Offering Small Business Vision Coverage

Small Business Vision coverage in California can be a value ancillary benefit for your employee satisfaction.  Even healthy employees who infrequently utilize their health insurance plan may find value in a company vision plan.  Here’s the good news: vision plans are not very expensive when compared with the current cost level in health plans due to the increases in premium and expense costs we’ve seen since the year 2000. 

Employer FAQ:

Why should I offer a vision plan to my Employees if I already have an expensive health insurance plan?  Vision plan coverage is an inexpensive way to provide an Employee benefit which closely matches what an employee had typically when working at a large company. 

What does a vision plan cover? California vision plans can range in a variety of deductibles, co-pays, and coverage limitations the way a dental plan does.  The coverage frequently splits into a plan offering the following types of coverage:

Eye Examination: Also a primary benefit of Vision care coverage.  Costs can often be

Eyeglass Frames:  This benefit will cover eyeglass frame costs up to a maximum limit the way dental insurance covers up to a benefit cap number.  The benefit cap can commonly be in the $120 range per year, or once every 24 months.

Eyeglass Lenses:  Similar to frames the vision plan will allow costs amounting to a benefit cap number, and only once every 12 or 24 months.

Contact Lenses:  The Vision insurance company will commonly allow elective contact lenses are allowed in lieu of eyeglasses commonly up to the same $120 price range, or whatever the frame reimbursement amount happens to offer.

Out of Network:  When visiting an out of network provider benefits on vision drop dramatically just as they drop when utilizing out of network providers for health services.  The main difference is you don’t have facility costs to get stuck with on vision care so the damages are not as detrimental.  Often the coverage limits might reflect about 50% of the benefits received at in-network providers.

Vision Service Carriers:  Some of the leading California vision service providers can be found here.  You can run a quote through our California Group insurance quote engine under the Vision tab.

Vision Service Plan..or VSP: 

Vision Care of America: 

Spectera: 

How to qualify and enroll in group vision coverage:  Small Business qualification is consistent with the requirements established in AB 1672 as we discussed in our ‘qualifying for Small Group coverage’ section.  So, at the highest level it’s two full time eligible employees minimum and 75% plan participation.  Employer side contribution minimums can be more demanding as the plans are not very expensive.  Vision carriers often want the anniversary or renewal date, as well as the new hire waiting period to coincide with the anniversary of the California group health insurance plan.

Pricing:  To run instant quotes or to request formal proposals visit our quoting engine by clicking here.

Other important resources:

California Small Group health quote
California Group Enrollment and Eligibility Center