Vision Care Plans Generate High Member Satisfaction, Low Costs

Vision care plans are generating savings on healthcare spending and increasing access for members, fueling member satisfaction, a survey conducted on behalf of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) found.

AHIP fielded the survey in April 2020 and received 501 responses from beneficiaries who had had an eye care visit in the past year.

Ultimately, the results showed that member satisfaction rose seven percentage points from 65 percent in 2018 to 72 percent satisfaction in 2020.

“Enrollees say they receive good value for what they pay for their coverage. The affordability of their vision care plans ensures enrollees can get the vision care they need,” the survey explained.

Enrollees attested that their vision care offers provider alternatives, high-quality vision care, and annual check-ups. Patients affirmed that their vision plans are likely to cover their vision condition. Their satisfaction with vision plan customer service also rose in the last two years.

There was no significant change in member satisfaction regarding affordability, the services and benefits offered, savings, or value. In every case, over two-thirds of participants were satisfied.

The respondents indicated that availability of discounts through their vision plan helped them access vision care. Discounts also guided their choice of vision insurance plan.

Parents found that having a vision care plan helped them afford their children’s vision care needs. Those who needed vision correction agreed that having a vision care plan made their treatments and upgrades more accessible cost-wise.

Without vision care plans, 37 percent of respondents said that they would have skipped vision care appointments and around the same amount would have been unable to upgrade their prescribed eye care products (36 percent), know about the decline of their eye health (35 percent), or purchase new eye care products (34 percent).

Smaller percentages of respondent said that not having vision care would have limited their ability to drive (18 percent), maintain their overall health (16 percent), and even do their job (14 percent).

Nearly three out of every four respondents (74 percent) agreed that their vision plan saves them hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket healthcare spending. This percentage is a seven percentage point increase since two years ago.

However, this does not mean that patients are free from out-of-pocket healthcare spending. Some vision care plans—specifically Medicare Advantage plans—still leave patients with out-of-pocket bills because the plans do not receive sufficient payment to cover the costs more fully, an analysis from Health Affairs concluded.

While beneficiaries do receive coverage for supplemental benefits through Medicare Advantage including dental, hearing, and vision care, many of these benefits leave patients with expenses. The researchers discovered that Medicare beneficiaries covered 62 percent of their vision spending as out-of-pocket healthcare spending.

But for the Medicare Advantage population, having some vision care coverage is better than none, as foregoing vision care could prove dangerous. Vision loss can lead to bad injuries, depression, and other negative patient outcomes for seniors, the Health Affairs researchers pointed out.

Outside of Medicare Advantage, employers have started trying to lower costs by integrating benefits. Over seven in ten employers who have a workforce of 100 employees or more (71 percent) are integrating or thinking about integrating their supplemental benefits as part of their health and wellness program. They were most likely to integrate vision benefits (69 percent).

While savings was certainly a motivator for this trend, employers also cited other reasons for integrating benefits.

“There’s a noteworthy shift in employers’ mindsets,” the researchers noted. “In previous years, companies that integrated were generally focused on the financial potential. Now they’re turning to integration not just for savings, but for happier workers.”

Not only are benefits changing, but vision care delivery is also evolving for payers.

UnitedHealth Group recently announced a partnership with GlassesUSA.com to provide remote, low-cost vision care.

“People are increasingly looking to access health care resources remotely, so this new network relationship offers UnitedHealthcare plan participants improved convenience and affordability while shopping for eyewear online,” explained John Ryan, general manager of UnitedHealthcare Vision.

During a time when access to in-person care is limited, payers seem to have successfully adapted vision care to fit patient needs and boost member satisfaction.