When Kate Benedetto crossed the stage to accept her well-earned college degree, she knew nothing about vision benefits. However, that was about to change when she entered the professional workforce and accepted a position as a marketing specialist at Starmount, Unum’s center of dental and vision expertise.
“I’ve needed either glasses or contact lenses to help me see since the second grade,” Kate says. “I always had an annual eye exam, and always had vision insurance through one of my parents. But I was still unaware of how vision insurance worked or what it cost.”
Since joining the Starmount marketing team seven months ago, Kate has had a crash course in vision benefits. Here are three valuable lessons she’s learned:
1. Vision plans are easy to understand. Vision benefits are pretty straightforward, according to Kate. Vision plans outline the benefit amount or allowances for certain services and materials: what the plan pays. The amount for each covered service or material may be different for using a doctor or optical service in the plan’s network versus outside the network.
“Vision plans typically offer a better value when you see an eye doctor or purchase your vision products from one of the plan’s participating providers,” Kate says. “It’s really simple.”
2. Vision insurance is affordable. Vision plan rates vary from group to group, and depend on a few different factors, such as plan design and geographical location. However, despite these variations, she was still pleasantly surprised when evaluating some of the plan’s monthly rates.
“Based upon the plans I’ve seen, I pay more per month for my Netflix subscription,” Kate said. “I just couldn’t get over how low the monthly premiums were.”
3. Annual eye exams are important to preserving eyesight and overall health. Even though she’s needed vision correction since childhood, Kate never really considered the health implications of an annual eye exam and healthy eyesight. Her new role at Starmount has made her take a second look at the importance of regular exams.
Annual eye exams can detect certain eye diseases and vision conditions, leading to early treatment and even preventing permanent vision loss or blindness.
“Many of my friends don’t receive their annual eye exams, using the logic that nothing is wrong with their vision,” Kate said. “I’ve always understood that annual vision exams are important because you could be unaware of a reduction in your vision. Now, I realize the eyes play a huge role in overall health, and I encourage my friends to save their vision and maintain their eye health.”
Kate’s newfound knowledge is valuable insight for any generation. Make sure you’re making the most of your vision plan and receiving your annual eye exams. It could help save your vision.
