What Does VSP Cover?

VSP generally covers comprehensive eye exams and corrective eyewear, including eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Laser eye surgery is typically considered an elective surgery that is often not covered by health insurance. However, VSP does offer discounts and coverage for many forms of laser eye surgery and LASIK through contracted providers and their VSP Laser Vision Care Program.

What Is VSP?

With one of the biggest networks of eye care professionals, VSP offers comprehensive eye health care to its members through a vast network of providers.

VSP has more than 60 years of experience in the industry. Today, more than 88 million consumers around the world access quality eye care at discounted rates courtesy of VSP’s practical insurance products.

As a not-for-profit insurance company, VSP offers vision coverage through employer and group plans as well as individual plans. The coverage will vary based on your specific plan. To find out about your benefits and coverage, contact your provider directly.

Key Facts About VSP Coverage

• VSP is a not-for-profit insurance company and the largest provider of vision benefits in the United States. Its partners include thousands of practitioners and vision centers across the country. 
• VSP benefits often include comprehensive eye care as well as discounted or covered corrective eyewear. Some options, like progressive lenses or anti-glare coating, may result in additional out-of-pocket costs. 
• Through some programs, such as the VSP Laser Vision Care program, VSP may partially cover the costs of needed laser surgery, including LASIK.
• The cost of VSP coverage, as well as the types of services and products covered, will depend upon your location and specific plan.

Eye Exams & Corrective Lenses

VSP has a large network of eye care providers and doctors that offer a full range of vision services, including comprehensive eye exams, fittings for eyeglasses and contact lenses, and options for purchasing corrective eyewear.

Examples of benefits through VSP include access to a wide variety of eyeglass frames, contact lenses, and use of the online eyewear store Eyeconic.com, where you can purchase corrective eyewear.

Usually, your VSP plan will give you an allowance for frames for eyeglasses and contact lenses. If you go outside of this allowance, you will need to pay the rest of the fees out of pocket.

Common out-of-pocket expenses for policyholders include the following:

• Progressive lenses
• Scratch-resistant coatings
• Anti-glare coatings
• UV protection
• Blended bifocal lenses

Contact lens fittings are separate appointments from a traditional eye exam but may be covered by VSP benefits, depending on your plan. If you opt for contact lenses, you may not be able to use VSP benefits for discounts on eyeglass frames as well.

VSP offers a complete eye exam called the VSP WellVision Exam that must be performed by a VSP provider. This is more comprehensive than a traditional medical or eye exam in that it also screens for medical conditions that can play a role in your overall eye health. 

Based on your plan, you may have a copay that you will need to pay at the time you receive eye care services, even when using a VSP network provider. If you use a VSP provider, you will not usually need to submit a claim.

Typically, you will need to access care through a VSP network provider for services to be covered. If you use an out-of-network provider, services may not be covered, or they may be covered at a lower rate, and you will need to submit a claim in order to be reimbursed by VSP.

Does VSP Cover LASIK or Laser Eye Surgery?

If your VSP plan includes the VSP Laser Vision Care Program, laser eye surgery may be a covered expense.

In order to access care, you will need to first be screened by a laser vision care doctor who is a VSP network provider. If you are a candidate for laser corrective eye surgery, this doctor will coordinate your care with a VSP-contracted laser vision center. Your VSP network eye doctor will perform all your follow-up care after surgery.

Examples of covered laser eye surgeries through the VSP Laser Vision Care program include the following:

• Conventional LASIK (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis
• Custom LASIK
• IntraLase (blade-free LASIK
• Conventional PRK (photorefractive keratectomy
• Custom PRK

The national average cost of LASIK without insurance is around $2,600 per eye, but NVISION’s partnership with VSP could mean significant savings on your procedure.

As a VSP member, you may be eligible for exclusive discounts on LASIK and PRK, with additional financing options like FSAs, HSAs, credit cards, and flexible payment plans to help make vision correction more affordable. Many patients find they can combine these options to maximize their savings.

Curious about how much you could save? Contact NVISION today to explore your potential benefits through VSP!

How VSP Coverage Varies by State

While VSP provides nationwide vision coverage, plans vary by state. 

You’ll have more plan options in some states than others, and costs will vary based on your location. For example, coverage in Florida is cheaper than it is in Texas or New York.

Despite some VSP vision plan variations, certain features remain the same across all locations and coverage options, such as these:

• A 20 percent cost reduction on any extra eyewear you get during a plan year, including sunglasses
• About a 15 percent laser vision correction discount off the retail price or 5 percent off promotional offers (only available in-network)

Also, VSP generally offers the same costs and benefits for any plan throughout any state. You’ll pay the same annual premiums for standard coverage regardless of your county of residence.

You can look up the VSP vision plans available in your location (ZIP code) on their Plan Options page.

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