The best vision insurance for retired military

The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) is a health service plan available to all federal employees. Additionally, active-duty service members, retired service members, and their families also have access to FEDVIP through their TRICARE health plans. In fact, this plan may well be the best for dependents of active-duty members, too, because many are already insured through it.

Retired service members can continue their dental and vision coverage through FEDVIP, provided they remain enrolled in a TRICARE plan. Keep in mind that FEDVIP contracts its services through one of its partner vision carriers, so you’ll need to choose a provider network: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, MetLife, UnitedHealthcare, or VSP.

FEDVIP plans feature comprehensive vision coverage, including routine eye exams and vision correction. There are also customizable options for eyeglass frames and lenses, contacts, low-vision exams, discounts on laser eye surgery, and more. However, price points, deductibles, and copays will be determined by the network provider you choose. The same goes for the company you choose as your dental carrier. And, you do have the option of having a different network for dental and vision.

But regardless of your carrier, retired military personnel receive subsidized insurance premiums through FEDVIP, so you stand to save a bundle with this plan. You can research providers in your area using FEDVIP’s online comparison tool, and contact customer support with any enrollment questions at 1-877-888-FEDS.

Medicare is federal health insurance for people over the age of 65, and both retired military and veterans have a lot to like about its “Part C” coverage, commonly known as Medicare Advantage.

Military retirees over the age of 65 should know about the AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot Plan. You’ll have to carry a TRICARE for Life policy to be eligible, but the plan offers access to in-network doctors for a zero-dollar monthly premium. In addition, seniors get a free eye exam, frames, and lenses each year, and there is no copay for preventative dental care. Plus, it has other perks for free routine hearing exams, discounts on hearing aids, and a free gym membership.

The Patriot Plan is managed by an AARP and UnitedHealthcare (UHC) partnership, so you’ll receive care through the UHC network. Furthermore, the plan does not furnish policyholders with prescription medication benefits, but you should be able to use TRICARE for that.

Veterans without retiree status and who qualify for VA benefits are eligible for the standard Medicare Advantage plan. It offers all of the same benefits that the Patriot Plan does, but it also has prescription drug benefits. Seniors have their choice of service carriers, including Atena, AARP/UHC, Centene, Cigna, BCBS Anthem, Kaiser Permanente, and more.

For more details about the Patriot Plan, visit the UHC website or call customer support at 1-877-363-2179. If you’re interested in standard Medicare Advantage, this online tool will help you find a plan and provider in your area.

Retired military looking for the best vision coverage possible may find a friend in VSP insurance. Not only is it an approved carrier for those with FEDVIP through their TRICARE health plan, but by electing VSP as your provider, you’ll enjoy increased reimbursements, lower premiums, and free eye exams, as well.

Although it doesn’t have as many in-network providers as others, VSP features higher allowances for glasses and contacts than most, as well as steep discounts on LASIK. And, there is optional out-of-network coverage for those who need it.

The Standard Option is VSP’s basic plan, and it offers the protections and services one would expect to see from a major company — annual allowances for frames or contact lenses and a set menu of lens coatings and treatments. But for a few dollars more, you can enjoy the High Option plan that provides many of the basic plan’s features, but at no cost. You can compare the benefits here, but remember that retired military will get these plans further discounted through FEDVIP.

The main drawback of VSP is its insistence on using what it calls its Premier Program locations. So even though it has multiple in-network options, you’ll need to visit one of these premium clinics to get the best prices. And, if you don’t have one near you, then you may want to consider another FEDVIP carrier like BCSC Anthem or Aetna. Use this online tool to see if there are Premier Program locations near you.

While not specifically designed for retired military, few can compete with EyeMed when it comes to affordability and access to services. With a nationwide network of eye doctors and vision clinics numbering in the tens of thousands, most will find options near them. Indeed, included in EyeMed’s network are major brands such as LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears, and Target, to name a few.

Those who don’t have a provider near them can use an out-of-network doctor for an eye exam and then order frames and contacts online through the convenience of their smartphones and desktops.

EyeMed has three primary individual and family plans: Healthy, Bold, and Bright. Each plan comes with its own discounts, copays, and benefits, but policyholders who carry the Bright Plan will enjoy top-shelf coverage with a $200 annual allowance for frames, $200 for contact lenses, free lens treatments, and discounts of 15 to 20 percent off eyewear once your yearly benefit is used.

Military veterans who use CHAMPVA health insurance can also elect EyeMed as the carrier for their vision benefits, which gives them discounts on premiums. Unfortunately, there are no additional savings for retired military on FEDVIP.

Still, with low-cost options for basic and comprehensive coverage, EyeMed could be ideal for retired military who are looking for supplemental coverage to their TRICARE benefits or for those who opt out of their FEDVIP vision benefit.