The Best Vision Insurance for Seniors in 2023

January 17, 2023 amie-clark

Author: Amie Clark | January 17, 2023

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Robust coverage

Overall Rating:

4.5 / 5

View Plans

Call for best price:
844-382-7911

What We Like ↓

No Waiting Periods

Overall Rating:

4.4 / 5

View Plans What We Like ↓

Lowest Premiums

Overall Rating:

4.6 / 5

View Plans

Call for best price:
(855) 908-2871

What We Like ↓

LASIK Discounts

What We Like ↓

Large Provider Network

Overall Rating:

4.1 / 5

View Plans

Call for best price:
855-635-3873

What We Like ↓

The Best Vision Insurance for Seniors Coverage How to Choose

Since Medicare offers limited coverage for vision health, seniors should consider investing in vision insurance. A robust vision insurance policy ensures you have routine and emergency care when dealing with vision needs as you age. The best vision insurance providers for seniors require low monthly premiums, and they come with ample coverage for eye exams, glasses, and even corrective procedures.

Here are our picks for 2023.

FYI: To learn more about how to get coverage for vision health, read our guide to vision insurance for seniors.

The Best Vision Insurance for Seniors

Humana : Robust coverage
Spirit Vision : No Waiting Periods
UnitedHealthcare : Lowest Premiums
Direct Vision : LASIK Discounts
Anthem : Large Provider Network

How We Chose

Premium prices: Seniors are likely already paying Medicare premiums, so we looked for policies that cost $20 per month or less.
Network size: Larger networks allow for easier access to coverage, so we looked for providers with larger networks.
Waiting periods: We gave additional points to providers that minimized or eliminated waiting periods for coverage to kick in.
Benefits: Not all vision insurance policies are created equal, so we looked for those with minimum coverage for eye exams, glasses, lenses, and contacts.

Did You Know: Many Medicare Advantage plans offer coverage for vision. To learn more, read our guide to this year’s best Medicare Advantage plans.

1. Humana

4.5 / 5

View Plans

Call for best price:
844-382-7911

What We Like Most:

Wide range of plans offered
24/7 customer service
Vision and dental add-ons available
High-deductible plan options

Overview

Humana’s vision network stretches over 23,000 individual retailers, including Sears Optical, Target Optical, and LensCrafters, making it easy to find care with its policies. The company’s website has convenient tools that allow you to find out if you have Humana coverage in your area.

Humana offers both a vision insurance plan and a PPO. The insurance plan, MyOption Vision, offers a copay maximum of $40 for exams and a $375 annual allowance for basic vision needs such as frames, lenses, and contacts.

It also offers the Humana Vision PPO, which requires a low $15 copay for an annual exam, a $65 maximum copay for lenses, and a $150 allowance for frames. After that, you pay 80 percent of the costs for vision care.

Humana charges some hidden fees, such as a $35 enrollment fee. You can use its online tools to easily get a quote and see if it offers coverage in your area.

Did You Know: Humana vision care is often included in its Medicare Part C plans. To learn more, read our guide to Humana Medicare Advantage plans.

Pricing

Location	Monthly premium estimate*
California	$15.99
Florida	$12.70
New York	$14.99
Texas	$14.99

*Estimates reflect the price for a 65-year-old

Pros

Competitive prices
Large in-person network
Affordable copays for routine care
Online resources for vision care

Cons

Hidden fees and changing copays
Restricted to in-network services

2. Spirit Vision

4.4 / 5

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What We Like Most:

Short waiting period
Dental insurance bundle
No denials for pre-existing conditions
Customizable plans

Pros

No waiting for procedures
Combined benefits with dental plan
Numerous provider choices
No application denials

Cons

Required bundle with dental insurance
Variable prices depending on location

3. UnitedHealthcare

4.6 / 5

View Plans

Call for best price:
(855) 908-2871

What We Like Most:

Numerous in-network providers
All ages accepted
Cheap copays for routine care
Simple plan options

Overview

UnitedHealthcare offers straightforward vision insurance plans with no age maximums, making it a great choice for seniors. The company has numerous in-network locations, and it never makes you wait to start reaping the benefits of your new eye-care plan.

