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Glasses Online with Insurance

By Amanda Albuquerque
Reviewed by Maria Horan FBDO
Maria Horan FBDO

Reviewed by

Maria Horan FBDO
Maria holds a BSc Honours in Ophthalmic Dispensing and has over 17 years of optical experience.
Find out if your insurance policy contains vision insurance. It could reduce the cost of your eye care.
Glasses Online with Insurance
SUMMARY

To buy glasses online with insurance, follow these simple steps:

1. Check if your insurance plan includes vision benefits and covers out-of-network providers;

2. Explore our extensive collection of frames and use tools like our Virtual Try-On to find glasses that fit your needs;

3. After you’ve purchased your glasses, submit your invoice to your insurance provider for reimbursement.

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For many people, prescription eyewear is an essential part of daily life. High retail prices can keep people from getting the vision correction they need– but it doesn’t have to be this way.

At SmartBuyGlasses, we believe that clear vision should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we strive to make shopping for prescription eyewear easy, convenient, and affordable—with little to no out-of-pocket expenses when using vision insurance.

To get the most out of your buying experience, it’s important to know what your insurance policy covers and how to use your vision insurance when purchasing prescription eyewear.

Don’t let the cost of eyewear keep you from seeing clearly and comfortably.

What is vision insurance?

Vision insurance is a health benefit that covers vision care partially or entirely. Vision care includes things like eye exams, glasses, and contacts.

Not all insurance plans include vision coverage, so check the details of your current plan or any plan you’re considering to learn what it covers.

What are the benefits of buying glasses online with insurance?

Using your vision insurance when purchasing prescription eyeglasses online comes with several advantages, including:

  • Convenience: Purchasing prescription glasses online means taking care of your eye health without leaving the comfort of your home. 

  • Cost reduction: Take advantage of exclusive online promotions and discounts while maximizing your insurance benefits to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

  • Wider selection: Online retailers offer a vast range of frames, styles, and lens options, giving you more choices than traditional brick-and-mortar stores.

Does my plan include vision insurance?

Not all insurance plans include vision benefits, and not all vision coverage is the same. Most vision insurance plans are discount or wellness benefit plans that provide specific benefits and discounts for an annual premium.

Eye exam

Generally, prescription lenses are covered, however, what else is covered depends on your plan.

Blue light glasses may be covered under certain insurance policies, some vision insurance plans cover prescription sunglasses, and some plans may offer discounts on elective vision correction surgery, such as LASIK and PRK, while others do not.

Always check with your insurance provider directly to learn more about what is covered.

DID YOU KNOW?

There is no uniform vision insurance policy. Cover can vary, and may not be included by all insurance companies.

How to buy glasses online with insurance

Buying prescription glasses, sunglasses, or contact lenses with insurance can significantly reduce costs. Most insurance plans include vision benefits, so check with your carrier and use your benefits.

We do not currently offer direct billing, but you can claim reimbursement using our itemized receipt and your company’s claim form directly after your online purchase.

In just a few easy steps, you can buy prescription eyewear online for the whole family.

  • Check with your insurance company to understand what they cover. To do this, you can log into your insurance portal online or call them directly. Since SmartBuyGlasses will not bill your vision insurance directly, it is important to verify that you have “out-of-network benefits.”

  • Determine and understand the reimbursement process to find out what will be covered. The insurance company will commonly have a specific amount of vision care dollars they can cover with your plan. When making your purchase, keep this amount in mind to determine whether the entire cost will be covered.

  • Schedule an eye exam if you don’t have a prescription, or if your prescription needs to be updated. Eye exams are necessary to receive your prescription information and pupillary distance.

  • Shop and search through our extensive collections of exclusive and designer brands. Use our Virtual Try-On tool or our face shape guide to find the frames that are perfect for you.

  • Once you have found the best frames and chosen lenses, place your order and download the invoice. Once your order has been shipped, you can download your invoice and prepare to submit it to your insurance company. If you are unsure about which lenses are best for your prescription, feel free to reach out to one of our certified optical experts. They’ll be happy to help. 

  • The final step of the process is to submit a claim to your vision insurance provider using your invoice. Follow the directions on your insurance provider’s login page, or call them directly for additional assistance. Reimbursement for glasses typically takes a few weeks.

Can I use insurance to buy sunglasses and contact lenses online?

Vision insurance can also be used for prescription sunglasses. Before you purchase online, check with your insurance provider to confirm that sunglasses are covered in your plan.

Once purchased, follow the same steps you would if submitting an insurance claim for eyeglasses.

Family wearing sunglasses at a swimming pool

Some vision insurance providers also offer benefits for purchasing contact lenses online.

However, since not all insurance providers offer out-of-network benefits, it is important to check information and your insurance eligibility before buying contact lenses.

If your insurance has out-of-network coverage for contact lenses, you can use it for daily, weekly, and monthly prescription contact lenses.

Woman holding contact lenses case

After purchasing, file for reimbursement using the same method you would if submitting an insurance claim for eyeglasses.

Can you use FSA for glasses?

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are tax-free savings accounts which can be used to cover healthcare expenses.

FSA and HSA savings are accepted at SmartBuyGlasses, regardless of whether you have vision insurance. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are health savings accounts that can be used to buy glasses online.

FSA and HSA let you set aside money before it’s taxed to pay for health care costs. Don’t let your flexible spending account go to waste; consult with your employer to discover your benefits and start saving on prescription eyewear and vision correction.

Where to order glasses online with insurance

SmartBuyGlasses makes shopping for glasses online fun and easy.

Shop thousands of styles among our men, women, and kid’s collections and if you’re unsure, take a moment to get your face shape and find the frames that best suit you using our Virtual Try-On tool.

After choosing your frames, fit them with the lenses and coatings of your choice. Lens and coating options include non-prescription lenses, blue light blocking, Transitions®, single vision, progressive, and more.

For any lens questions, head to our Optical Center and speak to one of our opticians to get answers.

SmartBuyGlasses makes shopping online as easy as possible with simple checkout processes, optician support, and a customer service team that is always ready to help. Shop confidently with the best price guarantee, 2-year warranty, and 100-day returns.

Quality of sight is quality of life

Clear vision goes beyond just seeing—it improves your daily experiences, boosts confidence, and improves overall well-being.

Investing in high-quality prescription eyewear ensures that you can navigate the world with comfort and clarity. And doing so doesn’t have to break the bank.

With options like using your vision insurance online, FSA, and HSA, you can shop for prescription glasses, sunglasses, or contact lenses with confidence and ease.

Keep in mind that vision insurance benefits vary by provider. To make the most of your coverage, check your insurance eligibility and understand what’s included in your plan.

Contact your insurance provider to ensure you’re getting the best value on prescription eyewear tailored to your needs.

If your insurance offers out-of-network coverage for contact lenses, you can still take advantage of it.

Simply shop from our selection of daily, weekly, and monthly prescription contacts and file for reimbursement—just as you would for prescription glasses.

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