More employers are including Group Vision as part of their employee benefits package, sharing the cost with employees or funding it all through the company. Some are choosing to offer a plan as a voluntary benefit, with many employees opting to pay for the coverage. Group Vision is a way of expanding your benefits plan while providing employees with a way to customize their own packages.

Group Vision plans include coverage for eyeglasses and contact lenses, but also offer more than that. They provide screenings that can give early warnings of serious health problems, such as diabetes and hypertension, and they can identify disabling eye-related issues, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and corneal disease or damage. A good vision program can catch expensive or disabling conditions early enough for treatment and can reduce healthcare outlays and disability payouts in the long run.

Group vision plans are offered at different levels of coverage, depending on the insurance company. Some offer “premier” plans that provide the broadest coverage and best discounts, but these are also the most expensive. For a lower premium, there are still excellent plans, which offer discounted pricing on glasses and contacts and good coverage for basic exams and services.