Wondering if you can use your VSP or EyeMed vision insurance at Walmart Vision Centers? As an expert in vision care benefits, I get this question a lot.
The quick answer is yes – Walmart does take both VSP and EyeMed. However, Walmart is considered an out-of-network provider for both vision insurance plans.
What does this mean exactly? Let me walk you through the details so you can make the most of your vision benefits at Walmart.
How Common Is Vision Insurance?
But first, some background. Vision insurance has become more popular in recent years, though it‘s still not as common as medical insurance.
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Approximately 40% of Americans have stand-alone vision coverage through a provider like VSP or EyeMed.
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Another 10% have vision benefits bundled with their medical plan.
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So about half of Americans have some sort of vision insurance.
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The vision insurance market is dominated by a few major providers:
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VSP: 44% market share
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EyeMed: 33% market share
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Others like Aetna and UnitedHealthcare make up the rest.
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So chances are decent that your vision benefits are through either VSP or EyeMed – two of the biggest players in the vision insurance industry.
VSP vs EyeMed: How Do They Compare?
VSP and EyeMed have a few key differences in terms of their plan options and provider networks:
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Premium costs: EyeMed tends to have lower monthly premiums, while VSP plans cost more but come with richer benefits.
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Provider access: VSP has a larger national network with more private practice eye doctors and optical shops. EyeMed has fewer providers nationwide.
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Covered services: VSP plans cover more lens enhancements and coatings. EyeMed has fewer upgrades covered.
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Discounts: VSP offers steeper discounts, around 30% off services. EyeMed discounts are typically 20-25% at network providers.
Here‘s a quick comparison of some key plan differences:
| Plan Feature | VSP | EyeMed |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium Range | $12-$50 | $5-$25 |
| National Provider Locations | Over 50,000 | Over 45,000 |
| Comprehensive Exam Coverage | Fully Covered | $5 Copay |
| Eyeglass Lenses Coverage | $25 Copay | $25-$40 Copay |
| Contact Lens Allowance | $150 | $120 |
So in summary, VSP will cost you more month-to-month but provides richer benefits overall. While EyeMed is cheaper upfront, you may end up paying more out-of-pocket for services.
What Vision Services Does Walmart Offer?
Now let‘s talk about what vision services and products you can get at Walmart Vision Centers.
Walmart has over 3,000 optometrists across the country who can provide:
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Eye exams: Comprehensive eye health exams to test vision and check for issues.
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Eyeglasses: Wide range of prescription glasses and sunglasses. All the major brands and lens types.
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Contacts: Major contact lens manufacturers like ACUVUE, Air Optix, and CooperVision.
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Eyewear fittings: Adjustments and fittings for your new glasses or contacts.
They also offer enhancements like premium progressives, transitional lenses, polarization, and blue light coatings.
Here are some example prices at Walmart Vision Centers:
| Service/Product | Walmart Price |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Eye Exam | $88 |
| Single Vision Lenses | $38-$65 |
| Bifocal Lenses | $78-$120 |
| Contact Lens Exam | $88 |
| Contact Lens Fitting | $125 |
| Year Supply of Contacts | $99-$350 |
As you can see, Walmart Vision Center prices are generally 20-40% lower than private optometry practices. This makes them appealing for anyone trying to save money on eye care.
Can You Use VSP and EyeMed at Walmart?
Now back to our original question – yes, you can use your benefits from both VSP and EyeMed at Walmart Vision Centers.
However, neither VSP nor EyeMed considers Walmart an in-network provider.
Because of this, if you visit a Walmart Vision Center using your VSP or EyeMed insurance, you are going out-of-network.
This means:
- You‘ll pay more out-of-pocket for your appointment and any glasses/contacts
- You‘ll have to submit a claim after your visit to get reimbursed
- Your reimbursement amounts will be lower compared to seeing an in-network provider
- You won‘t have access to any special discounts or member benefits
However, the convenience of Walmart locations and their low prices are big advantages if there‘s one near you. You just have to be comfortable with going out-of-network and the additional costs.
Let‘s take a closer look at how it works when using VSP versus EyeMed.
Using Your VSP Benefits at Walmart
If you have VSP insurance, here‘s what you can expect when using your benefits out-of-network at Walmart:
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You‘ll pay for your full eye exam at the time of your visit, which is $88 at Walmart.
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After your appointment, you submit a claim to VSP with your receipt.
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VSP will reimburse you $45 for your exam. So your out-of-pocket cost is $43.
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For eyeglasses, you may be reimbursed about $35-$55 for lenses and frame. At an in-network location, your exam and glasses would be fully covered with just a $25 copay.
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For contacts, your allowance may be $100 versus $150 in-network.
So you‘re essentially self-paying upfront when you go to Walmart and getting partially compensated by filing a claim after.
I‘d estimate you pay 20-30% more using your VSP benefits out-of-network versus in-network. But that may be worth it for the convenience and prices at Walmart.
What About EyeMed Coverage at Walmart?
Very similarly to VSP, here‘s how EyeMed benefits work when you go out-of-network to a Walmart Vision Center:
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You‘ll pay the full $88 exam price upfront at Walmart‘s optical department.
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After your visit, submit a claim to EyeMed with your receipt.
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EyeMed will likely reimburse about $30 for the exam. So your out-of-pocket cost ends up being $58.
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For glasses, you may be reimbursed $25-$40 depending on the lenses and frame. In-network this would only be a $10-$15 copay.
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Your contact lens allowance out-of-network might be $100, versus $120 in-network.
Overall, you‘ll probably pay 15-25% more using EyeMed benefits at Walmart versus an in-network eye care provider.
While it will cost more, you can see the savings add up, especially if you‘re getting glasses or contacts too. That‘s why some people are willing to go out-of-network to use Walmart‘s low prices and convenience.
Tips for Using Insurance at Walmart
If you want to use your VSP or EyeMed benefits at Walmart Vision Centers, here are my insider tips:
👓 Get an itemized receipt showing exactly what services you received and how much you paid. This is required for reimbursement.
👓 Submit claims ASAP. I recommend submitting your vision claim within a week of your appointment for fastest processing.
👓 Familiarize yourself with your plan‘s out-of-network reimbursement policy so you know what to expect cost-wise.
👓 Compare pricing on glasses and contacts to make sure Walmart is your best option. Sometimes Costco or Sam‘s Club may be cheaper.
👓 See if you can upgrade your plan to decrease out-of-pocket costs. For a few dollars more in premiums, you can save big.
👓 Maximize your benefits by getting lenses and coatings that are covered to save the most money.
The Bottom Line – Does Walmart Take VSP and EyeMed?
At the end of the day, yes – Walmart does accept both VSP and EyeMed vision insurance.
However, keep in mind that you will be going out-of-network. This means higher out-of-pocket costs for you, lower reimbursement rates, and no access to discounts or member perks.
But if convenience and low prices are important to you, using your benefits at Walmart Vision Center may make sense in some situations.
Hope this guide gives you a better idea of what to expect when mixing Walmart and your favorite vision insurance providers! Let me know if any other eye care questions come up.
