What is eye care insurance and do I need it?
Key takeaways
Eye care insurance covers eye health, including routine eye tests, prescription glasses, and operations such as cataract surgery
Eye care insurance, also known as optical insurance or vision insurance, is normally part of a private medical insurance policy or offered as an optional extra
You can also get some eye care costs covered by health cash plans
What is eye care insurance?
Eye care insurance, also known as optical insurance or vision insurance, provides health insurance cover specifically for your eyes.
It can help with:
Managing the expenses associated with routine eye tests, prescription glasses, prescription sunglasses, and contact lenses
Cover for some eye surgeries such as cataracts
Having a consultation with an eye specialist for serious conditions more quickly
How can I get eye care insurance?
Optical insurance is usually offered as part of private medical insurance (private healthcare). Some policies cover eye care as standard, while others offer it as an optional add-on
Some health insurance providers bundle optical cover with dental and hearing to offer ‘optical, dental and hearing’ insurance
You may be able to access eye care insurance through your employer if you have health insurance or private medical insurance as part of your employee benefits
Top tip: You may have to use a specific optician chain in order to fully benefit from the cover offered.
Do I need eye care insurance?
Whether or not you need eye care insurance will depend on personal factors such as:
If you qualify for free NHS eye tests and optical vouchers
In certain circumstances you won’t have to pay for an NHS sight test and you’ll get an optical voucher to reduce the cost of glasses or contact lenses. For example, you can get a free NHS sight test if you’re over 60 or if you’re receiving a means-tested benefit
The condition of your eyes
If you have good vision and don’t need to wear glasses or contact lenses you’re unlikely to need eye care insurance unless you want peace of mind in case you develop an eye condition which requires surgery.
Your budget
If you wear glasses or contact lenses you need to weigh up whether the additional cost of optical insurance is more or less than the amount you typically pay each year for eye tests, glasses and/or contact lenses
Where you live
Check whether the eye care insurance policy stipulates that you need to use a certain optician, and if so, does it have a branch near where you live?
Your age
Age-related vision changes can start in your 40s and in your 60s you are more likely to experience cataracts or glaucoma
Your employee benefits package
You might have eye care insurance as part of an employee benefits package at work. This could be a separate policy or part of health insurance or private medical insurance
What does eye care insurance cover me for?
Optical insurance typically covers a variety of eye conditions and includes the necessary treatments by a qualified eye specialist, such as an optometrist or dispensing optician, to manage or correct them. You might be seen quicker than if you waited for these treatments on the NHS.
Your policy might cover everyday costs such as:
Regular eye tests
Prescription glasses
Contact lenses
It is also likely to cover conditions such as:
Cataracts
Diabetic retinopathy
Dry eye syndrome
Glaucoma
Macular degeneration
Retinal detachment
📣 Did you know?
An estimated 700,000 people in the UK have glaucoma, and half of those don’t know they have it, according to charity Glaucoma UK.
What am I not covered for with eye care insurance?
Common exclusions include:
Pre-existing eye conditions
Cosmetic procedures for your eyes and eyesight. Optical insurance is unlikely to cover laser eye surgery as this is viewed as an elective/cosmetic procedure
Limits
Plans might include a limit of how often you can replace your glasses or the total cost of claims in a year.
For example, with Vitality you can claim back 100% of the costs of eye tests, new prescription glasses, or a year's supply of contact lenses, up to £500 a year if you use Vision Express.
If you use any other optician, you can claim back 80% of the costs, up to £300 each plan year.
Other insurers will have their own limits and stipulations so check your policy.
Is an eye care plan the same as eye care insurance?
No, they are not the same. If you want help with everyday eye care costs – such as sight tests and contact lenses – an eye care plan, also known as a health cash plan, can be a good option.
Health cash plans aim to help customers with everyday health costs. As well as helping with the cost of eye care, they can help with the costs of physiotherapy, dental treatment or dental check-ups, alternative therapies, and in-patient hospital appointments.
With a cash plan, you pay the service provider, then claim back a proportion of the cost from the health cash plan provider. Health cash plans can be a good option if you have regular eye care costs such as daily or monthly contact lenses.
Optical insurance, on the other hand, is part of private medical insurance which is designed to pay for quick access to specialists and various surgeries, as well as various everyday eye care needs.
How can I compare health insurance with MoneySuperMarket?
Finding a cheaper deal on private health insurance for you and your family members is easier when you compare quotes online. With MoneySuperMarket, all you need to do is tell us a little about yourself and your lifestyle and we’ll do the hard work for you.
By comparing different policies, you can gauge what level of cover suits your needs and budget. Some providers may give you the option of adding eye care insurance to your health insurance or it may be included as standard.
After submitting your details, you'll receive estimates for various insurance plans. An expert will then reach out to discuss your options further, helping you secure the best policy at the most affordable price.
Author
Saarrah Mussa
Former Content Writer
Saarrah was a MoneySuperMarket's in-house pet insurance expert. With broad experience writing across insurance products Saarrah is acutely aware of the complexities and costs consumers have to face...
Reviewer
Sarah Tooze
Car & Van Insurance Expert
Sarah Tooze has been a motoring journalist for more than 15 years, specialising in company cars and vans, and has won a number of awards during her career, including the Newspress ‘Automotive...
