10.11 10:47

Your eyes can tell you if you’re at risk for
diabetes or a stroke.

People are three times as likely to see an eye doctor than a general practitioner.

That makes sense to me, since it’s the rare optometrist appointment where you’re going to have to disrobe. Or get lectured about your bad habits. Or both.

The weird thing, though, is that going to see an optometrist can save your life. That’s because a simple eye exam can detect signs of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

Health issues like type 2 diabetes and hypertension obviously cause great pain and grief for the people who suffer from them. Less well known are the losses they cause for employers. Missed work and low productivity are two big ones. The ongoing cost of treating a chronic condition is even bigger. The result is $160 billion in lost productivity in the U.S. alone.

Now, no matter which side of the debate you’re on, chances are you’re unhappy with the state of health care in the U.S. I know I am. Here at GQP we’ve seen huge health care cost increases for eight straight years.

So imagine my surprise when we were approached to work with a health care provider that turns out to be incredibly switched-on. VSP (Vision Service Provider) is the original vision benefits provider, founded by a team of optometrists here in California in 1955.

We did some research in preparation for meeting with VSP and learned some very eye-opening things. First, they encourage utilization. They want all of their plan members to get an annual eye exam. They spend time and money encouraging it to happen. Next, they treat their providers well. In talking to optometrists, they had nothing but praise for the speed and efficacy with which VSP pays claims. They also provide mobile care to underserved communities.

But most interesting of all were the insights that VSP brought to the table. Not only do VSP vision plans help to identify chronic conditions early (and while treatable), they share that data with primary health care providers. And all the while, they provide an ROI of 127 percent through avoided medical costs and improved performance.

If you have vision benefits, check your wallet. Chances are pretty good that VSP is your provider. In which case, you really should go see the eye doctor. It’s time. And you don’t have to take your pants off.

« Back to Blog