Value-conscious employers often decide to forgo offering vision care as part of their benefits package. There is a common misconception that only employees who wear glasses will see value in a vision plan and that it won’t be a strong offering for attracting and retaining talent. As a broker, you can present these employers with exam-only plans in addition to comprehensive vision plans that cover materials.
Debunking the myth: Vision plans in Oklahoma and beyond are only for those with glasses
Did you know that less than a quarter of nonunion employees have access to vision care as part of their benefits package? Few employers offer this benefit. A possible cause is a misconception that only employees who need glasses will find this benefit worthwhile. Not only that, but companies who offer plans that include eye exams typically will have lower utilization in their health plan which can lower major medical premiums.
While some vision care insurance products can provide more value for those with glasses thanks to benefits like eyewear coverage, options like exam-only plans make sense as additional options. Frequently, multiple dental plans are offered, why not offer multiple options for your vision plans to serve all employees including those who do not wear glasses.
The importance of establishing a baseline for vision health
The plans offered by VCD are pre pre-paid vision plans that offer negotiated savings for members. With an exam-only plan, recipients will save on routine eye exams.
Regular eye exams are important because they help establish a baseline for vision health. With regular exams, an optometrist can track changes over time and detect symptoms early. It’s especially important as the risk of developing eye health problems increases with age even if a patient doesn’t need glasses.
Why early detection matters
One of the advantages of helping recipients save on eye exams is that they’ll be more likely to get an early diagnosis for certain conditions. These conditions include cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. An eye exam can also detect signs of skin cancer, heart disease and other health issues.
Conditions like these can affect anyone, not just patients with a history of vision correction. Early detection matters because it often results in better patient outcomes. It also means lower out-of-pocket costs for treatments. Plus, finding adverse medical conditions early can prevent them from getting worse helping avoid partial vision loss or even blindness.
You can make a compelling financial argument by drawing attention to the potential costs an employer would face if an employee developed a serious vision health problem. You can discuss missed work, health insurance claims or even worker’s compensation claims if the vision loss is work-related.
Don’t let common symptoms go unaddressed
Many people live with health symptoms that remain unaddressed. Employees might notice that their vision is deteriorating. However, they might decide not to take action right away due to financial concerns. They might not associate symptoms like headaches with vision problems, or they might not feel that the symptoms are serious enough to address.
Letting employees live and work with unaddressed symptoms often results in hidden costs for their employers. Blurry vision and headaches can lead to a drop in productivity. These symptoms can also worsen stress and disengagement.
Workplaces with high turnover rates and disengaged employees often have a number of problems to address. However, offering exam-only plans is a cost-effective way to address one of the possible causes.
Start selling exam-only vision insurance plans in Oklahoma
Comprehensive vision plans in Oklahoma might not be a good fit for employees who do not wear glasses or contacts. Exam-only plans are a great additional option that delivers value to everyone in the organization.
Vision Care Direct offers exam-only vision plans that can be sold along with comprehensive plan options. We offer competitive pricing to help employers save money. We also offer first-rate customer support to help them manage benefits. These plans translate into savings for employees and employers while improveing access to vision care. You can sign up to start selling VCD plans or contact us to learn more!
Email summary:
Too many employees don’t have access to vision care plans. And for employers, it can be difficult to find a balance between low costs and great vision care. As a broker, you can present exam-only plans as a cost-effective option to more comprehensive vision plans for those who do not need a material benefit, only an annual exam.
You should also highlight how these plans deliver value to everyone and not just employees who need glasses. With better access to vision care, recipients can address symptoms before they affect their productivity at work. They will also benefit from early detection for a number of health conditions resulting in savings for their major medical plan which can, in turn, lower premiums. Find out more about the benefits of exam-only plans and the arguments you can use to underline their value.
