Find the Right
Vision Plan for You

Your eyes are unique. So are our vision plans.

Home ❯ Back to Shop Plans ❯ Vision Insurance Plans

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) makes it easy to see the world clearer. Our new Blue 20/20 vision plans have a variety of options whether you just want routine visits to your eye doctor or have more serious vision needs.

 

Start Shopping

Looking for a different Blue Cross NC plan? You can shop all our plans here.

 

Other Plans

Our Vision Plans

We offer two vision plans to fit your budget or vision needs. The plans are outlined below for all in-network vision care services. 
 

Blue 20/20 Exam Plan

Get routine vision care at our most affordable rate:

 

$7.13

Per Member, Per Month

Routine Vision Exams
$0 copay in-network
$39 out-of-network

Frames
No allowance
35% discount on complete set of glasses

Lenses
No lens benefit
35% discount on complete set of glasses
 Progressive lenses included in 35% discount

Contact Lenses
15% off retail on conventional contact lenses
No discount on disposable lenses

Non-Prescription Glasses/Sunglasses
20% discount

LASIK or PYK
15% off retail or 5% off promotional price

Retinal Imaging
Discounted up to $39

Blue 20/20 Exam Plus Plan

Get comprehensive vision coverage at an affordable rate:

 

$16.36

Per Member, Per Month

Routine Vision Exams
$0 copay in-network
$39 out-of-network

Frames
$150 allowance
20% discount on remaining balance

Lenses1
$25 copay on standard plastic lenses
$25 copay plus $65 on progressive lenses
Member costs on premium progressive lenses are dependent on tiers2

Contact Lenses1
$150 allowance and 15% discount on remaining cost for lenses
$150 allowance on disposable lenses

Non-Prescription Glasses/Sunglasses
20% discount

LASIK or PYK
15% off retail or 5% off promotional price

Retinal Imaging
Discounted up to $39

Start Shopping

You have the option to visit any eye doctor you want. However, these plan benefits are for in-network services only. You may have additional costs or fees for choosing an out-of-network provider.​

 

Find an eye doctor or check to see if your doctor is in our network.

Find an Eye Doctor


You can see these out-of-network costs in our Vision Plan Brochure.

Why are vision exams important?

Going to the eye doctor can help more than just your eyes. Eye exams are an easy way to detect:3

  • Brain tumors
  • Cancers
  • Cataracts
  • Diabetes
  • Glaucoma
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Macular degeneration

What to expect at a routine vision exam?

Every doctor is different when it comes to treating their patients. But there are some things that you should expect at every routine vision exam. Your doctor may:

  • Ask you questions about your vision history, medical history and your family's vision
  • Test to see if you need corrective lenses or have poor vision 
  • See how your eyes react to light
  • Test your field of vision and how well you can see
  • Check for color blindness
  • Screen your eyes for glaucoma 
  • Perform eye dilation 

Older patients may have more detailed routine eye exams. Talk to your eye doctor if you're having trouble with your eyes before your exam starts to ensure you get the most accurate treatment.

Quality Partners for Quality Eye Care

We partner with some of the nation's largest retailers to give you the easiest access to high-quality, affordable eye care. Our large network – powered by EyeMed – offers you many eye doctors to choose from who carry some of the best brands of eye wear, contact lenses and sunglasses – all covered under your plan. Our Find a Doctor tool makes it convenient to find a doctor in-network and that you like. Here are just some of our eye care partners:

It's easy to apply for a vision insurance plan online.

  1. Click Apply Now below
  2. Enter some information about yourself
  3. Submit your application​

Apply Now

Already shopping for a Blue Cross NC health plan? Add a vision plan to your health plan application before submitting. 

Need more help?

