Delta Dental expands into vision coverage in Iowa

Delta Dental of Iowa is offering a new vision benefit plan for Iowa employers, the first expansion since the dental benefit provider begin in 1970.

Greg Shireman, vice president of marketing, said vision was a natural offshoot of what Delta Dental - Iowa's largest dental benefits provider - has been offering and something that employers were looking for.

Shireman cited surveys that showed two-thirds of employees would trade a vacation day for vision coverage and the same number use some sort of vision correction.

He also noted that eye strain has become more pervasive in the work force.

“It's something both employees and employers are dealing with,” Shireman said.

Vision benefits encourage regular examinations that can detect diseases such as diabetes and brain tumors, he said.

DeltaVision offers several vision care plan options, including a materials-only option designed to complement medical plans that cover a yearly vision exam.

The plans offer employers a choice of co-payments and different frame and contact lens allowances.

Shireman said premiums will range from $6 to $10 monthly for single coverage.

Delta Dental contracted with EyeMed Vision Care, a vision managed care organization that includes optometrists, ophthalmologists, opticians and optical retailers.

Shireman said EyeMed has 504 providers in 179 locations in Iowa. People can go outside that provider network, but the cost would be higher.

More than 60 providers are listed in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor, including Sears Optical and Pearle Vision. Most are in the Cedar Rapids area, with a handful in Iowa City/Coralville.

All of the DeltaVision full coverage plans include annual contact lens fit and follow up exams at no additional cost.

Along with the new benefit plans, anyone with Delta Dental benefits also have access to a free vision discount program.

Shireman said the discount, which includes savings on frames, contact lenses, eye exams and other services, averages 30 percent in savings.