March> Be a Wise Healthcare Consumer
Be a Wise Healthcare Consumer
National Focus on Vision Screening and Eye Health.
March is national ‘Save Your Vision’ and ‘Workplace Eye Wellness’ month. One way of protecting your vision now and into the future is to have an annual comprehensive eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Of the 124,000 UT employees, retirees and dependents currently enrolled in the UT vision benefits plan, over 41,000 members had a comprehensive eye exam during the most recent plan year1.
When should you get a vision screening?
At certain points in your life, everyone should have their eyes examined by an eye care professional. The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends regular eye examples according to the following schedule:
- Babies and toddlers – have your pediatrician examine your child(ren)’s eyes during regular checkups . By age 3 most children should have a vision screening exam, and always alert the pediatrician if you notice any abnormalities or if you suspect your child’s vision is affecting their development.
- Childhood and teenage years – kids and teenagers should have their vision examined every 2 years.
- People 18 – 40 years old should have a comprehensive eye exam every 2-3 years.
- People aged 41-60 should have their vision checked every 2 years.
- And persons above age 61 should have an annual exam.
If you notice any signs of potential eye problems, you should immediately schedule an appointment with a vision specialist for a complete eye exam. Those individuals with added risk factors for vision problems should speak to their eye care specialist about scheduling eye exams more frequently. These risk factors include:
Rick factors for school-aged children:
- Reading and/or learning difficulties, or
- Complaints of headaches, tired eyes or squinting.
Risk factors of adults:
- Individuals with a family history or a diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension,
- Family history of glaucoma or cataracts,
- Individuals with a visually-demanding occupations, or
- Individuals taking medications with side-effects which affect your vision.
Accessing your UT vision benefits through Superior Vision
With your vision care benefits through Superior Vision Services, your benefits include coverage for a comprehensive eye exam, standard lenses and frames, as well as contact lenses and the standard fitting services. The chart below outlines benefits available to enrollees in the Superior Vision plan:
Covered Services2 |
Network Benefits |
Out-of-Network Benefits |
|---|---|---|
Comprehensive eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist |
Covered in full after $35 Copay (does not include the contact lens exam or fitting fees) See below for information about benefit for Contact Lens Fitting Fees. |
Up to $42 (ophthalmologist) |
Standard lenses (per pair) - plastic (CR39), clear, uncoated |
Covered in full |
Up to $32 (single vision) |
Frames |
Covered in full up to $140 retail allowance |
Up to $53 |
Contact lenses3 |
Up to $125 retail allowance (elective/cosmetic) |
Up to $100 (elective/cosmetic) |
Standard Contact Lens Fitting4 |
Covered in full after a $35 Copay (separate from comprehensive eye exam copay) |
No out-of-network benefit |
Specialty Contact Lens Fitting4 |
Covered in full after a $35 Copay
up to an allowance of $50
(separate from comprehensive |
No out-of-network benefit |
1The UT SELECT Medical Plan does not cover medical expenses for services or supplies provided for the correction of vision deficiencies, including, but not limited to, orthoptics, vision training, vision therapy, radial keratotomy, eye refractions, photo reflective keratotomy, LASIK, contact lenses, eyeglasses or the fitting of contact lenses. Eyeglasses and lenses are covered under the UT SELECT Medical Plan if the patient has a history of having had cataract surgery. Hard contact lenses are covered for the non-surgical correction of a corneal defect such as keratoconus. Soft contact lenses are covered for a diagnosis of aphakia.
2Only one comprehensive exam is covered per plan year. Only one pair of eyeglass lenses and one set of frames or one contact lens allowance is covered per plan year.
3Contact lenses in lieu of eyeglass lenses and one set of frames
4Standard contact lens fitting fee applies to a current contact lens user who wears disposable, daily wear, or extended wear lenses only. The specialty contact lens fitting fee applies to new contact lens wearers and/or a member who wears toric, gas permeable, or multifocal lenses. For the specialty fit, the member is responsible for any charges over $50 after the copayment is paid.
You can be a wise healthcare consumer by taking full advantage of the resources and tools available through the administrators of your various UT Benefits plans. Superior Vision has a number of articles and tools available on their website that include valuable information about how to protect your vision and to help you understand the true value of regular eye exams for yourself and your family. Visit Superior Vision’s “Vision Care Learning Center” to explore and learn more.
Follow Superior Vision on Facebook www.facebook.com/SuperiorVisionServices
Content adapted from the following:
- RealAge.com, “When to Get a Vision Screening”
- Eyetopics.com, Recommendations by the American Optometric Association
- Materials provided courtesy of Superior Vision Services
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