Vision insurance

People depend on their eyes for almost everything they do. Vision insurance helps make exams, prescription glasses, contacts, and other kinds of eye care more affordable. Whether you want coverage for yourself or your business, we'll help you find a plan that fits your budget.

Woman trying on glasses

What is vision insurance?

It’s a way to help protect eye health. How? Vision insurance plans cover routine eye examinations and help pay for glasses, frames, and contact lenses. Even if your eyes don't need correction, modern life — and digital screens — can create stress and problems for your eyes. Regular eye exams are also important for general health because they can detect diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.¹ That's why everyone in the family needs it.

  • Even if you have a medical plan, you still need vision insurance - Woman wearing glasses and working on apparel design in studio

    Even if you have a medical plan, you still need vision insurance

    Vision insurance plans complement health insurance because preventive eye care is essential to your overall health. The most prevalent disabling childhood conditions are vision disorders, and less than 22% of preschool children get vision screenings.²

Coverage options

There are two main ways to get vision insurance. Both are good options:

  • A workplace plan - Woman in glasses smiling warmly

    A workplace plan

    Many employers offer vision benefits. These plans are a good way to help keep employees healthier and happier with affordable group coverage rates and easy payroll deductions.

Fast facts

  • 204.1 million US adults

    households use corrective eyewear, including glasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, and reading glasses.³

  • About 80%

    of Americans report using digital devices for more than two hours per day. It's the leading cause of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), otherwise known as digital eye strain.⁴

  • Poor eyesight

    may be misdiagnosed as a learning disorder in children and can make it hard for children to pay attention or complete their homework.⁵

Millions of Americans choose Guardian for vision insurance. Here’s why:

We offer different vision insurance plan options for individuals and customizable plans for employers, which helps us meet specific needs — and budgets — for all kinds of people and businesses. In addition, there's a choice of three networks — Davis Vision, VSP, and Avesis — with thousands of service locations to choose from. Plus, there are convenient retail and online vision service options, such as Costco, Walmart, and Visionworks, making it easy to get the exams, frames, lenses, and care you need.

  • Who is vision insurance for? - Man smiling wearing glasses

    Who is vision insurance for?

    Even if you have perfect eyesight, it's important to have annual eye exams to make sure you still see clearly. Most of us eventually need vision correction.

  • What does vision insurance cover? - Vision exam in progress

    What does vision insurance cover?

    It covers routine eye exams to detect vision problems and helps pay for glasses and contact lenses — things not typically covered by health insurance.

  • Why should I get vision insurance? - Child wearing glasses with parent

    Why should I get vision insurance?

    Vision care is vital to overall health, and coverage helps encourage an annual eye exam. It also covers glasses and contacts, making them easier to afford.

FAQ

Top questions about vision plans

A vision insurance plan helps protect eye health, which is related to overall health and wellness. Vision plans provide coverage for routine eye exams, and there are typically no waiting periods before you can start using your benefits with network providers. Vision plans also help make it easier to pay for glasses and contacts with discounts at participating network providers. Even if your eyes don't currently need correction, modern life — and digital screens — can create stress and problems for your eyes. Vision coverage helps promote regular eye examinations and care, which is vital for general health because an eye exam can detect diseases like glaucoma and diabetes.⁶

These plans typically fit most budgets, with options starting at just a few dollars a month. Combined vision and dental insurance plans are also available. You can buy vision insurance directly from an insurance company like Guardian. Many employers also include vision insurance plans as part of their employee benefits package; that may be a good choice to consider if available.

Like a dental plan, a vision plan provides coverage for routine exams with a network eye doctor. It also provides a discount that lowers out-of-pocket costs on glasses and contacts needed to correct eyesight issues. To access your benefits and discounts (and/or cost-share allowance), you typically need to go to a network provider. If you get vision coverage from an insurance company, it's usually easy to find the care you and your family need. For example, Guardian offers thousands of providers to choose from, including convenient retail vision service locations such as Costco, Walmart, and Visionworks.

Many serious treatments, such as non-elective surgery to correct an eye injury, are typically covered by a health plan instead of a vision plan. However, many vision plans do cover laser vision correction procedures and related vision care costs with eye doctors.

A vision insurance plan helps protect eye health, which is related to overall health and wellness. Vision plans provide coverage for routine eye exams, and there are typically no waiting periods before you can start using your benefits with network providers. Vision plans also help make it easier to pay for glasses and contacts with discounts at participating network providers. Even if your eyes don't currently need correction, modern life — and digital screens — can create stress and problems for your eyes. Vision coverage helps promote regular eye examinations and care, which is vital for general health because an eye exam can detect diseases like glaucoma and diabetes.⁶

These plans typically fit most budgets, with options starting at just a few dollars a month. Combined vision and dental insurance plans are also available. You can buy vision insurance directly from an insurance company like Guardian. Many employers also include vision insurance plans as part of their employee benefits package; that may be a good choice to consider if available.

Like a dental plan, a vision plan provides coverage for routine exams with a network eye doctor. It also provides a discount that lowers out-of-pocket costs on glasses and contacts needed to correct eyesight issues. To access your benefits and discounts (and/or cost-share allowance), you typically need to go to a network provider. If you get vision coverage from an insurance company, it's usually easy to find the care you and your family need. For example, Guardian offers thousands of providers to choose from, including convenient retail vision service locations such as Costco, Walmart, and Visionworks.

