Use Your Vision Benefits Before December 31: A Connecticut Guide
Use Your Vision Benefits Before December 31
Every fall, a lot of Connecticut residents realize they have paid for vision insurance all year and never used it. Many vision plans, including common ones like EyeMed and VSP, renew their benefits on a calendar-year or plan-year schedule. If your plan resets January 1, an unused eye exam or glasses allowance usually does not carry over.
The same goes for many flexible spending accounts. Here is how to make the most of what you have before the year ends.
What You Might Be Leaving on the Table
Depending on your plan, your yearly vision benefits may include a routine eye exam, an allowance toward frames, coverage for lenses, and an allowance for contact lenses in place of glasses. Check your plan details or call your insurer to see what you have already used this year. Our guide to vision insurance vs. medical insurance explains which plan pays for which kind of visit.
Using Your FSA or HSA for Eye Care
The IRS treats eye exams, prescription eyeglasses, and contact lenses as eligible medical expenses, which means you can generally pay for them with a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA). That includes prescription sunglasses and a backup pair of glasses.
FSAs are usually "use it or lose it." Some employers offer a short grace period or let you carry over a limited amount, so check your plan's rules. HSA funds, on the other hand, roll over from year to year.
Book Early to Beat the Year-End Rush
End-of-year appointments tend to fill quickly as patients try to use their benefits before they reset. Booking now gives you time to have your exam, choose frames, and have your lenses made. Because Harvey & Lewis grinds lenses in our own in-house lens lab, we are not relying on an outside lab during the busiest time of year.
Frequently Asked Questions About Year-End Vision Benefits
Do vision insurance benefits roll over to next year?
Usually not. Most vision plans give you a set of benefits each calendar year or plan year, such as one exam and one frame allowance, and unused benefits generally expire when the period ends. Check your plan documents or call your insurer to see when your benefits reset. If it is January 1, now is the time to use them.
Can I use my FSA to buy glasses?
Yes. Prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, and eye exams are generally eligible FSA and HSA expenses. Non-prescription sunglasses typically are not. Keep your receipt and itemized invoice in case your plan administrator asks for documentation of the purchase.
I already had my eye exam this year. Is there anything left to use?
Possibly. Many plans cover the exam and eyewear separately, so you may still have a frame, lens, or contact lens allowance available. Leftover FSA dollars can also go toward a backup pair of glasses or prescription sunglasses. Ask our team to help check what remains on your plan.
Can I get both glasses and contacts with my vision benefits?
It depends on your plan. Many vision plans let you choose either a glasses allowance or a contact lens allowance in a given benefit period, not both. If you want both, you can often use insurance for one and pay for the other with FSA or HSA funds.
When should I book to use my benefits before they expire?
As soon as you can. November and December are busy months as many people try to use their benefits at the same time. Booking early gives you room to schedule your exam, pick out frames, and allow time for your eyewear to be made, without cutting it close to the deadline.
Don't let your benefits expire. Request your eye exam today at any of our nine Connecticut locations, including Downtown Hartford, West Hartford, Glastonbury, and Cheshire.
