Direct Vision Insurance: Plans, Coverage & Costs

Last Updated: November 20, 2022

Sources

Plans
Coverage
Costs
Eligibility

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Direct Vision Insurance primarily offers two options for vision coverage: VSP Choice plans and EyeMed Access plans. Each of these plans has an A and B option, with the A options costing slightly more each month but allowing for more frequent exams.

The primary difference between VSP and EyeMed is the contact lens exam and fitting deductible, which is higher with VSP.

Direct Vision Insurance Plans Basics

Direct vision offers several vision plans, with their search tool making it easy to check what plans are available for people in your area. Our research, which used a New Jersey address, brought up four plans:

EyeMed Access Plan A
EyeMed Access Plan B
VSP Choice Plan A
VSP Choice Plan B

These plans were similar in offerings and price, with the A plans costing modestly more each month. Price is discussed in more detail below.

What Does Direct Vision Cover?

The EyeMed Access plans offered provide a number of benefits, including these:

Eye exams with a $15 deductible every 12 months
A $150 frame or contact allowance
40% off indefinite supplementary eyeglasses after exhausting the initial benefit
A 20% discount on outstanding frame balance and 15% discount on any balance beyond the contact lens allowance
Contact lens exams and fittings with a $15 deductible every 12 months for Plan A or 24 months for Plan B
Single, bifocal, trifocal, or lenticular lenses with a $25 deductible every 12 months for Plan A or 24 months for Plan B

The VSP Choice plans offer similar benefits, including these:

Eye exams with a $15 deductible every 12 months
A $150 frame or contact allowance
40% off indefinite additional eyeglasses after exhausting the initial benefit
A 20% discount on outstanding frame balance and 15% discount on any balance beyond the contact lens allowance
Contact lens exams and fittings with a $60 deductible every 12 months for Plan A or 24 months for Plan B
Single, bifocal, trifocal, or lenticular lenses with a $25 deductible every 12 months for Plan A or 24 months for Plan B

Direct Vision Plan Costs

Direct Vision’s plans have the following monthly charges, as of 2022:

VSP Choice Plan A: $15.97 per month
VSP Choice Plan B: $12.22 per month
EyeMed Access Plan A: $15.02 per month
EyeMed Access Plan B: $11.53 per month

+1 plans increased the prices to the following rates:

VSP Choice Plan A: $29.38 per month
VSP Choice Plan B: $22.48 per month
EyeMed Access Plan A: $27.64 per month
EyeMed Access Plan B: $21.22 per month

Family plans further increased the rates to the following:

VSP Choice Plan A: $43.91 per month
VSP Choice Plan B: $31.71 per month
EyeMed Access Plan A: $41.31 per month
EyeMed Access Plan B: $31.71 per month

As a general rule, EyeMed Access plans had slightly lower rates than VSP Choice plans, with similar coverage for everything except contact lenses. As is typical, plans for more people are much more cost-effective per person.

Research your available options and see where you typically spend your money in regard to eye health. Overall, however, the EyeMed plans are likely the slightly better option for most families unless you wear contacts.

Eligibility

These plans are generally available to people 18 and up who are not currently covered under a different Ameritas vision plan (the company that provides Direct Vision Insurance). Dependent coverage eligibility varies by state.

References

Direct Vision. Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
EyeMed Access Plan A. Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
VSP Choice Plan A. Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
Why Direct Vision? Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
Best Vision Insurance Companies of 2022. (May 2022). Forbes.
It’s Not Just You: Picking a Health Insurance Plan Is Really Hard. (December 2020). The New York Times.

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