  1. Read our Frequently Asked Questions below
  2. Call us at 1-800-324-4973, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Benefits of Buying a Blue Cross NC Vision Plan


Access to both private practice and retail eye
doctors offering personalized, quality care


100% preventive care coverage
with routine vision exams


Access to top-rated
eye care partners – like EyeMed


Over 85 years of experience
providing insurance in North Carolina


Coverage around the state,
country and world


Online tools that make it easy
to manage your plan and your health

Frequently Asked Questions

Using your Vision Insurance is as easy as 1-2-3:

  1. Choose an in-network eye doctor from our Find a Doctor tool.
  2. Schedule your visit for a routine eye exam.
  3. Go in for your appointment and give them your ID Card. We’ll handle the rest!

We have an easy-to-use Find a Doctor tool that lets you search for an in-network eye doctor. You can choose an eye doctor nearest you or who offers the services you want. You can also check to see if your current eye doctor is in our provider network.

We submit claims for you when you visit an in-network eye doctor. But if you go to an out-of-network eye doctor, you’ll be responsible for filing your own claims and may have to pay a higher fee for services. 

Yes! You can use your insurance information at many online eye care centers. You can shop at:

  • LensCrafters
  • Target Optical
  • Glasses.com
  • ContactsDirect
  • Ray-Ban

You can see a full list of network providers once you become a member at blue2020nc.com.

No. Vision insurance plans are only for diagnosing and treating vision related problems. If you visit your eye doctor for a medical issue, like pink eye, dry eye, or eye surgery, you would use your regular health insurance as these are considered medical services.

You should visit the eye doctor each year – especially if you have vision loss or need corrective lenses. It can be hard to notice subtle changes to your vision, so it’s important to visit your doctor each year. If you have an eye disease or progressive vision issue, your doctor may require you to have more frequent visits.

Your eye health is directly related to your overall health. Going to the eye doctor can help detect serious diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, or glaucoma. Your eye doctor can also test for nerve or vision damage from diseases or spending too much time looking at a computer screen (blue light damage). And they can detect vision loss quicker if you see your eye doctor for regular annual visits.

Blue light is emitted from our electronic devices like computer screens, cell phones, TVs, etc. And our eyes are not very good at blocking out blue light from reaching the sensitive parts of our eyes – like the retina. This means, too much blue light exposure can lead to eye strain, vision loss, or macular degeneration. There are a few things you can do to help with your blue light exposure. You can add a blue light filtering tint to any of your prescription lenses. If you’re buying a full set of frames and lenses, you can get 40% off of your prescription lenses with blue light filtering.

Maybe. Some eye doctors will dilate your eyes at every annual exam. But others do not. If you are concerned about eye dilation, call your eye doctor ahead of your appointment to ask if this is common practice for them. You should plan ahead if you’re going to have eye dilation. Many eye doctors will not let you drive for an hour or more after your eyes are dilated. You may also need to wear protective sunglasses (provided by the doctor) until your dilation wears off.

You can go to any in-network eye doctor that you want. If you prefer to go to a larger retail center, like Target, that’s fine. But we do have a wide network of private practice eye doctors. You’ll get the same quality of care from both, but you might find more frames and lens options at a private practice provider.

You can only change your plan under certain circumstances. During the year, you can only change your vision plan if you have a qualifying life event like a marriage, divorce, or birth. But you can change to a new plan during our yearly open enrollment period for new plans starting on January 1st.

Start Shopping

  • 1

    Plans cover an allowance on either contact lenses or traditional glasses lenses. You must choose to use your benefit on one or the other. Your plan does not cover an allowance on both. 

  • 2

    Premium progressive lens costs are based on tier. 

    • Tier 1: $25 copay, plus $85
    • Tier 2: $25 copay, plus $95
    • Tier 3: $25 copay, plus $110
    • Tier 4: $90 copay plus 80% of retail less than $120 allowance

  • 3  Source: www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/surprising-health-conditions-eye-exam-detects (Accessed February 2022).

  • INDVIS-EXAM, 6/21 and INDVIS EP, 6/21

  • EyeMed is an independent company that is solely responsible for the services it provides. It does not offer Blue Cross or Blue Shield products or services.
  •  

  • All other marks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

  • Blue Cross NC does not recommend, endorse, warrant or guarantee any specific vendor, product or service available under or through third parties.


  • U20849, 2/22