Table of Contents
Key takeaways :
- Small businesses often struggle to put together competitive benefits packages. As a broker, you can help by steering them toward pre-paid vision plans.
- Pre-paid vision plans for small businesses are affordable and flexible. They create excellent value for budget-conscious clients.
- Consider adding VCD to your portfolio to recommend budget-friendly vision plans to your small business customers.
Small businesses were responsible for creating 80% of the jobs in 2024. That’s impressive.
While small businesses offer great opportunities, they often struggle to compete when it comes to employee benefits. Cost is often a concern—yet just as important is the fact that many small businesses lack the HR resources to research and build effective benefits bundles.
That’s where brokers like you come in. You can guide small businesses through the benefits landscape and help them create competitive packages that fit their budgets.
The key? Focus on cost-effective solutions.
When it comes to vision benefits for small businesses, pre-paid plans are a smart, flexible choice.
Benefits on a Small Business Budget: Pre-Paid Vision Plans and Lower Costs
With traditional small business vision insurance, employees pay monthly premiums—typically subsidized by the employer, which adds up to a recurring cost for the business.
Pre-paid plans offer a budget-friendly alternative:
- Employees pay a lower monthly fee through an opt-in model, using pre-tax deductions to cover the cost of this voluntary benefit.
- From the perspective of a small business owner, there are no premiums to subsidize.
- This lower cost improves satisfaction among small business employees and makes them more likely to opt-in and use their vision benefits.
And thanks to their transparent pricing schedule, pre-paid vision plans don’t come with any bad surprises. Employees go to the optometrist knowing exactly which services they can save on and by how much.
The Importance of Flexible Vision Benefits for Small Businesses
Did you know there are 34.8 million small businesses in the U.S.? Ignoring this huge market would be a mistake for your insurance broker strategy. It’s also important to account for how diverse small businesses are.
When one of your business customers buys traditional vision insurance, they get a group discount. It means all employees are on the same group vision insurance plan, whether the plan is a good match for their individual needs or not.
Pre-paid vision benefits are much more flexible. Because of the voluntary model, employees can opt in and choose a tier of service that makes sense.
The small business workforce is incredibly diverse. When offering pre-paid vision plans, you offer employers flexible options that appeal to parents looking for affordable pediatric eye services, young workers worried about digital eye strain, and older employees who are proactive about watching for early signs of eye disease.
Thanks to this flexible approach, vision benefits can easily change. Over the years, small businesses will grow, hire more people, and undergo demographic changes.
As a broker, you can actively monitor these changes and present tangible solutions through flexible benefits.
Plus, health equity is a growing trend among businesses that are in tune with their employees’ needs. Giving employees options and empowering them to choose the best plan for their needs and budget aligns with this priority.
Why Pre-Paid Vision Plans Create Value for Employees
For small businesses, offering benefits is about building a good workplace for employees – one where they feel valued.
Your customers see benefits as an investment. Giving them ways to maximize value (and ROI) is what makes you a good broker.
Pre-paid vision plans maximize value:
- The initial investment is low since these plans cost less, and employees pay for them. Letting employees opt-in and choose the tier that makes sense for them means they’re not paying for things they don’t need.
- Employees get transparent savings on the eye health services they need. This increases employee satisfaction, which translates into high ROI.
- Because pre-paid plans are a flexible option, the value stays consistent as the needs of the business change.
Pre-Paid Plans as a Building Block of Wellness Benefits Packages
Employees expect different things from benefits. For small businesses, keeping up can be difficult.
Modern workplaces take a holistic approach to benefits. The goal is to create packages that address employees’ needs beyond basic physical health. Getting it right is key to attracting top talent in a competitive job market.
Flexible vision benefits are part of this holistic approach:
- Employees are increasingly savvy about benefits. They understand traditional health insurance doesn’t cover vision or doesn’t cover it well.
- Routine eye exams can catch the first signs of many health conditions. Saving on these exams is key for employees looking to be more proactive about their health.
- There is a growing awareness of why vision health matters. Employees know poor vision can lead to stress or disengagement at work and see access to eye health as important to their well-being.
- There is a broader shift in healthcare. People aren’t just reacting when things feel off. They value preventive care and play an active part in their health journey, which includes regular eye exams.
What Makes Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma a Great Option for Small Businesses?
VCD offers doctor-owned pre-paid vision plans with a strong local focus. When you present it to a small business, you’re giving them access to affordable and flexible vision care benefits.
Besides helping employees save on the eye health services they need, you’re helping connect them to their local optometrists for quality care.
Learn more about joining the VCD family as a broker and adding our pre-paid vision plans to your portfolio.
Summary: Small businesses need affordable and flexible benefits packages. As a broker, offering pre-paid vision plans can be a great way to meet the needs of your small business customers.
FAQ
What are vision benefits?
Vision benefits typically help individuals pay for eye exams, eyewear, and other vision care services.
Are vision benefits worth it?
Offering vision benefits can be a strong differentiator for employers and a great way to keep employees happy and engaged.
What do vision benefits cover?
It depends on the plan. Eye exams are a common service, along with glasses and lenses.
Do employees care about vision benefits?
Yes. Employees increasingly look for holistic benefits packages and value vision plans.
Do vision benefits make a difference in employee satisfaction?
Besides helping employees save on key eye health services, vision benefits ensure employees can be proactive about eye health before poor vision causes them stress and fatigue.
