business 101

Kids and Insurance

by Erinn Morgan

Are your patients making regular eyecare a part of their children's routine? If not, educating mom and dad on how they can use vision plan benefits for their kids' exams and eyewear can boost awareness, plus help better protect pint-sized patients' eye health.

The annual Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey of more than 2,000 American workers whose employers offer vision benefits was recently released by Transitions Optical, Inc.

It revealed that nearly half of the respondents selected “providing eye care for my family” as a reason for enrolling in their vision plan. Still, less than four in 10 parents surveyed selected “hearing about eyewear options to help my children see better and protect their eye health” as a topic they would like more information on from their employer.

UNDERUTILIZATION

The study also found that half of U.S. employees in general are not fully taking advantage of their companies' vision benefits. In fact, 32 percent of employees who are enrolled in their companies' vision benefit do not currently utilize the benefit to receive a comprehensive eye exam. Additionally, vision benefits weren't being utilized by 46 percent of covered children.

Interestingly, surveyed parents were more likely to get an eye exam for themselves (65 percent) than for their children (54 percent). The survey also found that parents are also much more likely to wear sunglasses (72 percent) than to have their children wear them (54 percent).

These survey results point to a distinct need for patient education—on vision benefit utilization and on the intrinsic and far-reaching value of children's eyecare.

As a key patient influencer, ECPs can make a big difference on the path to children's eye health. And, working with employers and parents on educational programs can help make regular eyecare a part of their children's healthcare routine. EB