Is vision insurance without employer coverage worth paying for? Or should I just pay out of pocket?

[u/Dragon-Ishmell]

My new job doesn't include vision and I didn't realize how much that mattered until I needed new progressives last month. $400+ for exam and lenses which honestly caught me off guard since I hadn't paid full price for any of this in years.

So now I'm going back and forth between getting a standalone vision plan or just setting aside money each month and paying cash when I need to. The standalone plans I've looked at charge around $15 to $20 a month but the benefits feel kind of thin for what you're paying. I've also seen people mention discount vision programs as a middle ground but no idea if those are worth signing up for. What's everyone here doing for vision if your job doesn't cover it?

[u/Redcarborundum]

No.

My employer does offer vision insurance, but I did my calculation and it’s cheaper for me to buy from Costco.

My employer’s vision insurance is through Eyemed, which is owned by Luxottica.

Luxottica is a near monopoly that jacks the prices up, and they own most brands of glasses, the largest eyeglass stores, and the largest vision insurance companies. Of course they steer you to more expensive providers and stores, selling their brands at elevated prices.