Independent eye insurance recommendations?

[emeleel]

The one downside to DH's new job is that they don't offer eye insurance - and all four of us wear glasses! I know that there are dental plans out there that you can buy just as a regular person, are there eye care plans available, too? And does anyone have any recommendations?

We would really need something that will pay for glasses once/year - DH and I don't need them that often, but the kids usually need a new pair every year because their eyes change fast.

Thanks!

[mtomm[$]]

I have wonderful insurance EXCEPT for eyes. I don't understand it.

Luckily, we can buy it separately through my husband's plan to supplement my plan.

I have no suggestions but would love to see what you come up with.

[pippadaisy[$]]

The eye exam should be covered under medical. Our coverage is only $60 per calendar year. We end up saving about that just putting it through FSA.

[emeleel]

I was thinking that eye exams were only covered under medical if there is a medical thing going on - headaches, eyeaches, stys, etc. IOW, that a routine eye exam isn't usually covered.

[mtomm[$]]

It probably varies hugely from plan to plan. I think mine covers part of the exam and glasses only if necessitated by surgery or something.

[emeleel]

I guess I'll find out when our regular insurance finally makes it through. NO idea when that will be! Yes, we're currently without insurance.

That absolute COW of an HR person back at DH's job couldn't get her act together to properly terminate him on time, so it took forever for them to stop his insurance at the old job so we'd have the paperwork for the new insurance. FIVE WEEKS it took to get his final check for vacation hours and get the old insurance terminated, and get the paperwork in the mail. And then they cut him for the insurance we were covered with during that month. And it's not like they were surprised by him leaving, he worked a two-week notice. Absolute friggin' idjits.

[frazzledspice]

Good luck to your hubby on his new job!

I know that Wal-Mart Optical has a pretty good children's package--I think you can get the exam and glasses for under $100.

Margaret (Magenta) was the first to mention it here, but we've used them a few times--Zenni Optical. I just bought two pair of distance glasses from them for $15. each.

There are 77 reviews on Epinions, including mine.

Compare Prices and Read Reviews on Zenni Optical Online Store at Epinions.com

I have noticed some refinements on their website now...

If you need bifocals, for example, they will guide you to frames that are tall enough to accommodate the no-line bifocals (no-line bifocals are about $67 with titanium frames.)

My daughter and I wear contacts, so our glasses are backups and for occasional use. My hubby uses his all the time (although since he got the VA service connected disability, he is entitled to a free pair of glasses a year through them since vision problems can be related to diabetes.)

Overall Zenni got 3 1/2 stars from Epinions. But I've ordered from them about 5 times for the family and never had a problem.

The only possible problem is that you have to know your pupillary distance, and that doesn't appear on a prescription in every state (NY requires it, I don't know about the others.) I researched it a little, and found that the most accurate way for a layperson to find pupillary distance is to put her glasses on and ask someone to make a magic marker dot on the lenses exactly where the pupil appears. Then measure between the two dots. (Lots of opticians have machines now, but when my hubby got his VA glasses the optician there did something remarkably similar...)

Anyway, good luck.

[thinkerlady[$]]

Regular eye exams and glasses/contacts have most recently in most companies gone separate from the medical, unless there is a medical reason connected to the exam. For example, I had issues with allergies back in May and saw the ophthalmologist of my choice because it was medical. He did not prescribe glasses. I have to go to the optometrist for that.

My hubby sees a cornea specialist for his eye issues, but again has to see the optometrist for glasses.

We have VSP--I don't remember what the initials stand for. It amounts to about $200. per year for the insurance. We had dropped it a couple of years ago, and after spending over $350 for an eye exam and glasses on the kids, I figured it payed for itself to keep the eye insurance. Now it is with my husband's company so i don't know if you can buy it separately.

My daughter, who because she works for a pharmaceutical giant, has incredible medical benefits. She has the exact same eye plan, and the same stipulations--and she has to pay separately for the eye insurance. It is pennies compared to what the exam/glasses/contacts will run her, and if she has an emergency it again has paid for itself.

I guess the deciding factor is if there is a medical base to the eye issues, then medical insurance covers it. If there isn't, and it is just routine eye stuff, most companies won't cover the exam or glasses.

[mtomm[$]]

I've ordered mucho glasses from Zenni, recommend to many others who have ordered with no problems. Even bi-focals with no problems.

We get PD by Frazz's method.

[Prepoia[$]]

What's the best place to shop for contacts online? I want to make sure it's a reputable source and when googled they all sound good.

My daughter wears Focus Day and Night lenses.

[thinkerlady[$]]

No clue here--my daughter get's hers from the optometrist. He replaces them if they are damaged free of charge, and he also will give her some if she is under her year. It is too good of a deal, so we don't shop online.

I think Amy did tho, she might know.

[frazzledspice]

We use Vision Direct. I used to use 1-800-Contacts.

I've found their prices to be the best. You can connect through with rebate sites like Ebates.

Free shipping with an order of $99, no coupon required.

Before I shop, I always check this site:

VisionDirect Coupon Codes for visiondirect.com, VisionDirect Coupons, up to 40% Cash Back Rebates, Rewards and Discounts | evreward.com

Right now, it lists 4 coupons for Vision Direct, rebates from 7% to 8%, college awards from 5% to 7%, and a number of different point and frequent flier mile programs.

In any case, I've found that Vision Direct has offered better deals than 1-800-contacts for a while.

[frazzledspice]

Yes, Zenni is great....

When my son was home for Christmas he said: "You know, I'm beginning to think I need eyeglasses, but I haven't gotten to the optometrist yet..." (This after driving 400 miles....)

And so, naturally, I wouldn't let him go home without getting glasses.....

But we needed the 24 hour or less kind, and at Pearle, with a $75 off coupon, he still paid $250 for a relatively ordinary pair of single vision eyeglasses.

They would have cost him $15 at Zenni.

[Prepoia[$]]

Thanks, Frazz. I'll check them out. My daughter suggested the 1-800 contacts but their prices were without a rebate that would then be needed to mail in. I personally hate mail in rebates and use them only when I must. I'll check the other site first.

There's so much good practical advise on this board!

Sandy

[mtbat]

we have something called Spectara(spectera?) which they added this year, it saves a little-but not much. check and see if eye exams are covered by your regular insurance, often when vision isn't an option, there is something that helps defray the cost of at least the exam.

is the HR person who process the terms in the same office as your dh was? if, like at the company I work for-the term specialist is at another office, they are dependant on the field office to send the info-and 9 times out of 10 the field sends the paperwork for terms in late. we process terms by the laws of each state-based on when we get the paperwork. So if your dh gave two weeks notice, but his supervisor didn't send in the term info until later-that may be part of the delay.
if you are feeling b*tchy, call the DOL and make a complaint

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

My eye exams are covered under medical without an underlying reason - but some plans may require the exam be done by an ophthalmologist, not an optometrist or optician to be covered.