Vision Insurance
The EyeMed vision plan is your primary benefit and the Vision Supplement Benefit (VSB) is your secondary benefit. Both are free for eligible Graduate Employees & Postdocs.
Benefit Highlights:
Your primary vision benefit is maximized when used at an EyeMed In-Network Provider
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you have $185 to spend each plan year on frames
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you have $150 to spend each year on contacts
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$0 copay for an eye exam
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$10 copay for standard plastic lenses
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$0 copya for lens tinting (including blue light filtering)
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Fixed co-pays for most lenses and coatings
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coverage for Diabetic Care Services & discounts for LASIK and Hearing Services
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New for 26-27, the Trust Fund will manage out-of-network vision claims in-house. If you choose to see an out-of-network provider, submit your out-of-network claim in the portal and we will process it for you!
Your secondary vision benefit is the Vision Supplement Benefit (VSB) and is maximized when used at University Health Services (UHS) Optical Services
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up to $170 is covered after the 40% discount for 2nd pairs is applied toward glasses package: lens, frame and lens options
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up to $170 is covered toward contacts
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for glasses purchased @ any other provider, you’ll be reimbursed up to $120. Submit your out-of-network claim in the portal.
Note: Please review the plan in full before utilizing insurance.
Using Your Primary Vision Benefit Out-of-Network
You can choose to see an out-of-network provider, but your benefits will be reduced, and you will need to pay out-of-pocket and submit a claim for reimbursement.
New for 2026-2027:
Submit Out-of-Network receipts in the Portal
If you see an out-of-network provider, you can now submit your receipt for reimbursement in our portal, for faster and more transparent processing.
Guidelines for the Out-of-Network Benefit
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receipts must be submitted within 15 months of your appointment/purchase
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receipts must include your name as the purchaser, the date, the provider location, and purchase detail including frame/lens or contact ordered and receipt must show no indication that the EyeMed benefit has already been applied.
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your reimbursement will be sent to the email address we have on file for you via our electronic payment processor, Checkbook. Checkbook will send you an email with instructions on how to direct deposit your payment into your bank account.
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If you use your primary EyeMed benefit for glasses or contacts out-of-network and receive reimbrusement, the primary benefit for that item won't be available to you again until the next plan year.
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Please note: if an attempt is made to send a claim directly to EyeMed for your primary benefit for glasses or contacts after already receiving the out-of-network reimbursement during the same plan year, whether inadvertent or otherwise, it will be charged against your secondary VSB benefit and you will no longer have access to the VSB benefit for the plan year.
The Vision Supplement Benefit (VSB)
VSB Eligibility
The VSB is your secondary vision benefit. If you no longer have access to a frame or contact benefit available through your primary EyeMed benefit because you’ve used it during the current plan year, you can access our in-house Vision Supplement Benefit (VSB). You can check to see when you last used your EyeMed benefit by registering at eyemed.com. If your EyeMed insurance benefit was applied to your purchase, it is not eligible for reimbursement through the VSB.
VSB Benefit Description
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The maximum benefit is $170* if used at the on-campus UHS Eye Clinic, or $120 if used anywhere else. If used at UHS, the benefit is applied at the time of service and reduces your bill right away. If used anywhere else, you will need to submit your receipt for reimbursement using our portal.
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The Vision Supplement Benefit (VSB) can be used once every plan year (8/1-7/31). Your EyeMed benefit must be exhausted before your VSB can be accessed.
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The VSB is not a running total, but rather a one-time per plan year benefit. For example, if your second pair of glasses is less than the maximum benefit, you’ve still used the full benefit. There is no carryover.
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The VSB benefit cannot be split across glasses and contacts or across lens and frames. The VSB can only be used for a complete second pair of glasses, prescription sunglasses, or complete order of contacts.
An example of how the VSB works at UHS: You select an above average pair of frames at UHS that retail for $249 and single vision lenses that retail for $95. You’ve already used your EyeMed benefit for frames. After the max $170 VSB is applied, you will owe $36.40 for the new glasses. That’s about 90% off the cost.
Another UHS example: You select an average pair of frames at UHS that retail for $189 and single vision lenses that retail for $95. You’ve already used your EyeMed benefit for frames. After the max $170 VSB is applied, you will owe $.40 for the new glasses.
An example of how the VSB works at any other retailer/vision provider: You order contacts from Warby Parker after your EyeMed contact benefit has already been used. You order (2) 90-pack boxes ($62.77 / box), totaling $125.55 and submit the receipt to us for reimbursement. We reimburse you $120.
Guidelines for VSB Receipts
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Valid receipts are dated within the plan year, include your name as the purchaser, the date, the provider location, and purchase detail including frame/lens or contacts ordered and receipt must show no indication that the EyeMed primary benefit has already been applied.
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Receipts with multiple purchases on the same receipt: when buying mutiple pairs of glasses or contact orders a separate transaction is preferred, but an invoice showing a detailed breakdown and clearly indicating insurance was only applied to one item is acceptable.
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Receipts for the VSB benefit are due by 7/31 annually, the last day of the plan year in which the purchase was made (ie. purchase was made on september 14, 2025, during plan year 25-26, and receipt is due by 7/31/26).
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A note on Costco receipts for contacts: Costco requires bulk purchasing of contacts in order to apply their steep discount. In order to accomodate that their receipts will not show separate purchases for contacts you use your primary EyeMed benefit for and contacts you want to apply your secondary VSB benefit to, we will consider the first two boxes/orders of contacts on your Costco receipt as applying toward your primary EyeMed benefit, and any boxes/orders in excess of two can have your VSB applied.
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Complicated receipts: If your receipt has multiple parts or you are submitting several receipts from different places or from stores where the itemization is not detailed, please help us by notating your receipt to make it easier to read.
*inclusive of the 40% discount on 2nd pairs from EyeMed
Eligibility
To be eligible for the EyeMed Vision plan, you must be one of the following:
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A Trust Fund-eligible graduate employee or postdoc
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the dependent spouse of a Trust Fund-eligible graduate employee or postdoc
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the same or opposite sex domestic partner of a Trust Fund-eligible graduate employee or postdoc
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the child of a Trust Fund-eligible graduate employee or postdoc up to age 19
No other family members are eligible for coverage under the plan.
Cost
The vision plan is free for all eligible individuals and their families.
Coverage options:
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Single
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Single +1 (you + either a spouse/partner OR child)
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Family (you + multiple dependents)
All of these options are FREE.
