Are you having trouble reading the fine print on food labels?  Does everything in the distance appear as one big blur?  According to a May 2005 survey commissioned by Aflac, an insurance provider, more than half of Americans have some type of vision problem.  Unfortunately, the survey also revealed that less than half of Americans age 18 and older have vision coverage.  

Many people are unaware that their health insurance policy either does not cover routine vision or has limitations on the amount and type of coverage.  The reality is that most health insurance policies do not provide coverage for routine vision.  However, some health plans will offer you separate coverage through a vision insurance company.  Should you purchase this separate coverage? 

First, check with your insurance policy booklet to determine what type (if any) vision coverage is included in your regular policy.  If your health insurance is provided through your employer you can also contact the human resource department to obtain coverage information.  You need to determine if your policy covers routine eye exams, eyewear, and/or vision correction surgery.   If this is not covered through your general policy, is a separate vision policy offered?  Remember that your health insurance policy will cover visits to your ophthalmologist or optometrist if the visit is due to a medical problem such as an injury or disease. 

If you have determined that you do not have coverage for routine vision problems then you must decide whether or not it makes financial sense for you to purchase this type of coverage.  Some of the factors that you should consider are:

• the cost of the coverage
• the anticipated usage
• whether or not you can continue seeing your current eye care provider (most policies will require you to see certain providers)
• do you have other options (i.e. flexible spending account)

In order to help you weigh the above factors, the next two articles in this series are:

• Comparing Vision Plans – Discover some tips to help you determine whether or not a vision plan is worth the extra cost.
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Find out how they work, what they cover, and whether or not they are an option for you.