Benefits » Health Insurance » Vision Insurance
Regular eye exams and good vision are important. To enable you and your family to get the care you need, LANL offers a comprehensive vision care benefit provided by Vision Service Plan (VSP).
You are eligible for vision coverage if you qualify for Full Benefits. When you qualify, your family members who meet eligibility requirements may include your legal spouse or domestic partner, child, grandchild, adult disabled child, and legal ward.
LANS and/or VSP may request that you provide documentation (marriage or birth certificates, adoption papers, tax records, etc.) to verify eligibility.
You may enroll yourself or an eligible family member in vision coverage during Open Enrollment, which is held at the Lab each November, with coverage effective January 1st of the following year.
If you are newly hired, you have a period of initial eligibility (PIE) during which you may enroll yourself and your eligible family members. Your PIE starts the day you become eligible (i.e., your date of hire) and ends approximately 31 days later.
To enroll, submit a completed insurance enrollment form (pdf) to the Lab's Benefits Office within 31 days of your PIE.
If you missed your PIE, you can still enroll in vision coverage during Open Enrollment, which is usually held in November for coverage effective January 1st of the following year.
If you are a new employee, there is a chance that VSP may not yet have you in their system. If your provider informs you that you are not eligible, contact the Lab's Benefits Office at 505-667-1806 or email benefits@lanl.gov to verify eligibility.
You may become eligible for LANS-sponsored benefits if you change employment status (e.g., change from contractor to LANS or limited benefits to full benefits). If this happens, notify the Lab's Benefits Office immediately by calling 505-667-1806 or sending email to determine when your PIE begins. You will have a 31-day PIE from the date your employment status was changed.
Families change and grow due to marriage, birth or adoption of children, and other events. If you are enrolled in a vision plan, your newly eligible family member(s) may be added to your current plan. You must request enrollment within 31 days from the date your family member is first eligible (e.g., date of marriage or date of child's birth).
To enroll, contact the Lab's Benefits Office at 505-667-1806 or send email.
If not enrolled in a vision plan, you and your eligible family members may enroll during Open Enrollment, which is usually held in November for coverage effective January 1st of the following year.
If you and/or an eligible family member involuntarily lose other employer-sponsored vision insurance coverage, you may enroll in the LANS vision plan. A new PIE starts the day you lose coverage. You must furnish proof that your other employer-sponsored coverage was lost.
To enroll, contact the Lab's Benefits Office at 505-667-1806 or send email.
Currently, LANS pays the entire monthly contribution for your coverage.
| One vision exam per calendar year | |
|---|---|
| One set of corrective lenses per calendar year | |
| One set of frames every other calendar year* | Some frames provided by VSP doctors are fully covered. Others covered ≤ $130, plus 20% of any out-of-pocket costs |
| or | |
| One set of contact lenses per calendar year* | Medically necessary contact lenses covered fully if a VSP provider is used. Cosmetic contact lenses covered ≤ $110, plus 15% of exam. |
| There is a $10 copayment for your annual examination, payable to the doctor during that visit. If frames and/or lenses are also required, there will be an additional $25 copayment to cover materials. | |
| VSP also offers discounted laser corrective vision surgery through VSP-contracted laser centers. | |
*Medically necessary or cosmetic contact lenses are provided instead of any other benefits. In other words, if you get contact lenses, you cannot receive regular lenses until the following calendar year.
To find a VSP network doctor (including an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or dispensing optician), you will need an ID number to access this information. Your Social Security number will serve as your ID number, and all eligible family members will also use this same number.
Once you enroll, VSP will send you a brochure explaining how the plan works. In general, you follow these simple procedures:
The VSP doctor will obtain the necessary authorization and information about your eligibility and coverage directly from VSP.
You may obtain services from any optometrist, ophthalmologist, or dispensing optician. Please note that reimbursement will be 50-60% less than from VSP network doctors, and perhaps less. For reimbursement, based on a schedule of allowances, you will need a copy of your itemized bill and the following information:
Submit this information to:
Vision Service Plan
P.O. Box 997105
Sacramento, CA 95899-7105
To speak with VSP Member Services directly, call 1-800-877-7195, Monday–Friday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pacific Time.
To obtain personal information on your benefits once enrolled, you may visit the VSP Web site and enter your last name and ID number.
This is only an overview of the vision insurance plan. For more information on what the plan covers, read the Benefit Program Summary and Evidence of Coverage (pdf).
Questions? Contact the Lab's Benefits Office at 505-667-1806.
