Focus: Medical treatment of eye conditions and injuries.

• Coverage:

• Medical eye exams for diagnosed conditions.

• Treatments for eye infections, injuries, and diseases.

• Eye surgeries for medical reasons.

• Visits to ophthalmologists

• Does not cover:

• "Annual" exams, Screening exams without a patient complaint

• Corrective eyewear (glasses, contacts).

• Vision therapies

Vision Insurance:

• Focus: Measuring for glasses and helping pay for contacts and glasses.

• Coverage:

• Simple exam screening for eye issues

• Glasses frames and lenses (allowance or discounts).

• Contact lenses (allowance or discounts).

• Does not cover:

• Medical eye issues (e.g., eye infections, glaucoma, dry eye).

• Diagnostic test (photos, scans, etc)

• Eye surgeries for medical conditions.

• Visits to ophthalmologists (usually only optometrists).

Remember:

• Check your specific plans to see exact coverage details.

• Some medical plans offer vision benefits as an add-on.

• You can have both vision and medical insurance for broader coverage.