UnitedHealthcare has two main plans, Plan A and Plan B. Plan A is for people who choose between glasses and contacts, while Plan B offers coverage for people who mix and match them. UnitedHealthcare provides annual eye exams for a $10 copay and coverage for common expenses such as eyeglass lenses and contacts. Its in-network yearly allowance for frames is $150.

The company’s premiums are competitive, and it offers online resources to check for nearby provider locations and view the services available in your state. UnitedHealthcare is a tried-and-true network that millions of Americans trust with their eye care, but it doesn’t cover every state.

Did You Know: UnitedHealthcare also offers vision coverage on many of its Medicare Advantage plans. To learn more, read our guide to UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans.

Pricing

Location	Monthly premium estimate*
California	$11.40
Florida	$10.40
New York	N/A
Texas	$11.40

*Estimates reflect the price for a 65-year-old

Pros

Simple plan options
Competitive premiums
Extensive network provider locations
No age limit

Cons

Cancellation policies differ by state
Coverage does not extend to all states

4. Direct Vision

What We Like Most:

No waiting period
Free annual eye exam
LASIK surgery discount
Affordable premiums

Pros

Free annual eye exam
Affordable premiums
Discount for LASIK procedures
No waiting periods or age restrictions

Cons

Initial enrollment fee of $25
Some states lack coverage

5. Anthem

4.1 / 5

View Plans

Call for best price:
855-635-3873

What We Like Most:

Extensive provider network
Affordable monthly premiums
Bundling options with health and dental
Large selection of plans

Overview

Anthem provides vision insurance both as a stand-alone insurance policy and an add-on to Anthem Medicare Advantage plans. It is a reputable provider of not only vision insurance, but also life, health, accident, and dental policies.

It is a subsidiary of the well-known Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance brand, giving it access to a large provider network. It doesn’t serve every U.S. state, but Anthem offers affordable premiums for most qualifying individuals. The downside is that the company denies policy claims at a higher rate than the industry average.

It offers annual eye exams and standard lenses each for a $10 to $20 copay, and a variable annual allowance for contact lenses of $80 to $200. It also offers a frame allowance of $130 to $200. Depending on the plan, these allowances could be yearly or every 24 months.

Pricing

Location	Monthly premium estimate*
California	$12.23
Florida	N/A
New York	$11.56
Texas	N/A

*Estimates reflect the price for a 65-year-old

Pros

Affordable premiums
Extensive company network
Bundled with health and dental plans
Potentially high yearly allowances

Cons

Doesn’t cover all states
Denies some claims

What Does Vision Insurance Cover?

Not all vision insurance policies offer the same services, but vision insurance policies usually cover a few standard services.

An annual eye exam
Eyeglass frames
Eyeglass lenses
Contact lenses
Corrective surgery (partial)

Not all policies cover services 100 percent. Many require copays of varying amounts, especially for services over the annual limit. Discounts for surgical procedures such as LASIK also vary, if they are offered at all.

What Vision Insurance Doesn’t Cover

Most vision insurance policies have limits to what they will cover. People who require services over the yearly limit may have to pay more than the standard copay, depending on the policy.

Services beyond vision insurance coverage include additional exams after the once-annual allotment, replacements for eyeglasses and reading glasses, and experimental surgical or cosmetic procedures. Significantly, eye problems related to diseases such as diabetes or cataracts are often not covered by vision insurance policies. Instead, this care has to go through your health insurance plan.

How to Choose the Best Vision Insurance

Hopefully we’ve sufficiently emphasized the importance of getting the best vision insurance policy for your needs, especially as you age. The best way to choose among plans is to compare quotes and networks to find the best value for the services in your area.

The values in the charts above are only the lowest estimates for the providers and areas listed. Depending on your coverage needs, your ZIP code, and sometimes your age or marital status, the numbers could change. Providers may also have hidden fees in some areas.

Use this guide as a starting point to find the vision insurance plan with the coverage you need at a cost you can afford.