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VSP, EyeMed, and Davis Vision cover the overwhelming majority of US vision plans. They all sell the same basic promise, an annual eye exam plus help paying for glasses or contacts, but their premiums, allowances, and networks differ enough that the cheapest premium is not always the cheapest year of vision care.
The three plans at a glance
VSP is the largest vision benefits network, with more than 40,000 providers, and leans on private-practice optometrists. EyeMed has the broadest retail footprint, more than 70,000 access points including LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, and Target Optical. Davis Vision, part of Versant Health, positions itself as the family-friendly option with a focus on independent doctors.
Starting individual premiums tell the first part of the story: EyeMed plans start around $5 per month, VSP around $11, and Davis Vision around $12. But premiums are the smallest part of what you will spend, so the allowances matter more.
Exam copays and eyewear allowances
All three cover an annual comprehensive eye exam, which costs about $200 without insurance according to Aflac data. In-network exam copays run $10 to $25 on typical VSP plans, $10 to $25 on EyeMed depending on tier, and $15 to $20 on Davis Vision.
Frame allowances, usually every 12 to 24 months: VSP offers $150 to $200, EyeMed $130 to $200 depending on plan tier (some standard tiers run $100 to $150), and Davis Vision up to $200. Contact lens allowances: VSP around $150, EyeMed $130 to $210 depending on tier, Davis Vision around $130 plus a discount on the balance. Note the either-or rule that all three share: the contact lens allowance replaces the glasses allowance for the benefit period, you get one or the other, not both.
Lens coverage differs in the details. VSP typically covers standard single-vision, bifocal, and progressive lenses in full after the copay. EyeMed often attaches $20 to $50 copays to lens types depending on tier, so a progressive lens that costs nothing extra under VSP might cost $40 to $60 under EyeMed’s standard plan. Davis Vision covers standard lenses with small copays and adds a one-year breakage warranty on eyewear at its higher tiers.
Which one costs less in practice
Run your own scenario: annual premium, plus exam copay, plus what you pay beyond the allowance for the frames and lenses you actually want. A budget buyer who wears basic frames and standard lenses usually spends the least with EyeMed, because the $5 starting premium and retail discounts keep the total low. Someone buying $300 designer frames with progressive lenses often does better with VSP’s higher allowances and full lens coverage. Families with kids who break glasses may prefer Davis Vision’s breakage warranty and per-member flexibility.
Out-of-network rules are similar across all three: you pay retail and file for a scheduled reimbursement that is usually smaller than the in-network allowance. Staying in-network is where the value is.
The bottom line
EyeMed wins on entry price, VSP wins on allowance depth and lens coverage, and Davis Vision competes on family perks. Price one full year, premium plus copays plus overage on the eyewear you will actually buy, before choosing. For the broader question of whether vision coverage pays off at all, read is vision insurance worth it and how much vision insurance costs. And remember that routine vision benefits do not cover medical eye disease; glaucoma, retinal problems, and eye injuries go through your health plan, a distinction our LASIK coverage guide also covers.
