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Vision Care Cost a Concern to Many

While more than half of Americans report that they have some form of vision problem, nearly 40% fear that they cannot afford adequate treatment. This was one of the key findings of a recent vision care survey conducted by Aflac Inc., a medical insurance company. Respondents were asked about the effect that cost had on their willingness or ability to seek eyecare services. Aflac Chairman and CEO Daniel P. Amos says, "Employers and employees alike are looking to new alternatives to deal with healthcare costs, whether related to eyecare wellness or other types of medical needs."

Below are some of the key survey findings:

The survey indicates that Americans are more likely to have major medical, prescription drug and dental coverage than vision coverage.

• 84% have health insurance
• 70% have prescription drug coverage
• 59% have dental insurance
• Less than half (49%) have vision insurance coverage

Respondents who have vision coverage believe their vision plans cover the following types of vision care services:

• 93% said they were covered for eye exams
• 86% said they were covered for eyeglasses
• 64% said they were covered for treatment of eye disorders or diseases
• 32% said their benefits covered loss of sight
• 25% said their benefits covered LASIK eye surgery.
  Two-thirds of Americans surveyed report that they have spent money on vision care services in the past year.
• The most common expenditure was eye exams
• Four in 10 Americans have spent money on corrective eyeglasses in the past year
• Other expenditures include glaucoma tests, supplies for contact lenses and corrective contact lenses
• Only 2% of Americans report that they have spent money on LASIK eye surgery in the past year, but close to half (45%) of those asked report that they would be likely to get LASIK surgery if they could afford the procedure.

Forty percent of Americans report avoiding or postponing some aspect of vision care because of cost.

• One in five Americans say that they avoid or postpone updating their glasses prescription (21%) or getting eye surgery (20%) due to cost
• Fourteen percent of Americans report that they avoid or postpone getting an eye exam because of the cost
• Twelve percent avoid or postpone getting a glaucoma test
• Nearly four in ten Americans (37%) report that they cannot afford to spend what it takes to have perfect vision.

Those without vision insurance are more likely than those with insurance to avoid or postpone the following because of the cost:

• Updating their glasses prescription (25% uninsured vs. 16% insured)
• Getting an eye exam (20% vs. 8%)
• Undergoing a glaucoma test (16% vs. 8%).

About this data: The survey, conducted by Aflac Inc., a leading provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States, consisted of a nationwide telephone omnibus study of 1,006 Americans 18 years of age and older regarding their vision health and opinions about vision care. The interviews were conducted via telephone from May 19 to 22, 2005. A Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing facility and Random Digit Dialing technology were used. The margin of error for the total unweighted sample of 1,006 is ±3.1% at the 95% level of confidence.