Spread the Word about the Importance of Eyecare
As an experienced benefits manager, you know that annual, comprehensive eye exams are an important part of overall health. Plus, eye exams often serve as an entry point into the healthcare system, since only about 16% of Americans see their physician for preventive care, while about 61% of Americans with coverage see their eye doctors annually.
Eye exams can detect signs of eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts, and even signs of serious health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, neurological disorders, and brain tumors. And detecting eye and other diseases early can significantly reduce complications from the disease, as well as overall medical costs. In fact, according to research published in Optometry, a journal of the American Optometric Association, employers gain as much as $7 for every $1 spent on vision coverage.1
So how can you help your members understand that having vision coverage and using it is just as important as regular medical and dental check-ups? Luckily, there are several low-cost and effective ways already tested by other companies that you can use to get your message across.
Here are some effective approaches used by other companies:
- Signs and table tents in the lobby, bathroom stall, elevator, stairwell, café, break room
- Intranet: links to eyecare information on www.vsp.com
- Vision care e-mail campaigns to employees
- Payroll/check stuffers with vision facts and tips
- Benefit fairs (invite VSP to attend)
- Articles about the importance of an annual eye exam in employee newsletter
- Lunch wellness learning sessions (focus on vision)
- Wellness workshops about the importance of eyecare
- Wellness day off (day off to get an eye exam)
- Computers or kiosks employees can use to find info about their eyecare coverage
- Health incentives for getting a comprehensive, annual eye exam
- Employee calendars (include vision and wellness info)
- Discuss benefits of early disease detection through eye exams at staff meetings
1Daum, Kent M., OD, PhD; Katherine A. Clore, OD, Phd. "Productivity Associated with Visual Status of Computer Users." Optometry 75-1(2004):1-15.
