Table of Contents
3 MIN. READ
Key takeaways:
- Adding coatings to lenses makes eyeglasses last longer, enhances vision, and protects the eyes.
- Coatings are add-ons, and many traditional vision plans don’t cover them, which means patients pay more out of pocket.
- With prepaid vision plans, you can offer great value with transparent savings on coatings and more.
Your customers are paying for vision insurance but find themselves walking out of the optometrist with $300 bills.
A common cause for these surprise costs is coatings, or thin layers of material added to eyeglasses to make them more durable or protect vision.
Coatings aren’t an upsell. People genuinely need these upgrades, but traditional vision insurance usually doesn’t cover them. Here’s what you need to know about lens coating benefits as a broker and how to ease the sticker price shock with prepaid plans.
Understanding Lens Coating Benefits
When a patient gets prescription eyeglasses, the optometrist will usually recommend coatings to protect the eyes or address any concerns specific to the patient’s lifestyle.
The most common coating options include:
- Scratch-resistant. Silicon or metal oxides are added to protect the lenses from damage.
- Anti-reflective. This popular coating lets in more light and prevents glare, halos, and ghost images.
- UV protection. While not as effective as sunglasses, this special lens treatment can block UBA and UVB rays to protect the eyes.
- Photochromic coating. This is a more advanced form of UV protection with a coating that adjusts the transparency of the lenses.
- Anti-static. This type of coating keeps dirt and dust particles away for cleaner glasses.
- Blue light filter. A common option among office workers, this coating reduces exposure to blue light from devices.
- Anti-fog. You can keep glasses from fogging up with a special coating that doesn’t let water droplets form.
- Colored glasses are a popular choice for fashion reasons, but they can also enhance comfort. Coatings modify the color of the lenses.
How Much Do Eyeglass Coatings Cost?
Most traditional vision insurance plans include an allowance for eyeglasses, but they only cover frames and lenses.
This leaves patients paying out of pocket for the coatings, and with individual coatings costing $30 to $100 each, it’s easy to end up with a $300 or higher bill.
Prepaid Vision Plans Ease Sticker Price Shock
As a broker, you should educate your audience about common coatings so people see the value in getting these add-ons and play a more active role in their care.
Once your audience understands the benefits of coatings, you can discuss prepaid vision plans:
- While coatings are a common vision plan exclusion, prepaid plans include savings on frames, lenses, and coatings.
- The savings are transparent, and your customers know exactly how much they’ll save on these add-ons before going to the optometrist.
- If a customer wants an optional coating and there are no savings available, paying less for the eye exam, frame, and lenses frees up money to cover this out-of-pocket cost.
Make Lens Coating Benefits More Accessible With VCD
Help your customers save on lens coatings and more with VCD prepaid plans. Our flexible plans offer different levels of savings and, thanks to the transparent structure, customers know exactly how much they’ll save before going to the optometrist.
Plus, with no lab restrictions, they’re free to customize their eyeglasses with different coatings and get their prescription filled without delays.
Learn more about joining the VCD family as a broker and offering prepaid plans accepted at one of the largest networks of optometrists in Oklahoma.
FAQ
Which coatings are must-haves for your new glasses?
Anti-reflective, UV protection, and scratch-resistant coatings are great to have.
How much do coatings cost when getting eyeglasses?
Pricing varies based on coating and lab, but you should expect to pay $30 to $100 per coating.
Do vision plans cover coatings?
Traditional vision insurance plans usually exclude coatings, leaving patients paying out-of-pocket for these add-ons. Prepaid plans are a better option for accessing savings on coatings.
