Vision Coverage

Small Businesses (1 to 100)

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Plan information cards

For California members – English |  For California members – Spanish | For members outside of California

With the largest vision network in California, Blue Shield’s vision plans provide the access, benefits, and choices your clients are looking for. 

Blue Shield vision* plans include a choice of low or no eye exam copayments, making it easier than ever for you to offer your clients an affordable wellness solution. Eye exams can play an important role in the early detection of health problems like diabetes and hypertension as well as eye diseases.

Bundled savings 

Give your small business clients a 5% specialty discount! Any time you add dental and/or vision to a new or existing small business client's medical coverage, a 5% discount will be applied to the dental and/or vision premiums. Learn more.

All of our small group plans offer

• Streamlined administration: One bill, one renewal, and one point of administration for all of your clients' Blue Shield business. Employers can access all of their coverage through Employer Connection for information and management of all their plans.

• A two-year initial rate guarantee for all new groups on their vision coverage, giving them added financial predictability for their budgeting and planning needs

• Neither underwriting nor a DE-9C is required for vision coverage when written without a Blue Shield medical plan.

Vision plan advantages

• One of California's largest provider networks with access to more than 29,500 ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians nationwide, including more than 7,000 in California, available through a contracted vision plan administrator.

• Our vision plans offer access to major retail chains like Costco (warehouse, membership required), Walmart (wholesale) and LensCrafers, independent eye care providers, and an online provider for contact lens materials. Retailers typically offer convenient evening and weekend hours.

• $0 or $15 eye exam copayment on all vision plans make it economical to get preventive care.

• Benefits that include eye exams, lenses and frames, and polycarbonate (shatter-proof) lenses for covered dependent children.

• Contact Lens Plus plans that cover both eyeglass lenses/frames and contact lenses, including evaluation, fittings, and materials up to $120 during the benefit period.

• $150 frame allowance plans help meet the rising cost of frames and includes coverage for progressive lenses, photochromic lenses, and anti-reflective coating, the three most common lens enhancements.

• Three voluntary vision plans are available for employers to offer eye care benefits with no contribution on their part. Only three employees are required to enroll.

• Standard contribution requirements of 25% with only a 65% participation requirement allow great flexibility for small business employers.

​Wellness offers and discounts

Blue Shield offers a wide range of programs that can help members save money and get healthier. In addition to our Discount Vision Program Network, which offers a 20% savings on many vision materials and services, members can get discounts on:

• Laser vision correction surgery discounts^† from 15% to 20% with QualSight and NVision Laser Eye. 

• Hearing aids - discounts of up to 60% through EPIC, one of the nation's largest networks of hearing-care professionals. Download the EPIC Hearing Aid flier.

• Learn more about all of our wellness discounts and download the flier. 

Calculate the value

Vision exams can reduce medical costs and boost employee productivity. To help your clients see the potential financial impact, take advantage of Transitions' calculator tool. 

See the value

Help your clients see the value that vision coverage can bring them in the infographic, Why You Need Group Vision Coverage.

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* Underwritten by Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company.

^† The network of practitioners and facilities in the discount programs are managed by the external program administrators identified below, including any screening and credentialing of providers. Blue Shield does not review the services provided by discount program providers for medical necessity or efficacy. Nor does Blue Shield make any recommendations, representations, claims, or guarantees regarding the practitioners, their availability, fees, services, or products. Some services offered through the discount program may already be included as part of the Blue Shield health plan covered benefits. Members must access covered services prior to using the discount program. Blue Shield reserves the right to terminate this program at any time without notice. Discount programs administered by or arranged through independent companies: Discount Vision Program – MESVision; LASIK and PRK – Laser Eye Centers, LLC.