First, Why Vision Care is Important

Health care benefits rank eye care number one on the list of effective retention initiatives, and vision consistently ranks as the most important sense. So, it's only logical that every benefit package should include quality eye care coverage. The following eye health statistics will help you illustrate to your clients the importance of an eye care benefit that promotes good vision:

• Over 75% of the U.S. population between age 25 and 64 require some form of vision correction.
  
  
• Visual impairment is one of the 10 most frequent causes of disability in America.
  
  
• Two-thirds of employees would trade a vacation day for eye care benefits.
  
  
• Regular and thorough eye exams can sometimes detect serious illness, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and may curb healthcare costs later on.
  
  
• 1,000 eye injuries occur in the workplace daily and cost businesses more than $300 million per year in lost production time, medical expenses and worker's compensation.
  
  
• A recent study found that blurred vision causes more hardship in people's daily lives than a history of major illness such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart attack.

Click here to go to Eyefinity, one of the best consumer resources for vision care on the Web! Or, click here to enter All About Vision, a vision care portal with terrific links and other consumer resources.

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Plan Options to Fit Needs

When arranging vision plans there are numerous options available to satisfy the needs of the plan sponsor and member. Plan designs are offered as employer paid, employee paid and self-funded. The minimum number of covered employees for employer paid plans will vary from state to state depending on the state insurance laws for small group legislation as well as the carrier selected. For voluntary plans most carriers look for a minimum group size of at least 50-100 eligible employees with a minimum participation level ranging from 20%-25%.

Frequencies of Benefits

Vision care plans typically offer benefits under any number of frequency schedules. The key difference in these schedules is the interval when services are available. The following outlines some typical timetables for benefits (for, conceptually, three different "plans"). Other variations of frequencies are available.

Type of Service	Basic Plan	Standard Plan	Premium Plan
Eye examination	Every 24 months	Every 12 months	Every 12 months
Lenses	Every 24 months	Every 12 months	Every 12 months
Frames	Every 24 months	Every 24 months	Every 12 months
Contact lenses	Every 24 months	Every 12 months	Every 12 months

Special Note: Plans may be written as "Materials Only", excluding the eye exam, or "Exam Only", excluding the materials.

In-Network and Non-Network Services

Depending on the carrier selected, benefits may be available from both in-network and non-network providers. The reimbursement levels for non-network benefits will vary by state and by carrier.

Vision plan providers that we represent

• Guardian
• Principal
• VSP
• Spectera
• Superior Vision

The following is a list of the provider network search pages for the vision plans that we work with:

• Spectera
  
• Superior Vision
  
• VSP

How to Obtain a Proposal

To receive a quote, please provide as much of the following information as possible:

• Name of company, address and phone number
  
• SIC code or type of industry
  
• Requested effective date
  
• Census information consisting of age or date of birth, gender, dependent status
  
• Geographical locations of employees (Zip Codes)
  
• Prior vision coverage plan design, rates and years covered
  
• Proposed vision plan design(s)
  
• Employer contribution level for employees and dependents
  
• Current vision plan participation level for employees and dependents
  
• Claims history and experience
  

The above information may be emailed or faxed to (847) 669-4808.

Contact Us

If you would like more information about vision care benefits, please contact us at 888-669-4883, or email us at info@benico.com.