Key Takeaways
- In-network eye exams cost $0 once per policy year.
- Frames and contacts each have a $150 network allowance.
- Lenses cost a $10 copay at network providers.
- There's no waiting period, and no ID card is needed in network.
- The plan doesn't pay for LASIK or other vision surgery.
In This Guide
Does UnitedHealthcare Cover Vision Care?
It depends on the plan. For example, ACA health plans must cover eye care for children, but adult vision care isn't a required benefit. That's why most adults buy vision insurance on its own. For people who buy their own coverage, UnitedHealthcare offers VisionWise as a separate policy. You don't need a UnitedHealthcare health plan to get it. HealthCare.gov explains which benefits marketplace plans must cover. However, plans through work or Medicare follow their own rules. So, check your plan documents first. For a broader look, see our guide to dental and vision insurance.What Does United Healthcare Vision Insurance Pay?
First, know that VisionWise pays once per person, per policy year. A policy year is the 12 months that start on your effective date, not January 1.| Benefit | Network provider | Non-network provider |
|---|---|---|
| Routine eye exam | You pay $0 | Plan pays up to $50 |
| Single-vision lenses | $10 copay | Plan pays up to $40 |
| Bifocal-lined lenses | $10 copay | Plan pays up to $60 |
| Trifocal-lined lenses | $10 copay | Plan pays up to $80 |
| Frames | Plan pays up to $150 | Plan pays up to $75 |
| Contact lenses (up to a 12-month supply) | Plan pays up to $150 | Plan pays up to $105 |
Source: UnitedHealthcare VisionWise brochure (form 50340-G202504). Standard lenses include scratch-resistant coating where prescribed. DentalWise Max includes the same vision benefits at every plan level. One small difference applies, though. With DentalWise Max, network contact lenses also carry a $10 copay. Our page on United Healthcare dental insurance compares those plans.
How Do Vision Allowances Work?
An allowance is the most the plan pays for an item once per policy year. If you spend less, the plan covers the full cost. Spend more, and you pay the difference. Here's an example from the brochure. New frames from a network provider cost $100, so the plan pays all $100. However, the same frames from a non-network provider would get only $75, and you'd pay $25. As a result, network providers are usually the better value. You also won't need an ID card or a claim form when you use one. Our guide to vision insurance benefits explains how other plans compare.
Need Glasses or Contacts Soon?
A licensed Vivna agent can price VisionWise and DentalWise Max for your family at no cost. Call 888-730-6031 or request a free quote.
Who Gets the Most Value From VisionWise?
VisionWise pays off fastest for people who use their eye benefits every year. Here's who usually comes out ahead.- Glasses wearers: a $0 exam, $10 lenses and $150 toward frames each policy year.
- Contact lens users: up to $150 toward a supply of contacts every policy year.
- Families: each covered person gets their own exam and eyewear benefits.
- People with Medicare: Original Medicare doesn't cover routine eye exams for glasses.
What Doesn't VisionWise Cover?
VisionWise covers routine eye care and standard eyewear. However, medical eye problems and extras fall outside the plan.- Vision surgery: the plan excludes LASIK, PRK and radial keratotomy.
- Medical eye care: treatment of eye disease or injury belongs to your health plan.
- Lens extras: the plan doesn't pay for optional upgrades or oversize lenses.
- Non-prescription eyewear: the plan skips plano lenses and sunglasses without a prescription.
- Lost or broken glasses: replacements wait until your next benefit period.
- Vision therapy: the policy also excludes orthoptics and related testing.
Where Can You Buy United Healthcare Vision Insurance?
Vivna offers VisionWise in most of the states it serves, including California and Montana. California shoppers can compare more carriers in our guide to dental and vision insurance in California.| Plan | States where Vivna offers it |
|---|---|
| VisionWise | AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY |
Source: UnitedHealthcare Individual Product Availability grid (form 42839b-X-0826). Plans can still vary by ZIP code. VisionWise isn't sold in Minnesota or New Mexico. In Minnesota, DentalWise is still available for dental care. Elsewhere, an agent can check other vision plans in your state.
How Do You Find an Eye Doctor in the Network?
VisionWise uses the UnitedHealthcare Vision Network, which Spectera, Inc. administers. It includes private eye doctors, optometrists and ophthalmologists, plus well-known retail stores.- Visit myuhcvision.com, the site named in the VisionWise brochure.
- Choose "Search for a Provider" to search without logging in.
- Enter your location and pick an eye doctor or store.
- Call the office, say you have UnitedHealthcare Vision and give your name and date of birth.
United Healthcare Vision Insurance FAQs
Is there a waiting period on VisionWise?
No. In fact, you can use your eye exam and eyewear benefits as soon as your coverage starts. Benefits then refresh once per policy year. So, if you start in March, your next exam and eyewear benefits begin the following March.Who can enroll in VisionWise?
The primary applicant can be 18 to 99, and children can join until age 26. There are no medical questions, and there's no application fee. A policy must include an adult, because child-only plans aren't offered. Many people with Medicare also add VisionWise for routine eye care. Call 888-730-6031 to check your options.Do I need an ID card at the eye doctor?
Not at a network provider. Instead, tell the office you have UnitedHealthcare Vision. Then give your name and date of birth. Non-network providers work differently. You pay in full at the visit, then send the details to the plan for reimbursement.Next Steps for United Healthcare Vision Insurance
United Healthcare vision insurance makes the most sense if you wear glasses or contacts. It also helps if you want a yearly eye exam. First, check whether your eye doctor is in the network. Next, decide whether VisionWise alone or DentalWise Max fits your family better. Ready to compare? Call a licensed Vivna agent at 888-730-6031, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern. You can also visit our vision insurance coverage page or our UnitedHealthcare plans page.Sources
- UnitedHealthcare: VisionWise brochure (form 50340-G202504)
- UnitedHealthcare: DentalWise Max brochure (form 50338-G202412)
- UnitedHealthcare: Vision insurance
- HealthCare.gov: What marketplace plans cover
Related Guides
- Vision insurance benefits explained
- Choosing health, dental and vision coverage
- UnitedHealthcare dental and vision FAQs
- UnitedHealthcare plan options
About the author: Michael Sprague
Michael co-founded Vivna Insurance, a licensed independent agency in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He has worked in health insurance sales for more than a decade. Today, he helps families and self-employed clients compare marketplace, dental, vision and supplemental plans. Licensed health insurance agent, Vivna Insurance (Agency NPN 19168641). Call 888-730-6031.
Reviewed by Heather Sprague, licensed health insurance agent.
Vivna Insurance is an independent, authorized insurance broker licensed to sell UnitedHealthcare products. This website is operated by Vivna Insurance, not by UnitedHealthcare or its affiliates. VisionWise plans are underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company and administered by Spectera, Inc. Our help is free; we are paid by the insurance companies we work with. Benefits, exclusions and availability vary by plan and state, so check the plan documents before you buy. Customer service: 888-730-6001.
