State going back to Davis Vision
The
state has conditionally awarded the contract for the NYS Vision Plan to
Davis Vision. Once approved by the appropriate state agencies, the
five-year contract will take effect January 1.That name should sound familiar because Davis Vision administered the NYS Vision Plan for 23 years before it lost the state contract to the current vendor, EyeMed Vision Care five years ago.
Davis Vision is a U.S. company based in New York, and has been operating in the state since 1964. Its customer-service call center is in Latham.
Davis Vision will provide benefits for all eyewear, including eyeglasses and contact lenses, dispensed on or after January 1, even if your eye exam was done in 2011 by EyeMed.
To receive the in-network level of benefits for eyewear, you must use Davis Vision after January 1.
Your benefit levels will not change, but you will notice some differences when Davis Vision begins administering the vision plan. For example:
• You’ll have a different network of participating vision care providers with more participating provider locations than when Davis Vision previously administered the plan; and
• You’ll have a different selection of eyeglass frames, with two options at the vast majority of locations. Your benefit will completely cover the cost of frames from the “Tower Collection” and up to $130 of the cost for all other available frames at Davis Vision; and
• You’ll get a one-year warranty against breakage for all Davis Vision eyeglasses.
More specific information regarding the changes members can expect will be distributed by January 1.
— Lorraine Simpkins
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