Many serious treatments, such as non-elective surgery to correct an eye injury, are typically covered by a health plan instead of a vision plan. However, many vision plans do cover laser vision correction procedures and related vision care costs with eye doctors.

You depend on your eyes every day. Take care of them.

Corrective lenses, preventive care, and annual exams help ensure that your eyes perform at their best. No matter what shape your eyes are in now, you'll likely need vision correction at some point in your life. That's why more and more people who care about their health ensure they have access to quality vision care.

Need individual vision insurance right now?

Find a plan and enroll today. With Guardian, there’s no waiting period for eye exams and discounts on lenses and glasses!

Find a plan

1 Medline Plus, Diabetes eye exams, 2022

2 CDC, Vision Loss and Age, 2020

3 Vision Monday, The Vision Council Releases Consumer inSights Q1 2022 Report, 2022

4 Optometrists Network, Digital Eye Strain: Myths and Facts, 2020

5 Additude, ADHD and Vision: Could Your Child’s Eyesight Be the Problem?, 2021

6 Medline Plus, Diabetes eye exams, 2022

Links to external sites are provided for your convenience in locating related information and services. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees expressly disclaim any responsibility for and do not maintain, control, recommend, or endorse third-party sites, organizations, products, or services and make no representation as to the completeness, suitability, or quality thereof.

Guardian’s Group Vision Insurance is underwritten and issued by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY. Products are not available in all states. Policy limitations and exclusions apply. Optional riders and/or features may incur additional costs. Generic Policy Form # GP-1-GVSN-19. The state approved form is the governing document.

Individual Vision insurance is provided by VSP and billing and premium collection services for such vision insurance are conducted by DTC GLIC, LLC (d/b/a DTC GLIC Insurance Sales, LLC in California). DTC GLIC, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America ("Guardian"). Guardian and DTC GLIC, LLC are not affiliated with VSP and Guardian and DTC GLIC, LLC do not assume any responsibility or liability for non-Guardian products or services, including those offered by VSP. DTC GLIC, LLC is the agent for The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries (“Guardian”) for all individual products underwritten and issued by Guardian and certain third-party insurers through guardianlife.com. DTC GLIC, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and is a licensed agent for life, accident and health insurance products.

TruHearing’s digital hearing aid discount plan is available only to customers who purchase a VSP vision product and is not insurance. TruHearing is an independent third party not affiliated with Guardian. The discounts for hearing aids are available only from participating TruHearing providers and will vary depending on the provider or service received. TruHearing does not make payments to providers for the services received under the discount plan. You are obligated to pay for all medical or ancillary services but will receive a discount from those TruHearing providers that have contracted with TruHearing. Not available in WA, UT, MD or CA. To obtain additional information go to TruHearing.com or call 1-800-3341807.

Guardian® is a registered trademark of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. ©Copyright 2023 The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America.

1 Medline Plus, Diabetes eye exams, 2022

2 CDC, Vision Loss and Age, 2020

3 Vision Monday, The Vision Council Releases Consumer inSights Q1 2022 Report, 2022

4 Optometrists Network, Digital Eye Strain: Myths and Facts, 2020

5 Additude, ADHD and Vision: Could Your Child’s Eyesight Be the Problem?, 2021

6 Medline Plus, Diabetes eye exams, 2022

Links to external sites are provided for your convenience in locating related information and services. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees expressly disclaim any responsibility for and do not maintain, control, recommend, or endorse third-party sites, organizations, products, or services and make no representation as to the completeness, suitability, or quality thereof.

Guardian’s Group Vision Insurance is underwritten and issued by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY. Products are not available in all states. Policy limitations and exclusions apply. Optional riders and/or features may incur additional costs. Generic Policy Form # GP-1-GVSN-19. The state approved form is the governing document.

Individual Vision insurance is provided by VSP and billing and premium collection services for such vision insurance are conducted by DTC GLIC, LLC (d/b/a DTC GLIC Insurance Sales, LLC in California). DTC GLIC, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America ("Guardian"). Guardian and DTC GLIC, LLC are not affiliated with VSP and Guardian and DTC GLIC, LLC do not assume any responsibility or liability for non-Guardian products or services, including those offered by VSP. DTC GLIC, LLC is the agent for The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries (“Guardian”) for all individual products underwritten and issued by Guardian and certain third-party insurers through guardianlife.com. DTC GLIC, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and is a licensed agent for life, accident and health insurance products.

TruHearing’s digital hearing aid discount plan is available only to customers who purchase a VSP vision product and is not insurance. TruHearing is an independent third party not affiliated with Guardian. The discounts for hearing aids are available only from participating TruHearing providers and will vary depending on the provider or service received. TruHearing does not make payments to providers for the services received under the discount plan. You are obligated to pay for all medical or ancillary services but will receive a discount from those TruHearing providers that have contracted with TruHearing. Not available in WA, UT, MD or CA. To obtain additional information go to TruHearing.com or call 1-800-3341807.

Guardian® is a registered trademark of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. ©Copyright 2023 The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America.